Patent ID: 7381525

Claim:
An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample, comprising: a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode comprises: i. a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to said electrode via an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each monomer of said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: —(CH 2 ) n —, —(CRH) n —, —(CR2) n —, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties, and ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said first and second electrodes.