摘要 |
<p>A non-radioactive assay for pathogens such as Plasmodium Falciparum and Shigella sp. is disclosed. Samples containing blood and body fluids are contacted with a lysing solution comprising guanidine hydrochloride, SLS and Triton-X-100 (RTM). The DNA is denatured and hybridised with a nucleotide probe (which may be label led) in solution before the hybrids are captured on a microtitre plate coated with a hybridisation probe. The plate is washed with a solution comprising SSC, Triton-X-100 (RTM) and SDS. The assay is sensitive because the DNA is substantially undegraded during the process and the rate of hybridisation in solution prior to capture on a solid substrate is high. Moreover, immobilisation on a microtitre plate permits the use of a colourmetric detection system since contaminating products from the sample can be effectively removed by a washing step. Specific nucleotide probes for P. falciparum are also disclosed.</p> |