Methods For Placing, Accepting, And Filling Orders For Products and Services

Abstract

Methods and systems for ordering assays which detect SNPs or gene expression are provided. The methods use PCR and RT-PCR procedures. Collections of stock assays are assembled using pre- and post-manufacturing quality control procedures and made available to consumers via the Internet. In addition, custom assays are prepared upon order from the consumer and these assays are also prepared using pre- and post-manufacturing quality control procedures. The assays are then delivered to the consumer.

1 . A method for providing to a consumer assays configured to detect presence or expression of genetic material, said method comprising:
 providing a web-based user interface configured to receive an order for one or more stock assays;   providing a web-based user interface configured to receive a request for design of one or more custom assays and an order for said custom assays; and   delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay in response to an order for said one on more custom or stock assay placed by the consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay comprises delivering the at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube comprises delivering to the consumer at least one probe and two primers. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the probe comprises at least one fluorophore and at least one fluorescence quencher. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the fluorescence quencher is a non-fluorescent fluorescence quencher. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the probe further comprises at least one minor groove binder. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube is a SNP assay comprising a separate probe for each of two alleles and two primers. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein said delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube further comprises delivering at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube and PCR reagents. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein said delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube further comprises delivering to the consumer at least one custom or stock assay in a single tube and a universal master mix, said universal master mix comprising at least one salt, a buffer, and a DNA polymerase. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the single tube further comprises a bar code identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein providing a user interface configured to receive a request for design of one or more custom assays and an order for said custom assays comprises providing a graphical user interface configured to receive a request for design of one or more custom assays and an order for said custom assays. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein providing a user interface configured to receive an order for one or more stock assays comprises providing a graphical user interface configured to receive an order for one or more stock assays. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the assays configured to detect presence of genetic material are assays configured to detect presence of at least one SNP allele. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein providing a user interface configured to receive an order for stock assays comprises providing a graphical user interface and wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive an order for at least one SNP assay. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein providing the graphical user interface includes providing an interface configured to receive, from the consumer, criteria relating to at least one gene region containing the at least one SNP. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a web-based gene exploration platform configured to provide information to assist a consumer in selecting one or both of a stock assay and a custom assay. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein providing a user interface configured to receive an order for stock assays comprises providing a graphical user interface, said method further comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface configured for the consumer to perform at least one search for at least one information item used to identify genetic material for a stock assay.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein providing a user interface configured to receive an order for stock assays comprises providing a graphical user interface and wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive an order for at least one gene expression assay. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said user interface configured to receive orders for custom assays includes a file-receiving interface configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing information suitable for use in designing at least one of said custom assays and wherein said file-receiving interface is configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing sequence information relating to target coordinates of the custom assay requested by the consumer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said user interface configured to receive orders for custom assays includes a file-receiving interface configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing information suitable for use in designing at least one of said custom assays, said file-receiving interface is configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing sequence information relating to the target of the custom assay requested by the consumer, and said file-receiving interface is configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing information relating to the identity of the consumer requesting a custom assay. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said user interface configured to receive orders for custom assays includes a file-receiving interface configured to receive from the consumer a submission file containing information suitable for use in designing at least one of said custom assays, said method further comprising:
 providing a submission file builder configured to assist the consumer in preparing said submission file for ordering custom assays.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said delivering to the consumer at least one assay further comprises delivering information concerning said assay.