Patent ID: 7235406

Claim:
A system for detecting or quantitating one or more target polynucleotide sequences in a liquid sample, comprising: a device comprising a substrate defining a sample-distribution network including (i) a sample inlet, (ii) two or more detection chambers, (iii) a channel providing a fluid communication to said inlet, and (iv) a plurality of dead-end fluid connections, one dead-end fluid connection between each of said two or more detection chambers and said channel, wherein said two or more detection chambers are each pre-loaded with a primer pair suitable for polymerase chain reaction and a sequence-specific fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide for detecting or quantitating a selected one of the one or more target polynucleotide sequences in the respective detection chamber and adapted to produce a detectable signal upon reacting with the selected one of the one or more target polynucleotide sequences; a temperature-controller adapted to heat or cool the two or more detection chambers; and a fluorescence detector configured for optical communication with one or more of the two or more detection chambers, for detecting fluorescence produced therein.