| 摘要 |
<p>The present invention provides a method for detecting a single-stranded target nucleic acid comprising the steps of: a) forming a hybrid between a target nucleic acid and a nucleic acid probe, said nucleic acid probe labelled with an enzyme reagent which hydrolyses single-stranded nucleic acid but is substantially without effect on double-stranded nucleic acid, said hybrid formed under conditions of pH which are outside the activity range of said enzyme reagent; b) adjusting said pH to a value within the activity range of said enzyme reagent, whereby said enzyme reagent substantially hydrolyses any single-stranded nucleic acid present; and c) contacting said hybrid with a detection reagent to detect the hybrid, characterised by, prior to step (c), bringing the nucleic acid probe or hybrid into contact with a solid support to attach it thereto or bringing the nucleic acid probe or hybrid into contact with a capture reagent, optionally linked to a solid support, to capture the nucleic acid probe or hybrid; and washing the capture reagent or solid support on which the hybrid is immobilised with a washing fluid while the capture reagent or solid support is contained within a vessel that is adapted to retain the capture reagent or solid support but not to retain fluid in which the capture reagent or solid support is dispersed, whereby material which has not been captured by the capture reagent or otherwise immobilised on a solid support is eluted from the vessel.</p> |
