Apparatus and methods for efficient processing of biological samples on slides

• US 20050238534A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Registry of Pathology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
• Original Assignee: American Registry of Pathology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
• Inventors: Chu, Wei-Sing
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/143333 Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]

Abstract

Microscope slides which are useful for manually or automatically processing biological samples are described. External controls may be placed directly on the microscope slide in conjunction with a biological sample to be assayed. The external controls can also be conveniently placed on a membrane which can be affixed to the slide.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A slide comprising a biological sample and a control.

44. The slide of claim 43 wherein said control is adhered to said slide.

45. The slide of claim 43, wherein said control is selected from the group consisting of:

an external control,

a positive control, and

a negative control.

46. The slide of claim 43, wherein said control is selected from the group consisting of antigens, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells.

47. The slide of claim 43 wherein a membrane is adhered to said slide.

48. The slide of claim 47, wherein said control is adhered to said membrane.

49. The slide of claim 47, wherein said membrane is selected from the group consisting of:

nitrocellulose,

plastic,

glass, and

nylon.

50. The slide of claim 47, wherein said membrane is transparent.

51. The slide of claim 47, wherein said membrane comprises a plurality of said controls.

52. The slide of claim 47, wherein said membrane comprises said controls on a first face of said membrane and a substance on a second face of said membrane wherein said substance causes said membrane to adhere to said slide when contacted with said slide.

53. A method of assaying a biological sample on said slide of claim 43, wherein one or more of said controls are placed on said slide and processed simultaneously with said biological sample for one or more steps of said method.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said controls are on a membrane which is placed on said slide.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said slide is placed on a well containing one or more reagents which react with said biological sample.

56. A kit comprising said membrane of claim 47 in combination with a multiwell tray.

57. The kit of claim 56, wherein said multiwell tray comprises predried reagents.

58. The kit of claim 56, wherein a reagent added to a well of said multiwell tray reacts with said control on said membrane.