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Title: Single molecule detection using charge-coupled device array technology

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7237575· OSTI ID:7237575

A technique for the detection of single fluorescent chromophores in a flowing stream is under development. This capability is an integral facet of a rapid DNA sequencing scheme currently being developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory. In previous investigations, the detection sensitivity was limited by the background Raman emission from the water solvent. A detection scheme based on a novel mode of operating a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) is being developed which should greatly enhance the discrimination between fluorescence from a single molecule and the background Raman scattering from the solvent. Register shifts between rows in the CCD are synchronized with the sample flow velocity so that fluorescence from a single molecule is collected in a single moving charge packet occupying an area approaching that of a single pixel while the background is spread evenly among a large number of pixels. Feasibility calculations indicate that single molecule detection should be achieved with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

Research Organization:
Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-90ER60986
OSTI ID:
7237575
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/60986-T1; ON: DE92019242
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English