Solid phase diagnosis of medical conditions

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A method for detecting a target polynucleotide that is characteristic of a pathological condition, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a first amplified DNA by a first polymerass chain reaction using a first set of primers to amplify a target polynucleotide characteristic of a pathological condition; (b) producing from said first amplified DNA a second amplified DNA by a second polymerass chain reaction using a second set of primers, wherein: (i) said second primers differ from said first primers, (ii) a 5' region of said second primers is not complementary to said first amplified DNA, (iii) one of said second primers is biotinylated, and (iv) another of said second primers comprises means for binding a detectable label; (c) binding said biotinylated second primer to a solid support before, during or after said second polymerase chain reaction, whereby said second amplified DNA is bound to said support; (d) binding a detectable label to said means for binding a detectable label after said second polymerase chain reaction, whereby said detectable label is bound to said second amplified DNA, wherein said second amplified DNA is double-stranded; and (e) detecting said target polynucleotide by determining the detectable label bound to said double-stranded second amplified DNA.
2.
A kit for detecting a target polynucleotide that is characteristic of a pathological condition, said target polynucleotide being first amplified by a first polymerase chain reaction using first primers, said kit comprising a set of second primers for producing a second amplified DNA from said first amplified DNA, wherein: (i) said second primers differ from said first primers, (ii) a 5' region of said second primers is not complementary to said first amplified DNA, (iii) one of said second primers is biotinylated, and (iv) another of said second primers comprises means for binding a detectable label, said biotinylated second primer being effective, before, during or after said second amplification reaction, to immobilize said second amplified DNA on a solid support comprising a biotin-binding moiety, and said means for binding a detectable label being effective, after said amplification reaction, to bind a label to said second amplified DNA, wherein said second amplified DNA is double-stranded, whereby said target polynucleotide may be detected by determining said label bound to said double-stranded second amplified DNA