The present invention relates to methods and systems for the detection of
specific sequences of nucleic acids or oligonucleotides. It relates more
particularly to a conjugated enzyme based assay system utilizing
reflective and/or transmissive optical bio-discs for detection of
specific sequences of nucleic acids. In the assay according to the
present invention, an enzyme reaction is used to detect the presence of
an analyte (DNA or RNA) in a microchannel in an optical bio-disc. The
analyte is immobilized by hybridization with a specific capture probe on
a capture layer on the surface and the signal that is generated is
localized and specific. The signal can be in the form of a pellet, a
fluorescent product, and/or a colored product, and can be detected and
quantified by an optical bio-disc reader utilized in conjunction with the
inventions hereof. This assay is thus quantitative in nature.