Patent ID: 7276332
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting the presence of absence of a target analyte in a sample, comprising: (a) providing in a receptacle containing the sample immunomagnetic particles capable of binding to the target analyte in the sample; (b) applying a magnetic field to attract and hold the immunomagnetic particles and bound target analyte; (c) removing unbound materials from the receptacle; (d) adding to the receptacle a bacteriophage modified to carry a reporter gene and an analyte-recognizing moiety under conditions wherein the bacteriophage will bind to the target analyte; (e) removing unbound materials from the receptacle; (f) adding microorganisms to the receptacle that can be infected by the bacteriophage and providing conditions under which the bacteriophage will infect the microorganisms and replicate inside the microorganism; (g) adding a detector substrate to the receptacle that generates a signal in the presence of the reporter molecule; (h) lysing the microorganisms to release the reporter molecule; and (i) detecting the presence or absence of the signal.