Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for the detection of a diagnostic base sequence in nucleic acid in a sample, which method comprises contacting the sample under hybridizing conditions and in the presence of appropriate nucleoside triphosphates and an agent for polymerization thereof, with a diagnostic primer for the diagnostic base sequence, the diagnostic primer having a non-complementary tail sequence comprising a tag region and a detector region, such that an extension product of the diagnostic primer is synthesised when the corresponding diagnostic base sequence is present in the sample, no extension product being synthesised when the corresponding diagnostic base sequence is not present in the sample and any extension product of the diagnostic primer acts as a template for extension of a further primer which hybridizes to a locus at a distance from the diagnostic base sequence, and contacting the sample with a tag primer which selectively hybridizes to the complement of the tag region in an extension product of the further primer and is extended, and detecting the presence or absence of the diagnostic base sequence by reference to the detector region in the further primer extension product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for the detection of a diagnostic base sequence in nucleic acid in a sample, which method comprises contacting the sample under hybridizing conditions and in the presence of appropriate nucleoside triphosphates and an agent for polymerization thereof, with a diagnostic primer for the diagnostic base sequence, the diagnostic primer having a non-complementary tail sequence comprising a tag region and a detector region, such that an extension product of the diagnostic primer is synthesised when the corresponding diagnostic base sequence is present in the sample, no extension product being synthesised when the corresponding diagnostic base sequence is not present in the sample and any extension product of the diagnostic primer acts as a template for extension of a further primer which hybridizes to a locus at a distance from the diagnostic base sequence, and contacting the sample with a tag primer which selectively hybridizes to the complement of the tag region in an extension product of the further primer and is extended, and detecting the presence or absence of the diagnostic base sequence by reference to the detector region in the further primer extension product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a detector species is used which selectively associates with the detector region in the further primer extension product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the detector species emits a detectable signal when cleaved during polymerase mediated extension of the tag primer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the detector species emits a detectable signal upon selective association with the detector region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the detector species is a fluorescently labelled species and the detectable signal arises from a change in fluorescence polarisation upon selective association with the detector region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the detector species comprises two species each having an interactive label, which labels interact upon selective association with the detector region and release a detectable signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein one of the interactive labels is a chelated lanthanide and the other is a chelating group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the further primer extension product is captured on a solid phase using a species which selectively associates with the complement of the detector region in the further primer extension product.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed claim 1 wherein the detector species comprises a nucleotide sequence identical to the sequence of the detector region in the tail of the diagnostic primer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed claim 1 wherein the tag primer comprises a nucleotide sequence identical to the sequence of the tag region in the tail of the diagnostic primer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detector region in the further primer extension product is identified by reference to its size contribution to the further primer/tag primer amplification product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed claim 1 and wherein the further primer has a non-complementary tail sequence comprising a tag region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed claim 1 and wherein the further primer is a diagnostic primer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed claim 1 wherein the melting temperature of the tag primer is higher than that of the diagnostic primer so that an increase in temperature provides a switch from diagnostic primer priming to tag primer priming.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed claim 1 wherein more than one diagnostic base sequence is detected in the sample using more than one diagnostic primer, appropriate further primer(s) and tag regions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein an identical tag sequence is used in the tail of all diagnostic primers and/or all further primers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein an identical detector region is used in the tail of all diagnostic primers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein one further primer is used with more than one diagnostic primer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed claim 1 wherein a terminal nucleotide of at least one diagnostic primer is complementary either to a suspected variant nucleotide or to the corresponding normal nucleotide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for the identification of one or more variant diagnostic base sequences against a background of normal diagnostic base sequences which comprised the use of a method as claimed in claim 1 .