Patent ID: 6214549
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method of detecting a substance in a sample, comprising(1) contacting the sample with a probe under conditions in which said substance if present binds directly or indirectly to the probe, which probe comprises a stem and at least one branch, said stem and said at least one branch comprisinga plurality of nucleobases andat least two non-nucleosidic label-attracting groups, to produce a binding product, wherein said label-attracting groups are groups detectable directly or indirectly;(2)(a) mixing the binding product with a conjugate, wherein the conjugate has a molecular weight of no more than 100 kDa and comprises a signal-producing component and a group that has an affinity for the label-attracting group to produce a mixture containing a conjugate-bound binding product;(b) removing unbound conjugate from said mixture;(c) determining the presence of the conjugate-bound binding product in said mixture by means of said signal-producing component; and(d) using the presence of the conjugate-bound binding product as an indication of the presence of the binding product; and thereafter(3) using the presence of the binding product as an indication of the presence of said substance,wherein the label-attracting groups are incorporated in said stem and at least one branch.