Warfarin Pharmacogenetics: Single-nucleotide Polymorphism Detection using CMOS Photosensor-based Real-time PCR

Abstract

Warfarin is a drug associated with blood clotting. As the side effects of this drug are fatal, it is important to adjust its dosage for each individual. In particular, DNA analysis of patients is necessary because the effect of the drug varies greatly depending on the genotype of the individual. Real-time PCR technology is usually used for DNA analysis. This technology requires expensive equipment, large space, and long experimental time. To solve these problems, we used a PCR module based on a CMOS photosensor. There are a heater circuit for thermal control on the its back side, and well-like structure on the surface, enabling location based multiplex PCR. We developed primers and probes to detect warfarin-related SNPs, and integrated with the PCR module. We tested the commercial Real-time PCR systems and our PCR modules. Based on the results, we confirmed that the level of performance of our system was similar to that of the commercial systems.