USE OF NUCLEIC ACID MIMICS FOR INTERNAL REFERENCE AND CALIBRATION IN A FLOW CELL MICROARRAY BINDING ASSAY

摘要

The present application describes a method for normalizing for variations in signal intensity observed in a biomolecular binding assay carried out in a flow cell cartridge. Variations in signal intensity occur as a result of the effect of the surfaces of a flow cell cartridge on the laminar flow of reagent through the cartridge. In any individual reagent stream, fluid flows faster in the center of the stream and slower at the outer periphery of the stream due to contact of the reagent with the walls of the cartridge, creating a parabolic fluid flow profile. The present invention describes a method for normalizing or calibrating out the differences in intensity observed in different regions of interest on a single chip or similar reactions carried out in different cartridges, as a result of these differential fluid flow rates. Microarray chips having integrated calibration regions are also described.