Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying analyte nucleic acids present in a sample comprising nucleic acid molecules, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a porous substrate, said substrate comprising a plurality of micro-channels, wherein said micro-channels have immobilized thereon a target molecule capable of binding to an analyte present in said sample; wherein said channels are further provided with analyte amplification components, a reporter system; and said sample; (b) amplifying analyte nucleic acid molecules present within said sample; and (c) allowing binding to take place between an amplified analyte nucleic acid obtained in step (b), said target molecule immobilized onto the channels of said substrate and said reporter system, wherein said reporter system allows detecting whether binding has occurred between said target molecule and said analyte nucleic acid.

Abstract: A system for conducting chemical and/or biochemical reactions is provided, comprising a reaction substrate (A) with a multiplicity of reactor zones (C), said reaction substrate (A) having a substantially flat top surface and a substantially flat bottom surface, the reaction substrate (A) being porous with a multiplicity of essentially parallel pores enabling liquid flow through, said pores having a diameter of about 10 ?m to 10 nm, characterised in that said flat top surface is bonded to the bottom of a first rigid support (B), said rigid support (B) comprising a multiplicity of through going holes extending from the top of said rigid support (B) to the bottom of said rigid support (B), and said through going holes defining the reactor zones (C). The invention further relates to the use of said system, an apparatus comprising said system as well as an incubation device for holding said system and a loading station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying analyte nucleic acids present in a sample comprising nucleic acid molecules, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a porous substrate, said substrate comprising a plurality of micro-channels, wherein said micro-channels have immobilized thereon a target molecule capable of binding to an analyte present in said sample; wherein said channels are further provided with analyte amplification components, a reporter system; and said sample; (b) amplifying analyte nucleic acid molecules present within said sample; and (c) allowing binding to take place between an amplified analyte nucleic acid obtained in step (b), said target molecule immobilized onto the channels of said substrate and said reporter system, wherein said reporter system allows detecting whether binding has occurred between said target molecule and said analyte nucleic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device useful for performing an assay comprising a substrate having interconnecting channels that open out onto a surface for sample application, the channels being provided in at least one cross-sectional area with a first binding substance capable of binding a particular analyte, the substrate being an electrochemically manufactured metal oxide membrane and containing the first binding substance within the through-going channels. Similar devices are also useful for chemical synthesis. Assay and chemical synthesis methods are also disclosed, as are kits for performing the assays or chemical syntheses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device useful for performing an assay comprising a substrate having interconnecting channels that open out onto a surface for sample application, the channels being provided in at least one cross-sectional area with a first binding substance capable of binding a particular analyte, the substrate being an electrochemically manufactured metal oxide membrane and containing the first binding substance within the through-going channels. Similar devices are also useful for chemical synthesis. Assay and chemical synthesis methods are also disclosed, as are kits for performing the assays or chemical syntheses.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an improved method for the quantification of nucleic acid, which can be performed with a minimal amount of nucleic acid amplification reactions. The method according to the invention for the quantification of analyte nucleic acid in a sample comprises the steps of: adding to the sample different respective amounts of different nucleic acid constructs, each construct being distinguishable from the analyte nucleic acid and capable of being co-amplified with the analyte nucleic acid; subjecting the sample to a nucleic acid amplification procedure, using amplification reagents capable of reacting with both the analyte nucleic acid and the nucleic acid constructs; detecting the relative amounts of amplificates derived from analyte nucleic acid and each nucleic acid construct; calculating the amount of analyte nucleic acid from said relative amounts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of quantifying a target nucleic acid in a test sample by adding to the test sample a known number of molecules of a corresponding nucleic acid comprising a well-defined mutant sequence. Said mutant sequence being discriminatory from the target nucleic acid. Subsequently a competitive amplification reaction of the nucleic acid is performed after which quantification of the amplified nucleic acid is performed by a differential detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the elimination of false negative test results in assays for the detection of amplified analyte nucleic acid in a sample. Prior to amplification, an internal control is added to the sample, comprising a nucleic acid distinguishable from the analyte nucleic acid, that can be amplified with the same amplification reagents as the analyte nucleic acid. Preferably the internal control comprises a nucleic acid sequence corresponding to the analyte nucleic acid that has been mutated to discriminate it from the analyte nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method for the amplification of nucleic acid, wherein ribonucleotides that weaken normal base pairing are introduced during amplification. Preferably, the ribonucleotides are inosine-triphosphate nucleotides which partly substitute guanine-triphosphate nucleotides normally present in the amplification reaction mixture. These ribonucleotides weaken normal base pairing and prevent the formation of secondary structures in the amplificate, thereby increasing the efficiency of amplification. Also, improved sensitivity results during detection of the amplified nucleic acid when the detection method comprises the hybridization of the amplified nucleic acid to a complementary sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to hybridization assays using enzyme-linked oligonucleotide probes, whereby hybridization is detected by separating the hybridized labelled oligonucleotide from the unhybridized probe by gel electrophoresis

Abstract: The invention relates to a process, a combination of means for isolating nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing starting material and a testkit in order to amplify the nucleic acid obtained by said process. More in particular, the invention relates to a process and a kit for isolating nucleic acid from a nucleic acid-containing biological material such as whole blood, blood serum, urine, feces, cell cultures and the like.