Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for detecting the presence of a test material in a test sample. The test sample is introduced into a test column which has at least two snares. One of the snares has a control capture material for detection of the presence of control. Each of other snares has a capture material specific to a corresponding test material for which detection being sought. The capture material will bind with the corresponding test material to form a bound material. The test column is then washed to remove materials which have not been bound to the capture materials. Finally, the presence of bound materials is detected on each of the snares. The method is useful for detection of a pathogen indicator in a test sample, particularly suitable for detection of DNA and RNA.
This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/093,532, filed Jun. 8, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,733 issued on Jan. 16, 2001.
A method for sequentially detecting multiple target nucleic acid fragments in a sample includes steps of adding a sample into a column having a test snare which has thereon two or more single strand capture DNA sequences; wherein each capture sequence binds specifically with one target nucleic acid fragment, and forms a double strand segment; washing out unbound target nucleic acid fragment; adding a first DNA probe, which has thereon a chemical label, to attach specifically to a probe binding site of the first target nucleic acid fragment; washing out unbound first probe; adding a triggering solution to trigger the chemical label; and detecting signals on the test snare for determining the first target nucleic acid fragment; subsequently, adding a second DNA probe to bind specifically to the second target nucleic acid fragment; washing, triggering and detecting signals for determining the second target nucleic acid fragment in the same manner.
A method for sequentially detecting multiple target nucleic acid fragments in a sample includes steps of adding a sample into a column having a test snare which has thereon multiple single strand capture DNA sequences; wherein each capture sequence binds specifically with one target nucleic acid fragment, and forms a double strand segment; washing out unbound target nucleic acid fragment; adding a first DNA probe, which has thereon a chemical label, to attach specifically to a probe binding site of the first target nucleic acid fragment; washing out unbound first probe; adding a triggering solution to trigger the chemical label; and detecting signals on the test snare for determining the first target nucleic acid fragment; subsequently, adding a second DNA probe to bind specifically to the second target nucleic acid fragment; washing, triggering and detecting signals for determining the second target nucleic acid fragment in the same manner.
