Colorimetric detection for PCR amplified HIV-1 DNA using magnetic beads.

A rapid and nonradioactive detection method for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified HIV-1 DNA was developed using a colorimetric detection system. Hybridization between biotin-labeled amplified targets and digoxigenin-capture probes occurs in solution followed by efficient and rapid capture onto streptavidin-magnetic beads. The presence of the digoxigenin-capture probe hybridized with biotin-labeled targets is then detected by antidigoxigenin-alkaline phosphatase conjugates using a colorimetric substrate. This approach is highly sensitive and can detect less than 10 HIV targets prior to PCR in approximately 50 min.