METHODS OF IMMOBILIZING OLIGONUCLEOTIDES TO SOLID SUPPORT MATERIALS AND METHODS OF USING SUPPORT BOUND OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

摘要

The present invention provides a method for directly immobilizing an oligonucleotide to a support material. The method comprises the steps of contacting a solution of oligonucleotides with a solid support material and drying the oligonucleotide solution to the support material. Oligonucleotides and the solid support materials to which they are immobilized can be employed as capture reagents for immobilizing nucleic acid sequences which are complementary to the immobilized oligonucleotides. Hence, the hybridization capacity of directly immobilized oligonucleotides is maintained. Also provided are methods for determining the presence or amount of nucleic acid sequences in a test sample.