Methods for exogenous, internal controls during nucleic acid amplification

摘要

Reporter-quencher probe assays of nucleic acid amplification, such as PCR, are rendered more meaningful by the addition of internal control reagents. An internal control polynucleotide is amplified with internal control primers and the product is measured by correlation with increased fluorescence by polymerase mediated-exonuclease cleavage or hybridization of the internal control probe. Probes specific for target and internal control polynucleotides are labelled with spectrally resolvable reporters, allowing for concurrent detection and measurement of target and control amplification. A kit of all PCR reagents can be dispensed into reaction chambers in a high-throughput system for rapid and accurate nucleic acid amplification assay, with real-time or end- point measurements. Fluorescent signals correlated to target and internal control levels are spectrally resolvable and measured concurrently. A non- extending oligonucleotide or nucleic analog "block", complementary to the internal control polynucleotide, is added to the amplification mixture to preclude amplification of the internal control polynucleotide and function as an internal negative control. The amplification control reagents, kits, and methods of the present invention provide positive and negative control tests occurring within, and measurable within, the reaction chamber.