Patent ID: 6929907

Claim:
An antibody that specifically binds to a synthetic oligonucleotide having an organic protecting group covalently bound thereto, which antibody does not bind to said synthetic oligonucleotide when said organic protecting group is not covalently bound thereto; wherein said oligonucleotide contains a protected nucleotide according to Formula (I): wherein: (i) said protected nucleotide of Formula I is a 3′ nucleotide; R is a covalent bond to an adjacent nucleotide; R 1 is a protecting group; R 2 is H or —OH; R 4 is absent; and Base is a purine or pyrimidine base; or (ii) R is a covalent bond to an adjacent nucleotide; R 1 is a covalent bond to an adjacent nucleotide; R 2 is —OR 3 ; R 3 a protecting group; R 4 is absent; and Base is a purine or pyrimidine base; or (iii) R is a covalent bond to an adjacent nucleotide; R 1 is a covalent bond to an adjacent nucleotide; R 2 is H or —OH; Base is a purine or pyrimidine base; and R 4 is a protecting group bonded to an amino group of said base.