Patent ID: 8540867

Claim:
A method for detecting at least one target nucleic acid of interest in a sample, the method comprising: providing a sample analyzer comprising an array of 10 5 sensors formed in a substrate, the sensors comprising a field-effect transistor including a gate oxide, a floating gate comprising conductors formed in a plurality of conductor layers and electrically coupled to one another, and a passivation layer overlying the floating gate, the sample analyzer further comprising signal lines for the sensors within at least one of the conductor layers; disposing at least one interrogating nucleic acid in proximity to or in contact with at least a portion of the sensors of the array wherein the at least one interrogating nucleic acid is at least partially complimentary to the at least one target nucleic acid of interest; disposing at least one target nucleic acid of interest in proximity to or in contact with at least a portion of the sensors of the array wherein interactions between the at least one interrogating nucleic acid and the at least one target nucleic acid effectuate changes in at least one electrical property of at least a portion of the sensors of the array; and identifying hybridization interactions between the at least one interrogating nucleic acid and the at least one target nucleic acid by detecting the changes in electrical properties of at least a portion of the sensors of the array.