SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING NUCLEIC ACIDS

摘要

A method and kit for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample is described. The sample to be analyzed may include a primer which hybridizes to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid, a probe having a first region which hybridizes to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid and a second region having a detectable label, a polymerase which extends the hybridized primer and an enzyme comprising exonuclease activity that can cleave the hybridized hybridization probe to thereby generate a labeled probe fragment. At least one portion of the hybridization probe hybridizes to another portion of the hybridization probe to thereby form a folded structure. The method can involve melting the sample, reducing the temperature of the sample to allow primer and probe to each hybridize to at least a portion of single stranded target nucleic acid in the sample, elongating the primer and releasing the labeled probe fragment. The sample can be contacted with a solid support comprising surface bound capture probes which hybridize to the labeled probe fragments. The label can then be detected.