Detection and/or quantification of target molecules on a solid support

摘要

Described are a method and an apparatus (1) for detecting and/or quantifying a biological target molecule (2) present on a solid support (6). The method comprises the steps of:
- providing an optically transparent solid support surface (6) having a refractive index n1, said solid support being in contact with a medium having refractive index n2, whereby n1 > n2,
- providing a light source (9) to illuminate the target molecule, thereby causing the target molecule to emit light
- detecting light emitted from the target molecule through said support at an observation angle ¸ obin relative to the normal to the said solid support surface in the support, such that 90° > ¸ obin > sin -1 (n2/n1). The described set up has particular application in the real time monitoring of PCR amplification kinetics.