Patent ID: 7955822

Claim:
A method of detecting multiple analytes in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a sample comprising at least one target nucleic acid and at least one target protein; introducing an aptamer that binds to the target protein in the sample; and conducting a single assay, wherein the assay detects both the target nucleic acid and the target protein, the assay comprising: removing unbound aptamer-protein complex from bound aptamer-protein complex performing PCR on the target nucleic acid; performing PCR on the aptamer protein complex; introducing a first detectably labeled probe that binds to the amplified target nucleic acid; introducing a second detectably labeled probe that binds to the amplified aptamer protein complex; detecting the first probe thereby detecting the nucleic acid in the sample; and detecting the second probe that is bound to the amplified aptamer protein complex thereby detecting the protein in the sample.