Patent ID: 6114117
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for performing target amplification in an assay system comprising an assay medium, said assay system being useful for determining the presence of a target nucleic acid having a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample suspected of containing said target nucleic acid, comprising the steps of:a) providing in said assay system a target analog nucleic acid-anchor complex, wherein said target analog nucleic acid has a target analog nucleic acid sequence that is essentially the same as the target nucleic acid sequence, and wherein said anchor prevents said target analog nucleic acid from becoming released into said assay medium in the absence of said target nucleic acid;b) adding said sample to said assay system under conditions which allow said target analog nucleic acid-anchor complex to be cleaved in the presence of target nucleic acid in said sample thereby releasing said target analog nucleic acid into said assay medium;c) providing in said assay system a signal generator which generates detectable signal from the presence of said target nucleic acid and said released target analog nucleic acid, thereby amplifying the amount of target nucleic acid present in said assay system; andd) detecting the presence of detectable signal to thereby determine the presence of said target nucleic acid.