Method and Apparatus for Rapidly and Cyclically Heating and Cooling a Fluid Sample During PCR Testing

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses rapidly and cyclically heating and cooling a fluid sample during PCT testing to reduce the duration for full amplification of target DNA using most PCR procedures. Instead of heating and cooling static target solution in a reaction tube, the target solution reciprocates (alternately flows) back and forth within an elongate, thick-walled, small-bore tube. Sections of the tube are maintained at different temperatures so that an ascending/descending temperature gradient is maintained along the length of the tube. As the target solution flows within and along the tube from section to section, it rapidly achieves thermal equilibrium with the tube at each section, thereby rapidly thermally cycling the target solution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.