Nucleic acid analysis method and apparatus

Abstract

Methods of detecting target nucleic acid is a sample are described. A first probe is attached to first beads, and the first beads are placed in the sample so that any target nucleic acid attaches to the first probe. A second probe also attaches to the target nucleic acid so that any of the target nucleic acid links or “tethers” the first and second probes. A capacitive sensor detects capacitance of the beads and processes capacitance data to quantify target nucleic acid presence in the sample. The second probe may be immobilised on the sensor surface. Alternatively the second beads are introduced into the sample with the second probe attached, and the extent of tethering of the first beads to the second beads is indicative of the extent of target NA present.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A method for detecting an analyte, the method comprising:
 binding at least one copy of an analyte from a sample with a bead;   capturing, with the bound analyte, a corresponding quantity of a reporter;   collecting the captured reporter on a sensing element of a sensor; and   detecting, with the sensing element, a quantity of reporter as a measure of an amount of the analyte in the sample.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the analyte is a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the amount of the analyte is indicative of a presence of a microbiological entity. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the reporter comprises a plurality of particles. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the reporter further comprises a probe that binds to the nucleic acid by complementary base pairing. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the probe comprises a peptide nucleic acid. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the bead is magnetic. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the magnetic bead is used to collect the reporter on the sensor. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising denaturing the reporter from the bound analyte prior to detection. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein denaturing is performed on the sensing element of the sensor. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the denaturing step produces a change in capacitance that is detectable by the sensing element of the sensor. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of separating the reporter bound to the analyte from a population of reporter not bound to the analyte. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the reporter comprises a size that is smaller than the bead. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the bead and the reporter bind to different portions of the analyte.