Patent ID: 8685646
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A solution nucleic acid hybridization assay for detecting a target nucleic acid that comprises first and second nucleic acid sequences comprising: (a) contacting a target nucleic acid under hybridizing conditions with a sulfonic acid polymer or a salt thereof and an excess, relative to the target nucleic acid, of (i) a label extender probe comprising first and second segments, wherein the first segment is complementary to a first nucleic acid sequence of the target nucleic acid and (ii) a capture extender probe comprising first and second segments, wherein the first segment is complementary to a second nucleic acid sequence of the target nucleic acid; (b) contacting under hybridizing conditions the product of step (a) with a capture probe bound to a solid phase that is complementary to the second segment of the capture extender probe, thereby forming a solid phase complex product; (c) removing materials not bound to the solid phase complex product; (d) contacting under hybridizing conditions the solid phase complex product of step (c) with a nucleic acid multimer that comprises (i) a preamplifier probe that is complementary to the second segment of the label extender probe and (ii) a multiplicity of amplifier probes; (e) removing unbound nucleic acid multimer from the solid phase complex product of step (d); (f) contacting under hybridizing conditions the solid phase complex product of step (e) with a labeled oligonucleotide that is complementary to the multiplicity of amplifier probes of the nucleic acid multimer; (g) removing unbound labeled oligonucleotide from the solid phase complex product of step (f); and (h) detecting the presence of labeled oligonucleotide in the solid phase complex product of step (g), wherein the sulfonic acid polymer or salt thereof in step (a) is of general formula (I) or (II): or a salt thereof, wherein: R L is a covalent bond or C R n is 10 or an integer greater than 10; and wherein the sulfonic acid polymer or salt thereof has an average molecular weight of 9,000 Da or less.