Patent ID: 9393566
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method of performing melt curve data collection comprising: (a) providing a container which comprises at least two chambers that are in close thermal connection; (b) introducing a DNA sample to be tested into at least one of the chambers and a temperature reference material exhibiting a known optical property change as a function of temperature into at least one of the other chambers, wherein the temperature reference materials bracket the DNA sample in space; (c) heating the chambers from a first temperature to a second temperature; (d) simultaneously measuring a detectable property emanating from the DNA sample and a detectable property emanating from the temperature reference material during step (c), wherein the detectable property of the DNA sample indicates an extent of denaturation of the DNA in the sample and the detectable property of the temperature reference material is correlated to the temperature of the chamber where the temperature reference material is located; and, (e) comparing the detectable property of the DNA sample with the detectable property of the temperature reference material to determine the actual melt properties of the DNA sample, wherein the detectable property emanating from the temperature reference materials is measured to determine a spatial temperature gradient and any temporal fluctuation and a temperature at the location of the DNA sample is estimated by interpolating the results from temperature reference materials that surround the location.