Patent ID: 6306657
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: C12Q,Y02A

Abstract:
A reagent system for detecting a particular polynucleotide sequence in a test sample, comprising:(i) a primary nucleic acid probe comprising at least one single stranded base sequence that is substantially complementary to the sequence to be detected and a homopolymeric tail;(ii) an antibody reagent capable of binding to hybrids formed between any of the particular polynucleotide sequences to be detected in the sample and the primary probe, but incapable of binding substantially to single stranded nucleic acids;(iii) a synthetic linear single-stranded nucleic acid sequence comprising:(a) a homopolymeric tail that hybridizes to a primary probe; and(b) a plurality of linearly arranged discretely labellable oligonucleotide units, wherein each labellable unit comprises a sequence of nucleotide bases that is capable of hybridizing specifically to complementary sequences on a labelling probe, said labelling probe being covalently attached to a detectable label, and(iv) one or more labelling probes covalently attached to a detectable label, such probe comprising sequences complementary to said labellable units.