Nucleic Acids Research, 2000, Vol. 28, No. 12 E60-e60
© 2000 Oxford University Press
A miniature integrated device for automated multistep genetic assays
Affymetrix Inc., 3380 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA
A highly integrated monolithic device was developed that automatically carries out a complex series of molecular processes on multiple samples. The device is capable of extracting and concentrating nucleic acids from milliliter aqueous samples and performing microliter chemical amplification, serial enzymatic reactions, metering, mixing and nucleic acid hybridization. The device, which is smaller than a credit card, can manipulate over 10 reagents in more than 60 sequential operations and was tested for the detection of mutations in a 1.6 kb region of the HIV genome from serum samples containing as few as 500 copies of the RNA. The elements in this device are readily linked into complex, flexible and highly parallel analysis networks for high throughput sample preparation or, conversely, for low cost portable DNA analysis instruments in point-of-care medical diagnostics, environmental testing and defensive biological agent detection.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed at present address: ACLARA BioSciences, Inc., 1288 Pear Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Tel: +1 650 210 1206; Fax: +1 650 210 1210; Email: randerson@aclara.com