| US 7,482,143 B2 | ||
| Automated process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample | ||
| Kelly G. Ammann, Longmont, Colo. (US); Ralph E. Burns, Boulder, Colo. (US); Ernest V. Hansberry, Evergreen, Colo. (US); Glenn A. Horner, Boulder, Colo. (US); Cheryl A. Jakub, Golden, Colo. (US); John E. Kling, Boulder, Colo. (US); Donald J. Nieglos, Superior, Colo. (US); Robert E. Schneider, Erie, Colo. (US); and Robert J. Smith, Louisville, Colo. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Gen-Probe Incorporated, San Diego, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/169,112. | ||
| Application 11/169112 is a continuation of application No. 10/946557, filed on Sep. 22, 2004. | ||
| Application 10/946557 is a continuation of application No. 09/985064, filed on Nov. 01, 2001, granted, now 6,890,742. | ||
| Application 09/985064 is a continuation of application No. 09/303030, filed on Apr. 30, 1999, granted, now 6,335,166. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/083927, filed on May 01, 1998. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0239127 A1, Oct. 27, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. C12P 19/34 (2006.01); C12Q 1/68 (2006.01); C07H 21/02 (2006.01); C07H 21/04 (2006.01); C07H 21/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 435—91.2 [435/6; 435/91.1; 536/23.1; 536/24.3; 536/24.33; 536/25.32] | 18 Claims |
| 1. A process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample containing the target nucleic acid, the process
comprising the automated steps of:
a) immobilizing the target nucleic acid on a magnetically responsive particle;
b) subjecting the magnetically responsive particle to a magnetic field and aspirating non-immobilized components of the sample;
c) combining the target nucleic acid immobilized in step a) and reagents for performing an amplification reaction using a
robotic pipettor;
d) performing an amplification reaction which produces an amplification product indicative of the presence of the target nucleic
acid in the sample; and
e) detecting the amplification product of step d) as an indication of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample,
wherein the steps of the process are performed in a self-contained analyzer.
|