METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETECTION OF NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method of quantitatively detecting target nucleic acid molecules in a sample. In carrying out this method, one or more different groups of two or more electrically separated electrical conductors are provided with capture probes attached to the conductors such that a gap exists between the capture probes on the electrically separated conductors. The capture probes are contacted with a sample, potentially containing the target nucleic acid molecules, under conditions effective to permit any of the target nucleic acid molecule present in the sample to hybridize to the capture probes and thereby connect the capture probes. The presence of the target nucleic acid molecules is detected by determining whether electricity is conducted between the electrically separated conductors. The electrically separated conductors are then interrogated to quantify the concentration of target nucleic acid molecules present in the sample.