Patent ID: 6911343

Claim:
A method for conducting a hybridization assay within an enclosed hybridization chamber, comprising: (a) providing a device comprised of a (i) a substrate having a surface with at least a portion of said surface representing a hybridization region, wherein a plurality of oligonucleotide probes are bound to the substrate surface within the hybridization region and arranged in a spatially defined and physically addressable manner, and (ii) a cover which sealingly contacts the substrate surface, wherein the cover and the hybridization region form an enclosure having an interior space comprising a hybridization chamber having a height ranging from about 50 μm to about 500 μm; and (b) introducing into the hybridization chamber a sample fluid comprising (i) a target molecule which may hybridize to a surface-bound molecular probe within the hybridization region, (ii) a hybridization buffer, and (iii) a surfactant of a type and present at a concentration effective to substantially reduce nonspecific binding and promote mixing of components within the sample fluid; and (c) mixing the sample fluid by moving a bubble within the hybridization chamber to displace the sample fluid ad maintaining hybridization conditions within the hybridization chamber for a period of time sufficient to allow hybridization between the target molecule and a surface-bound molecular probe to occur.