METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIAL AMPLIFICATION REACTIONS

摘要

The invention provides methods and apparatus for carrying out multiple amplification reactions in a single reaction chamber by successive cycles of loading reaction mixture, amplifying, and removing spent reaction mixture in a fluidly closed reaction system. In particular, the present invention allows amplification of a plurality of target polynucleotides from a single sample by carrying out under closed-loop control successive amplifications of different target polynucleotides from different portions of the sample.

主权项

1. A method of controlling a plurality of sequential amplification reactions, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) amplifying a target polynucleotide in the presence of an indicator in a reaction mixture, the indicator being capable of generating an optical signal related to a quantity of an amplicon of the target polynucleotide in the amplification reaction, and the reaction mixture being disposed in a reaction chamber; (b) monitoring the optical signal of the indicator in the reaction mixture; (c) automatically removing the reaction mixture from the reaction chamber and loading the reaction chamber with a subsequent reaction mixture whenever the optical signal reaches or exceeds a predetermined level; and (d) repeating steps (a) through (c) until the plurality of amplification reactions has been carried out.