Thermal Reaction Device and Method for Using the Same

Abstract

Devices and methods for performing the relative concentration of a target in a sample, the sample containing both target and non-target components, the method performed by partitioning the sample into a large number of reaction volumes such that the target is concentrated relative to the non-target, and performing a detection assay upon each reaction volume to detect the target.

1 . A method for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a target polynucleotide in a sample, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a microfluidic device having at least one sample channel and a plurality of valves distributed along the length of the sample channel, wherein the sample channel is adapted to be partitioned into a plurality of separate reaction chambers by the closing of one or more valves,   (b) introducing a sample having at least one amplifiable target into the sample channel,   (c) closing the plurality of valves to form separate reaction chambers so that the amplifiable target is isolated into at least one chamber,   (d) conducting a polynucleotide amplification reaction,   (e) detecting the presence of a polynucleotide amplification product in at least one reaction chamber to determine the presence and/or quantity of the target polynucleotide in the sample.   
     
     
         2 - 28 . (canceled)