METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR POINT-OF-CARE NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION AND DETECTION

Methods and apparatus are provided for point-of-care nucleic acid amplification and detection. One embodiment of the invention comprises a fully integrated, sample-to-answer molecular diagnostic instrument that optionally may be used in a multiplexed fashion to detect multiple target nucleic acid sequences of interest and that optionally may be configured for disposal after one-time use. The instrument preferable utilizes an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), to reduce the instrumentation requirements associated with nucleic acid amplification. Detection of target amplification may be achieved, for example, via detection of a color shift or fluorescence in a dye added to the amplification reaction. Such detection may be performed visually by an operator or may be achieved utilizing an imaging technique, e.g., spectrophotometric imaging.