Patent ID: 6352827
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: C12Q,Y10T

Abstract:
An assay to detect at least two different nucleic acid sequence analytes in a fluid, comprising the steps of:a) processing the fluid to release single-stranded nucleic acids; b) providing at least two species of capture probes, each species comprising a bacteriophage linked to a single-stranded oligonucleotide complementary to one analyte, wherein the bacteriophage of each species is capable of generating a distinctive signal when plated on an indicator medium; c) combining the fluid and capture probes at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a hybridization mixture without irreversibly destroying the infectivity of the bacteriophage; d) incubating the hybridization mixture with a nuclease capable of cleaving nucleic acid duplexes formed in step c, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow cleavage of said duplexes, thereby releasing infective bacteriophage; e) plating the infective bacteriophage on the indicator medium; and f) detecting the signals corresponding to the infective bacteriophage.