Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a Tm within the range of from about 65 to about 74° C., while the Tm's are within about 5° C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in “multiplexing”, using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have Tm's which are greater than 50° C. and are within 15° C. of each other.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of human cytomegaloviral DNA and a second target DNA can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a Tm within the range of from about 65 to about 74° C., while the Tm's are within about 5° C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of hCMV DNA and other target DNA's using multiple capture probes, in “multiplexing”. All of the capture probes have Tm's which are greater than 50° C. and are within 15° C. of each other.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for extracting DNA from serum or plasma, comprising contacting serum or plasma with alkali to yield alkalinized serum or plasma, heating the alkalinized serum or plasma to a temperature ranging from about 100 to about 110° C. for a time ranging from about 5 to about 20 minutes, centrifuging the heated alkalinized serum or plasma to yield a DNA-containing supernatant, allowing the heated alkalinized serum or plasma to cool to room temperature, or about 25° C., and recovering the DNA-containing supernatant. Also disclosed are methods for detecting a DNA-containing microorganism in serum or plasma.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a Tm within the range of from about 65 to about 74° C., while the Tm's are within about 5° C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in “multiplexing”, using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have Tm's which are greater than 50° C. and are within 15° C. of each other.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and are within 15.degree. C. of each other.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and are within 15.degree. C. of each other.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and are within 15.degree. C. of each other.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of two or more target nucleic acids can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a T.sub.m within the range of from about 65.degree. to about 74.degree. C., while the T.sub.m 's are within about 5.degree. C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of multiple nucleic acids, or in "multiplexing", using multiple capture probes. All of the capture probes have T.sub.m 's which are greater than 50.degree. C. and are within 15.degree. C. of each other.

Abstract: A target nucleic acid can be detected in a semi-quantitative fashion by passing it over detection deposits in a test element. The detection deposits include particles affixed to the test element, some of which particles have capture probe attached thereto, and other particles having no capture probe. The deposits have varying amounts of capture probe so that the signal obtained when the target nucleic acid is captured thereon can be semi-quantitatively correlated to the amount of target nucleic acid in the specimen. This method of detection can be used in nucleic acid hybridization assays or following amplification methods, including polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid material. The device and method use a label and signalling material responsive to the label to produce a detectable signal. A surprising result of the method and device is that at least one of the wash steps heretofore required has been eliminated without substantially adversely affecting the results.

Abstract: Methods for amplifying and detecting a predetermined target nucleic acid in a biological specimen are accomplished even where there is a mismatch in a single position between a primer and the target nucleic acid. The mismatch is located at or near the 3' end of the primer. Such a mismatch is overcome using a primer having a nucleotide with a thymine base at the position of the mismatch. The use of such primers is most likely to prime the target and form primer extension products. This method is particularly useful for detection of a nucleic acid sequence which is not fully known, or where there is considerable heterogeneity in DNA target from patient samples.