Method and Apparatus for Rapidly and Cyclically Heating and Cooling a Fluid Sample During PCR Testing

摘要

Methods and apparatuses rapidly and cyclically heating and cooling a fluid sample during PCT testing to reduce the duration for full amplification of target DNA using most PCR procedures. Instead of heating and cooling static target solution in a reaction tube, the target solution reciprocates (alternately flows) back and forth within an elongate, thick-walled, small-bore tube. Sections of the tube are maintained at different temperatures so that an ascending/descending temperature gradient is maintained along the length of the tube. As the target solution flows within and along the tube from section to section, it rapidly achieves thermal equilibrium with the tube at each section, thereby rapidly thermally cycling the target solution.

主权项

1. An apparatus for performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure on a target DNA solution, comprising:
a) an elongate tube having a proximal end, a distal end, lengthwise axis, a denaturation zone, annealing zone, and elongation zone; b) means for heating said three heating/cooling zones at independent, elevated temperatures; c) means for shuttling the target solution back and forth within said tube from one zone to another in a repeating thermal cycle; d) means for controlling the movement and the axial position of the target solution within said tube during the thermal cycle.