A label-free double-amplification system for sensitive detection of single-stranded DNA and thrombin by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A label-free double amplification system has been developed by using a ternary DNA probe containing the poly(adenine-thymine) sequence assisted by exonuclease III degradation. The method achieved more than 600-fold signal amplification and allowed sensitive detection of single-stranded DNA and thrombin at the pM level by using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.