Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the detection of nucleic acids from biological or environmental samples. The technique involves the amplification of the nucleic acid of interest, after conversion to cDNA if necessary, after which the amplified nucleic acid is used as the template for further amplification by the real-time PCR (RT-PCR) technique. This combination of amplification procedures increases the sensitivity and specificity of the amplification compared with conventional amplification techniques. The invention also relates to primers for the use in this method and a diagnostic test kit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for detecting target DNA in a biological sample using capture probes and electrically-assisted hybridization. The reaction cell is formed with an attachment surface of aluminum oxide for better thermal and physical properties, and the aluminum oxide surface is coated with anti-DIG antibody to provide a convenient attachment layer for the capture probes allowing their correct orientation, while the capture probes are formed with a DIG-label so that they attach to the surface of the cell through an anti-DIG/DIG linkage.

Abstract: There are disclosed apparatus and methods for the field-assisted acceleration of biological processes involving charged entities, including in particular the detection of target DNA in a biological sample. A reaction cell is provided with a dielectric surface, and a field is generated by inducing charge-separation in the dielectric material by applying a potential to an electrode in contact with the dielectric material.