Patent ID: 7309588

Claim:
A method for the detection of the presence or absence of a single stranded or double stranded first nucleic acid in a sample, by automated isothermal amplification of said first nucleic acid, said method performed in at least two reaction vessels which can be placed in fluid communication with each other, said method comprising: a) combining in a first reaction vessel; a test sample and reagents suitable for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction such that a reaction mixture can form and placing said reaction vessel in an automated apparatus such that: b) the automated apparatus heats said first reaction vessel to a sufficient temperature, and for a sufficient time to render any double stranded first nucleic acid in the sample to be tested into sufficient single stranded nucleic acid available for hybridization, and c) the automated apparatus cools said first reaction vessel to a sufficient temperature to form a hybridization product, said hybridization product comprising at least one oligonucleotide primer and a first nucleic acid if said first nucleic acid is present in said test sample, d) contacting said product from said first reaction vessel with a nucleic acid amplification enzyme to provide a nucleic acid amplification mixture, e) amplifying said first nucleic acid in a second reaction vessel wherein the automated apparatus maintains the temperature of said second reaction vessel at a sufficient temperature which allows for a specific oligonucleotide primer mediated amplification of said first nucleic acid to produce amplicons, and f) detecting the presence of amplicons.