Patent ID: 7659063

Claim:
A method of detecting at least one nucleic acid target, comprising contacting a cell sample which may comprise said target(s) with a nuclease protection fragment(s) specific for and which binds to said target(s), exposing the sample to a nuclease effective to digest single stranded nucleic acid, and contacting the resultant sample with a combination which comprises, before the addition of said sample, i) a surface comprising multiple spatially discrete regions, at least two of which are substantially identical, each region comprising ii) at least two different loci of oligonucleotide anchors, each anchor in association with iii) a bifunctional linker which has a first portion that is specific for the oligonucleotide anchor, and a second portion that comprises a probe which is specific for said nuclease protection fragment(s), under conditions effective for said nuclease protection fragment(s) to bind to said combination, wherein said nucleic acid target is lysed from said cells by exposure of said cells in said sample to a lysis solution comprising amounts effective for lysis of about 8 to about 60% v/v of formamide, about 0.01 to about 0.5% w/v of SDS and 0.5-6X SSC buffer.