| 摘要 |
<p>Patient samples are identified by adding to the sample, preferably at the time it is taken, a plurality of identification oligonucleotides. The identification oligonucleotides are co-processed and sequenced at the same time as the sample. The resulting sequence analysis thus provides both the sequence of the region of interest in the sample DNA, and the sequence of the identification oligonucleotides which are used to confirm the identity of the patient. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of specially constructed identification oligonucleotides is used. Each identification oligonucleotide is constructed based upon a starting oligonucleotide and comprises: a) a primer site which is not homologous with DNA from the organism from which the sample is taken and which may be the same or different from the primer site of the other identification oligonucleotides; and b) an identification region having the general formula -(M-N)x- or -(M-N-N)x-, wherein N represents a nucleotide residue which is the same in the identification oligonucleotide as in the starting oligonucleotide, M represents a nucleotide residue which may be the same as or differeent from the starting oligonucleotide, with the proviso that at least one M residue in the identification region is different from the starting oligonucleotide, and x is an integer from 3 to 20. To ensure that there is no overlap between different sets of identification oligonucleotides, the identification oligonucleotides may be constructed such that the identification regions of each set are located at a different place along the starting oligonucleotide.</p> |
