Patent ID: 9517469
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: B01L

Claim Text:
1. A method for conducting a PCR amplification reaction requiring temperature cycling, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (b) providing at least one reaction droplet to at least two reaction zones in the electrowetting array, each reaction zone having a different temperature needed for the nucleic acid amplification reaction, the at least one reaction droplet comprising a nucleic acid of interest and reagents needed to effect amplification of the nucleic acid, wherein the reaction zones are not simultaneously at the same temperature during the reaction, and the reaction droplet is disposed within a filler fluid; (c) conducting the nucleic acid amplification reaction by moving, using electrowetting, the at least one reaction droplet through the filler fluid through the at least two reaction zones such that a first cycle of the nucleic acid amplification reaction is completed; (d) repeating step (c) to conduct further cycles of the nucleic acid amplification reaction; and wherein the at least one reaction droplet is disposed between the first and second substrates and maintains contact with both the first and second substrates during movement of the at least one reaction droplet.