METHOD FOR DETECTING TARGET NUCLEIC ACID

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method excellent in operability and capable of rapidly and simply detecting the existence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, and to provide a kit for detecting the target nucleic acid. SOLUTION: This method for detecting the target nucleic acid comprises using a capture probe having bondability to the target nucleic acid and a competitive probe having no bondability to the target nucleic acid but having bondability to the capture probe, wherein the method comprises a step for mixing the competitive probe having a ligand with a sample, a step for introducing the obtained mixture on a water-absorbing substrate fixed with the capture probe, a step for introducing a signal reporter on the water-absorbing substrate, a step for developing the mixture and the signal reporter on the water-absorbing substrate, and a step for detecting a signal from the signal reporter. The method determines that, if the lower signal than that of a control sample is detected, the target nucleic acid is contained in the sample. The kit for detecting the target nucleic acid is provided. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO