Patent ID: 7306916

Claim:
A method for detecting a change in a target area comprising: (a) obtaining a preparation of nucleic acids; (b) contacting a first probe containing a first label with a complementary probe having a nucleotide sequence complementary to a non-target sequence which may be present in the preparation of nucleic acids to form a bound labeled probe; (c) removing the bound labeled probe leaving a first selected probe; (d) contacting the preparation of nucleic acids with the first selected probe; (e) contacting the preparation of nucleic acids with a second probe containing a second label, wherein the first selected probe and the second probe bind within the same target area in a normal control sample, and wherein the binding of the first selected probe and second probe results in a fused signal in a normal control sample; (f) contacting the preparation of nucleic acids with a third probe containing a third label, wherein the third probe binds other nucleic acids or another region of the same nucleic acid in the preparation of nucleic acids; and (g) detecting a change in nucleic acid structure, wherein the first selected probe and the second probe are not present on the same target area resulting in a split signal; and wherein (i) the first selected probe and the third probe; or (ii) the second probe and the third probe are present on the same target area resulting in a new fused signal.