| abstract |
Method and means for accelerating the rate of hybridization of nucleic acid probes with complemental target sequences in probe assays of the filter binding or sandwich filter binding formats. The nucleic acid probes are electrophoretically concentrated at membrane means including at least a dialysis type membrane and to which the target sequences are bound. The rate of hybridization can be further enhanced by means for moving concentrated unannealed probe molecules successively in various directions along the surface of the membrane means to which the target sequences are bound. The invention further includes method and means for electrophoretically removing from the membrane means unannealed probe molecules which became adsorbed to the membrane means during hybridization. In one embodiment of the invention the membrane means comprises a cellulose dialysis membrane in laminate relation with a nitrocellulose or nylon filter having target sequence molecules bound to the surface thereof facing the dialysis membrane. In another embodiment of the invention the membrane means comprises a dialysis membrane to one side of which the target sequence molecules are bound. |