Assay System Using Labeled Oligonucleotides

Abstract

The present invention provides a useful system for assays that comprises a solid support, a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support, and complementary oligonucleotides attached to capture ligands. A detectable label can be directly attached to the capture oligonucleotides or the complementary oligonucleotides. The labeled oligonucleotides can be detected, and used to determine the quality of the assay. A labeled detector ligand corresponding to a target ligand can also be independently detected apart from the labeled oligonucleotide.

1 . An assay device comprising: 
 a. a solid support; and    b. a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support, wherein at least a portion of the capture oligonucleotides have detectable labels directly attached thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein all of the capture oligonucleotides are the same.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the capture oligonucleotides are different.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein all of the detectable labels are the same.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of fluorophores, radioactive, chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, enzyme, nephelometric, turbidometric, and visible labels.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of capture ligands attached to complementary oligonucleotides, wherein the capture oligonucleotides and the complementary oligonucleotides form double stranded nucleic acid duplexes.  
     
     
         7 . An assay device comprising: 
 a. a solid support;    b. a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support; and    c. a plurality of capture ligands attached to complementary oligonucleotides, wherein at least a portion of the complementary oligonucleotides have detectable labels directly attached thereto and the complementary oligonucleotides form double stranded nucleic acid duplexes with the capture oligonucleotides.    
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein all of the capture oligonucleotides are the same.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein at least some of the capture oligonucleotides are different.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the capture ligands are antibodies.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the capture ligands are antigens  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7  wherein all of the detectable labels are the same.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the detectable label is selected from the group consisting of fluorophores, radioactive, chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, enzyme, nephelometric, turbidometric, and visible labels.  
     
     
         14 . An assay kit comprising: 
 a. a solid support;    b. a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support wherein at least a portion of the capture oligonucleotides have first detectable labels directly attached thereto; and    c. a plurality of capture ligands attached to complementary oligonucleotides, the complementary oligonucleotides being capable of hybridizing under appropriate conditions to form double stranded nucleic acid duplexes with the capture oligonucleotides.    
     
     
         15 . The assay kit of  claim 14  wherein all of the capture oligonucleotides are the same.  
     
     
         16 . The assay kit of  claim 14  wherein at least some of the capture oligonucleotides are different.  
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the capture oligonucleotides and complementary oligonucleotides are in the form of double stranded nucleic acid duplexes.  
     
     
         18 . The assay kit of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 d. one or more detector ligands having second detectable labels.    
     
     
         19 . The assay kit of  claim 18  wherein the capture ligands and detector ligands are antibodies.  
     
     
         20 . The assay kit of  claim 18  wherein the labeled detector ligand competes with a target ligand in binding to the capture ligand.  
     
     
         21 . The assay kit of  claim 18  wherein the detectable labels are selected from the group consisting of fluorophores, radioactive, chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, enzyme, nephelometric, turbidometric, and visible labels.  
     
     
         22 . The assay kit of  claim 18  wherein the first and second detectable labels are different fluorophores that use the same excitation light source.  
     
     
         23 . An assay kit comprising: 
 a. a solid support;    b. a plurality of capture oligonucleotides immobilized onto the solid support; and    c. a plurality of capture ligands attached to complementary oligonucleotides, wherein at least a portion of the complementary oligonucleotides have detectable labels directly attached thereto, and the complementary oligonucleotides being capable of hybridizing under appropriate conditions to form double stranded nucleic acid duplexes with the capture oligonucleotides.    
     
     
         24 . The assay kit of  claim 23  wherein all of the capture oligonucleotides are the same.  
     
     
         25 . The assay kit of  claim 23  wherein at least some of the capture oligonucleotides are different.  
     
     
         26 . The assay kit of  claim 23  wherein the capture oligonucleotides and complementary oligonucleotides are in the form of double stranded nucleic acid duplexes.  
     
     
         27 . The assay kit of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 d. one or more detector ligands having second detectable labels.    
     
     
         28 . The assay kit of  claim 27  wherein the capture ligands and detector ligands are antibodies.  
     
     
         29 . The assay kit of  claim 27  wherein the labeled detector ligand competes with a target ligand in binding to the capture ligand.  
     
     
         30 . The assay kit of  claim 27  wherein the detectable labels are selected from the group consisting of fluorophores, radioactive, chemiluminescent, bioluminescent, enzyme, nephelometric, turbidometric, and visible labels.  
     
     
         31 . The assay kit of  claim 27  wherein the first and second detectable labels are different fluorophores that use the same excitation light source.