NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION METHOD USING PARTICLE AGGLUTINATION

摘要

A method to detect the presence of nucleic acid sequences by agglutination of a generic particle reagent. Known methods require a specific particle reagent for each sequence to be detected. In the presence of a given nucleic acid sequence a nucleic acid species is formed which comprises at least two binding partners. The generic particle reagent is coated with a specific binding partner which can bind to the binding partners in the nucleic acid species and thus lead to agglutination of the particle. The method may also be used to detect mutations in a nucleic acid sequence. A preferred embodiment uses a hapten such as fluorescein as the binding partner in the nucleic acid species and anti-hapten antibody coated particles such as anti-fluorescein antibody coated latex as the generic particle reagent.