Method and kit involving displacement and rehybridization of labeled polynucleotide

摘要

A diagnostic reagent is disclosed which is capable of binding to a target nucleotide sequence which is bound to a labeled polynucleotide in a target binding region which is at least partially co-extensive with the target binding region in the probe polynucleotide which is capable of binding to the target nucleotide sequence. A method is disclosed in which the reagent is contacted with a sample and with a capturing polynucleotide under conditions such that target nucleotide which may be present in the sample binds to the probe polynucleotide and displaces labeled polynucleotide from the reagent complex, and the capturing polynucleotide binds selectively to the displaced labeled polynucleotide in the region of the labeled polynucleotide that had been bound to the probe polynucleotide. Determination of the displaced nucleotide gives a value which is a function of the presence and concentration of target nucleotide in the sample.