Process for determining the concentration of nucleic acids

1. A process for determining a concentration of nucleic acids in a sample in a microfluidic device with a first chamber and a second chamber, comprising the following steps:

a) introducing the sample into the first chamber via a first supply channel connected to the first chamber and providing a first supply of reagents for an amplification reaction, which is to be carried out in cycles, into said first chamber via a second supply channel connected to the first chamber;

b) carrying out a number of said cycles of said amplification reaction such that the nucleic acids are amplified;

c) transferring a defined volume from the first chamber, which is a fraction of a total sample volume in the first chamber and which has said amplified nucleic acids, into said second chamber via a channel connecting the first chamber to the second chamber and simultaneously replacing the transferred defined volume by providing a fresh, second supply of the reagents for said amplification reaction in the first chamber by supplying the fresh, second supply of the reagents through the second supply channel using a volume transfer device located outside of the supply channel, wherein a remaining fraction of the total sample volume remains in the first chamber for subsequent amplification;

d) determining said concentration of the amplified nucleic acids in the second chamber equipped with a device for determining said concentration; and

e) repeating steps b)-d) until said determined concentration of the amplified nucleic acids in said second chamber is within a set range,

wherein said set range is a measurement range of said device for determining said concentrations.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said device for determining said concentration includes a microarray having position-specifically immobilized capture oligonucleotides for binding the amplified nucleic acids.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the amplified nucleic acids bound is determined utilizing a label.

4. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the label is an optical label.

5. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the label is an enzymatic label.

6. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the label catalyzes an enzymatic reaction which is optically detectable.

7. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the label catalyzes an enzymatic reaction is electrochemically detectable.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein electrochemical detection is by way of measuring currents enhanced by way of redox cycling.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the concentration of nucleic acids is calculated by at least one of:

on the basis of a volume ratio of the transferred defined volume to the total sample volume, and

on the basis of a total of the number of amplification cycles carried out.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the amplification reaction is a polymerase chain reaction.

11. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the concentration of the amplified nucleic acids bound is determined utilizing a label.

12. The process as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the label is an optical label.

13. The process as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the label is an enzymatic label.

14. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the determination of said concentration of the amplified nucleic acids includes quantifying said concentration of the amplified nucleic acids using the device for determining said concentration.

15. A process for determining a concentration of nucleic acids in a sample in a microfluidic device with a first chamber and a second chamber, comprising the following steps:

a) introducing the sample into the first chamber via a first supply channel connected to the first chamber and providing a first supply of reagents for an amplification reaction, which is to be carried out in cycles, into said first chamber via a second supply channel connected to the first chamber;

b) carrying out a number of said cycles of said amplification reaction such that the nucleic acids are amplified;

c) transferring a defined volume from the first chamber, which is a fraction of a total sample volume in the first chamber and which has said amplified nucleic acids, into said second chamber via a channel connecting the first chamber to the second chamber and simultaneously replacing the transferred defined volume by providing a fresh, second supply of the reagents for said amplification reaction in the first chamber by supplying the fresh, second supply of the reagents through the second supply channel using a volume transfer device located outside of the microfluidic device, wherein a remaining fraction of the total sample volume remains in the first chamber for subsequent amplification;

d) determining said concentration of the amplified nucleic acids in the second chamber equipped with a device for determining said concentration; and

e) repeating steps b)-d) until said determined concentration of the amplified nucleic acids in said second chamber is within a set range,

wherein said set range is a measurement range of said device for determining said concentrations, and

wherein a known nucleic acid with a known starting concentration (internal standard) is added to the sample.