Method for performing multi-formatted assays
First Claim
1. A method for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to quantitatively determine the amount of a first target nucleic acid present in a first portion of the reaction receptacles and to qualitatively determine the presence or absence of a second target nucleic acid present in a second portion of the reaction receptacles, said method comprising the automated steps of:
- a) successively providing to a first heater a plurality of reaction receptacles, each said reaction receptacle being provided with amplification and enzyme reagents sufficient to amplify a first or second target sequence contained within a corresponding first or second target nucleic acid under the temperature conditions of said first heater;
b) successively and periodically moving reaction receptacles of a first portion of said reaction receptacles, to which detection reagents sufficient to detect a first amplification product containing said first target sequence or its complement have been provided, into operative proximity to a signal measuring device constructed and arranged to measure the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle placed in operative proximity to said signal measuring device and measuring the amount of signal associated with the presence of said first amplification product in each reaction receptacle of said first portion of reaction receptacles moved into operative proximity to said signal measuring device;
c) using a microprocessor to quantify the amount of said first target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle of said first portion of reaction receptacles based upon the measurements obtained in step b);
d) successively moving reaction receptacles of a second portion of said reaction receptacles, to which detection reagents sufficient to detect a second amplification product containing said second target sequence or its complement have been provided, into operative proximity to a signal detecting device constructed and arranged to detect the presence of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle placed in operative proximity to said signal detecting device and detecting a signal associated with the presence of said second amplification product in each reaction receptacle of said second portion of reaction receptacles moved into operative proximity to said signal detecting device; and
f) using a microprocessor to determine the presence or absence of said second target nucleic acid in each reaction receptacle of said second portion of reaction receptacles based upon the measurements obtained in step d).
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to quantitatively determine the amount of a first target nucleic acid present in a first portion of the reaction receptacles and to qualitatively determine the presence or absence of a second target nucleic acid present in a second portion of the reaction receptacles, said method comprising the automated steps of:
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a) successively providing to a first heater a plurality of reaction receptacles, each said reaction receptacle being provided with amplification and enzyme reagents sufficient to amplify a first or second target sequence contained within a corresponding first or second target nucleic acid under the temperature conditions of said first heater;
b) successively and periodically moving reaction receptacles of a first portion of said reaction receptacles, to which detection reagents sufficient to detect a first amplification product containing said first target sequence or its complement have been provided, into operative proximity to a signal measuring device constructed and arranged to measure the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle placed in operative proximity to said signal measuring device and measuring the amount of signal associated with the presence of said first amplification product in each reaction receptacle of said first portion of reaction receptacles moved into operative proximity to said signal measuring device;
c) using a microprocessor to quantify the amount of said first target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle of said first portion of reaction receptacles based upon the measurements obtained in step b);
d) successively moving reaction receptacles of a second portion of said reaction receptacles, to which detection reagents sufficient to detect a second amplification product containing said second target sequence or its complement have been provided, into operative proximity to a signal detecting device constructed and arranged to detect the presence of a signal emitted by the contents of a reaction receptacle placed in operative proximity to said signal detecting device and detecting a signal associated with the presence of said second amplification product in each reaction receptacle of said second portion of reaction receptacles moved into operative proximity to said signal detecting device; and
f) using a microprocessor to determine the presence or absence of said second target nucleic acid in each reaction receptacle of said second portion of reaction receptacles based upon the measurements obtained in step d). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification