Digital bio disc (dbd), dbd driver apparatus, and assay method using the same

• US 20090221431A1
• Filed: 05/06/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoo, Jae Chern
• Granted Patent: US 8,263,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/9
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0061 The surface being organic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00641 the porous medium being continuous, e.g. porous oxide substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00704 integrated with the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/023 Sending and receiving of information, e.g. using bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1827 using resistive heater
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0475 : specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0616 : Ball valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0633 : with moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 : characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/52 : with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples amplification or hybridisation processes per se C12Q1/68; controlling sequential reactions for synthesis B01J19/0046
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 : Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0078 : using moulding or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0084 : Chemistry or biology, e.g. "lab-on-a-chip" technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 : Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 : Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0023 : with ball-shaped valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0034 : Operating means specially adapted for microvalves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 : Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk

Abstract

An aspect of embodiment relates to a digital bio disc (DBD) including new valve control means and fluid movement system, a digital bio disc (DBD) driver apparatus, and an assay method using the same. More particularly, an aspect of embodiment relates to a DBD with a lab-on-a-chip for various diagnostic assays, nucleic acid hybridization assays, or immunoassays, a DBD driver apparatus integrated with a controller for controlling the DBD and a general optical disc (CD or DVD), and an assay method using the same.

Claims

1. A digital bio-disc (DBD) comprising:

a sample inlet;

chambers which reserve a buffer solution or a reaction solution;

an assay site where bio materials are arrayed on a substrate;

channels through which fluid flows between the sample inlet, the chambers, and the assay site;

holes which connect the channels; and

a plurality of valves which are used to open and close the holes, wherein the valve is constructed with a micro-bead, a permanent magnet disposed above the micro-bead and an moveable permanent magnet disposed under the micro-bead by which opening and closing of the valve is controlled, and wherein the valves have different radial distances from a center of the disc, provided that a portion of the valves which are opened at the same timing have the same radial distance.

2. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the hole of the DBD under distribution is always closed by the micro-bead and the permanent magnet disposed above the hole.

3. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the chamber further comprise a venting hole and/or a reagent inlet.

4. The DBD according to claim 3, wherein the DBD further comprise a vinyl cover or a protective vinyl which closes at least one of the sample inlet, the venting hole, and the reagent inlet.

5. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the DBD further comprise a balancing chamber or a balancing weight which makes a center of the disc weight-centered.

6. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the bio materials in the assay site is immobilized on the substrate by immobilizing means if the immobilizing is needed.

7. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the micro-bead is a film-like cylindrical magnet.

8. The DBD according to claim 7, wherein the film-like cylindrical magnet is coated with a cushion material or a film-like cushion material is inserted between the micro-bead and the hole.

9. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the movable permanent magnet is mounted on a radially movable slider disposed under the DBD, so that the movable permanent magnet can be moved.

10. The DBD according to claim 9, wherein the fluid movement is performed by a “

pumping fluid movement”

that a permanent magnet on the slider repeatedly performs rapid approaching and separating movements with respect to the center of the hole, with the rotation of the disc stopped.

11. The DBD according to claim 10, wherein the pumping fluid movement is performed after a “

radial valve searching process”

or an “

azimuthal valve searching process”

.

12. The DBD according to claim 9, the fluid movement is performed by a centrifugal force generated from rotation of the disc and a “

pulse value operation”

where the valves are repeatedly opened at the time that the holes of the valves are aligned with the permanent magnet disposed on the slider during rotation of the disc.

13. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the substrate in the assay site is a porous membrane, a before channel of a just-before valve of the assay site is a hydrophobic channel, and an after channel of the just-before valve is a hydrophilic channel.

14. The DBD according to claim 13, wherein the porous membrane is one selected from a group consisting a NC (nitrocellose) membrane, a nylon membrane, and an aligned nanotubes.

15. The DBD according to claim 13, wherein the hydrophilic channel is constructed by coating a surface of a hydrophobic channel with a hydrophilic acrylate, an ultra-hydrophilic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) or an optical catalyst selected from a group consisting ZrO₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, and TiO₂ or by performing a surface modification on the hydrophobic channel with plasma.

16. The DBD according to claim 13, wherein the hydrophilic channel is divided into at least one branch channel, and the hydrophilic channel is connected to the porous membrane through a hole provided to a distal end of the branch channel.

17. The DBD according to claim 13, wherein the assay site may have air holes disposed at the both sides of the assay site to dry the porous membrane.

18. The DBD according to claim 13, wherein the fluid movement into the assay site is performed by the opening of the just before valve and hydrophilic affinity of the hydrophilic channel and the reaction solution without using a centrifugal force.

19. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the body of the DBD is constructed with an upper substrate, an intermediate substrate, and a lower substrate, and these substrates are adhered and assembled by using ultrasonic fusing, UV adhesive, or double-sided tape to form a single body.

20. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the bio material is at least one selected from DNA, oligo-nucleotide, RNA, PNA, ligand, receptor, antigen, antibody, and protein.

21. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a preparation chamber for preparing a DNA sample from blood, cells, or RNA;

a PCR chamber for amplifying the DNA sample through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR);

a hybridization chamber in which assay and diagnostic probes are arrayed on the substrate for hybridization with the amplified DNA from the PCR; and

a trash chamber for collecting wastes generated from washing.

22. The DBD according to claim 21, wherein the preparation chamber reserves a lysis buffer solution used to destruct a cell and extract a DNA through lysis and particles or ferromagnetic beads having affinity to the extracted DNA.

23. The DBD according to claim 21, wherein the DBD comprises a plurality of the PCR chambers and each PCR chamber reserves one type or several types of primer, or all the PCR chambers reserves the same type of primer.

24. The DBD according to claim 21, wherein the preparation chamber reserves only a lysis buffer solution used to destruct the cell and extract the DNA without using the particles or ferromagnetic beads so as to prepare the DNA sample by using a centrifugal force generated from rotation of the bio-disc.

25. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises at least one chamber selected from the group consisting of:

a preparation chamber for preparing a serum sample, an antigen, or an antibody from blood or cells;

an antigen-antibody reaction chamber in which immuno probes are arrayed on the substrate for an antigen-antibody reaction with the prepared antigen or antibody; and

a trash chamber for collecting waste generated from washing.

26. The DBD according to claim 25, wherein the immuno probe array is constructed by arraying at least one tumor marker selected from AFP, PSA, CEA, CA19-9, CA125, and CA15-3 on the substrate.

27. The DBD according to claim 25, wherein the immuno probe is at lease one selected from myoglobin, CK-MB, and Troponin I (Tn 1) as a cardiac infraction marker and GS (Glutamine Synthetase) as an Alzheimer'"'"'s diseases marker.

28. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises at least one chamber selected from the group consisting of:

a preparation chamber for preparing a serum or hemoglobin sample from blood;

an antigen-antibody reaction chamber where anti-HbA1c antibody or glucose antibody is arrayed on the assay site to react with an antigen, glucose, or HbA1c in the prepared sample; and

a trash chamber for collecting wastes generated from washing.

29. The DBD according to claim 28, wherein the preparation chamber further contains an RBC (Red blood Cell) lysis buffer solution used to destruct red blood cells and extract hemoglobin.

30. The DBD according to claim 25, wherein, in the preparation chamber, the serum sample is be prepared by using a centrifugal force generated by rotation of the DBD.

31. The DBD according to claim 30, wherein the preparation chamber has a shape of a conical beaker, a flask, or a test tube in order to facilitate separating serum in centrifugal separation.

32. The DBD according to claim 25, wherein the DBD may further comprise a label chamber for reserving a labeled antibody.

33. The DBD according to claim 32, wherein the label is one selected a group consisting gold, latex, a fluorescent marker, an enzyme, and a radioactive isotope.

34. The DBD according to any one of claim 21, wherein the preparation chamber further comprise an impedance measuring device therein for checking whether or not a sample is injected into the preparation chamber.

35. The DBD according to claim 34, wherein the impedance measuring device is an interdigitated array.

36. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the assay site comprises an immuno assay sector and a nucleic acid probe assay sector arranged in an angular or radial direction to enable an immuno assay and a nucleic acid probe assay to be performed concurrently.

37. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the assay site is detected by a detection device coupled with a transforming device selected from a light transmission type measuring device, an electro-chemical detection device, a capacitance and impedance measuring device, an image sensor, or a bio-pit detection device.

38. The DBD according to claim 37, wherein the light transmission type detection device comprises:

a laser device (light transmitting unit) which emits a laser beam onto a confined signal element and a released signal element; and

an optical detector (light receiving unit) which detects a differential light transmission signal between the signal elements.

39. The DBD according to claim 38, wherein at least one optical detector (light receiving unit) is arrayed and integrated along a circumference of the DBD to correspond to each assay site.

40. The DBD according to claim 38, wherein at least one laser device (light transmitting unit) and at least one optical detector (light receiving unit) is arrayed and integrated along a circumference of the DBD to correspond to each assay site.

41. The DBD according to claim 37, wherein the electro-chemical detection device or the capacitance and impedance measuring device comprises:

interdigitated array electrodes disposed on the substrate of the assay site; and

a HRP (Horse Radish Peroxidase) and/or enzyme and/or a metal micro-sphere attached to the end of confined signal elements.

42. The DBD according to claim 41, wherein the interdigitated array electrodes is constructed by coating a surface of a porous membrane with a conductive material.

43. The DBD according to claim 37, wherein the image sensor picks up an image of a label (coloring particle) linked with the probe and obtains image information.

44. The DBD according to claim 43, wherein the coloring particle is excited by a laser generating device, and the excited image information on the assay site is obtained by the image sensor.

45. The DBD according to claim 37, wherein the bio-pit detection device is any one of an STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope), an AFM (Atomic Force Microscope), a cantilever AFM, an MFM (Magnetic Force Microscope), and an SNOM (Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope).

46. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the DBD further comprises a memory or other storage means or RF IC for storing a protocol of the DBD, assay interpretive algorithms, standard control values for analysis, positional information on analysis sites, bioinformatics information, self-diagnostics, DBD driver software, educational information for patients on clinical assays, a variety of web sites and links enabling a patient to communicate with a doctor or hospital at a remote location based on his/her diagnosis result, or encrypted personal information.

47. The DBD according to claim 1, wherein the DBD further comprises an RF IC which transmits a detection result of the assay site obtained by the detection device to an external central controller, a storage device, or an input output device through an RF interface.

48. The DBD according to claim 47, wherein the RF IC includes a condenser for storing a sufficient amount of electricity generated from an induction coil embedded in the DBD through an external RF wave.

49. A DBD driver apparatus comprising:

a turntable on which the DBD according to claim 1 is mounted;

a spindle motor which rotates the DBD;

a slider which includes a detector device for detecting the assay site in the DBD and a permanent magnet for controlling opening and closing of the valves in the DBD;

a slide motor which controls moving of the slider;

a central controller which controls whole components of the DBD driver; and

a body which supports the DBD driver.

50. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the detector device is one selected from a light transmittance measuring device, an electro-chemical detection device, a capacitance and impedance measuring device, an image sensor, and a bio-pit detection device.

51. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the image sensor is a line image sensor for sensing a light intensity in units of a pixel.

52. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the line image sensor is a linear sensor array or a CIS (Contact Image Sensor).

53. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the line image sensor further includes a light emitting diode (LED) for illumination with a wavelength of from 500 nm to 800 nm and an optical lens which are disposed in the vicinity of the line image sensor.

54. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the line image sensor is moved on the slider to obtain two-dimensional image information of the assay site.

55. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the slider is provided with a bio optical pickup module (BOPM) device including the detection device for detecting the assay site and a general optical device (a CD reader or a DVD reader) in a module.

56. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the slider is connected to the slide motor through a worm gear so that the moving thereof is controlled.

57. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the bio optical pickup module (BOPM) device further comprises contact interface means for supplying a control signal to the assay site in the DBD and reading a detection signal from the assay site in the DBD.

58. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the fluid movement in the DBD is performed by a “

pumping movement”

that a permanent magnet on the slider repeatedly performs rapid approaching and separating movements with respect to the center of the hole, with the rotation of the disc stopped.

59. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 58, wherein the pumping fluid movement is performed after a “

radial valve searching process”

or an “

azimuthal valve searching process”

.

60. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the fluid movement in the DBD is performed by a centrifugal force generated from rotation of the disc and a “

pulse value operation”

where the valves are repeatedly opened at the time that the holes of the valves are aligned with the permanent magnet disposed on the slider during rotation of the disc.

61. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein a circuit board on which a central controller and a storage device or an input output device are disposed is engaged with the DBD driver body, and the central controller rotates and stops the spindle motor at the time of rotating and stopping the DBD and rotates and stops the slide motor for controlling moving of a detector device for detection of the assay site in the DBD and a permanent magnet for control of opening and closing of the valves in the DBD.

62. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the input output device is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device or a device according to IEEE-1394, ATAPI or Internet communication standard.

63. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises an RF wave generation unit for supplying power to the RF IC on the DBD.

64. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises a bio-disc detection unit for determining whether a currently loaded disc is a DBD or a general optical disc selected from among an audio CD, a CD-R, a game CD, and a DVD.

65. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein an optical pickup device reads a groove pattern or a data pattern at a particular area on a surface of the DBD to allow the central controller to recognize that a disc currently loaded on the DBD driver is a DBD.

66. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the central controller may determine whether a currently loaded disc is a DBD or a general optical disc selected from among an audio CD, a CD-R, a game CD, and a DVD;

transmit information read from the general optical disc using the optical pickup to a storage or output unit, transmit information to be written to the optical pickup device, or output various control signals required for read/write if the currently loaded disc is determined to be a general optical disc; and

transmit various control signals for control of the DBD to the bio optical pickup (BOPM) device or the RF IC if the currently loaded disc is determined to be a DBD.

67. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein, at the time of loading the DBD, a new loading of the DBD is transmitted to the central controller in a wireless manner through a non-contact interface or an RF IC on the DBD, so that the central controller recognizes that the disc loaded on the DBD driver is the DBD.

68. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus sends an eject message or a warning message to a user if a DBD into which a sample has not be injected is loaded.

69. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein, when an eject (unloading) or a stop command is input to the DBD driver apparatus during assay or diagnosis, the DBD driver apparatus sends a warning message or requests a user'"'"'s password while continuing assay and diagnosis.

70. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises a memory storing information on how many times a DBD has been used, its validation period, and kinds of diseases which it can diagnose, so as to provide a user with the stored information on the DBD or the availability of the DBD whenever the DBD is loaded.

71. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises statistic software and storage means for managing a history of the detection results of the assay site and provides periodical diagnosis information to a user.

72. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises software for determining a negative, positive, or dangerous state and calculating an associated value by detecting signal intensity by using the detection device.

73. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 55, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises:

a play and search button and a stop button for general optical discs; and

a light emitting diode (LED) indicating that a DBD has been loaded.

74. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus further comprises a liquid crystal display or a monitor to display the status of progress in main processes performed in the DBD in percentages or as a bar graph or a pie graph.

75. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the body which supports the DBD driver allows DBD top loading or DBD front loading.

76. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus has a plurality of turn tables so as to load a plurality of the DBDs in one time.

77. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus is a double deck driver so as to load the DBD for diagnosis and a DVD disc for movies.

78. The DBD driver apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the DBD driver apparatus is a combo driver having a DBD driver at one side and a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) at the other side.

79. A nucleic acid assay method using a DBD according to claim 21, the method comprising:

preparing a DNA sample from blood, cells, or RNA;

amplifying the prepared DNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR);

hybridizing amplified DNA products from the PCR with the assay and diagnostic probe arrayed on the assay site; and

detecting a result of hybridization reaction in the assay site by using a detection device coupled with a transforming device, wherein the detection device includes a light transmission type measuring device, an electro-chemical detection device, a capacitance and impedance measuring device, an image sensor, or a bio-pit detection device.

80. The nucleic acid assay method according to claim 79, wherein the preparing of the DNA sample may comprises:

injecting blood via a sample inlet into the preparation chamber;

performing incubation in the preparation chamber to allow particles or ferromagnetic beads in the preparation chamber to attract DNA extracted through lysis;

fixing the particles or ferromagnetic beads and slowly rotating the DBD to wash out and flow the cell debris into the trash chamber; and

separating the DNA from the particles or ferromagnetic beads or resuspending the DNA in a resuspension buffer.

81. The nucleic acid assay method according to claim 79, wherein the amplifying of the prepared DNA sample through PCR may comprises:

rotating the DBD to allow the prepared DNA sample to flow into the PCR chamber; and

repeating a PCR cycle several times using a heater and a thermo-sensor installed in the PCR chamber to amplify the DNA sample.

82. The nucleic acid assay method according to claim 79, wherein the method further comprises, after the PRC process:

rotating the DBD to allow a DNAse to flow into the PCR chamber; and

heating the PCR chamber at a high temperature to deactivate the DNAse and form single-stranded DNA fragments (denaturing process).

83. The nucleic acid assay method according to claim 79, wherein each PCR chamber may comprise a heater which is controlled independently from the heaters of the other PCR chambers (in independent incubation time intervals) to form the DNA fragments having different lengths.

84. An immuno assay method using the DBD according to claim 25, the method comprising:

rotating the DBD at high speed to extract serum or an antigen from blood;

introducing the extracted antigen into a label chamber and performing incubation in the chamber for 1-2 minutes to bind the antigen to labeled antibodies and form a label-antigen complex;

moving the label-antigen complex into the assay site; and

performing cultivation in the DBD in a stationary state to induce an antigen-antibody reaction between the label-antigen complex and the capture antibodies; and

adding a washing buffer and washing the assay site; and

optionally detecting the assay site by using a detection device coupled with a transforming device, wherein the detection device includes a light transmission type measuring device, an electro-chemical detection device, a capacitance and impedance measuring device, an image sensor, or a bio-pit detection device.

85. An immuno assay method using the DBD according to claim 28 for diabetes diagnosis or blood sugar level analysis, the method comprising:

preparing serum or hemoglobin from blood;

introducing the prepared antigen into a label chamber and performing incubation in the chamber for 1-2 minutes to bind the antigen to labeled antibodies and form a label-antigen complex;

moving the label-antigen complex into the assay site; and

performing cultivation in the DBD in a stationary state to induce an antigen-antibody reaction between the label-antigen complex and the capture antibodies; and

adding a washing buffer and washing the assay site; and

optionally detecting the assay site by using a detection device coupled with a transforming device, wherein the detection device includes a light transmission type measuring device, an electro-chemical detection device, a capacitance and impedance measuring device, an image sensor, or a bio-pit detection device.

86. The assay method according to claim 79, wherein the method further comprises, before the detecting of the assay site, cleaning and drying the assay site.

87. The assay method according to claim 79, wherein the method further comprises a warbling mixing process in the performing of the incubation, the cultivation, the hybridizing, or the antigen-antibody reaction.

88. The assay method according to claim 79, wherein, in the moving of the label-antigen complex or the DNA into the assay site, the label-antigen complex or the DNA is allowed to flow into a porous membrane of the assay site by opening a just-before valve of the assay site and using a hydrophilic affinity of a hydrophilic channel without a centrifugal force.

89. The assay method according to claim 88, wherein the method further comprises, after the performing cultivation to induce an antigen-antibody reaction or hybridization reaction between the label-antigen complex or the DNA and the capture antibodies on the porous membrane, drying the porous membrane by a high speed rotation of the disc.

90. The assay method according to claim 89, wherein the method further comprises, after the drying, moving a washing buffer by opening a just-before valve of the assay site and using a hydrophilic affinity of a hydrophilic channel and cleaning the assay site by using the washing buffer.

91. The assay method according to claim 90, wherein the method further comprises, after the cleaning, drying the porous membrane by a high speed rotation of the disc.

92. The assay method according to claim 79, wherein, the method further comprises a remote diagnosis step where the diagnostic data based on the result of the detection are displayed on a computer monitor, the diagnostic result together with a questionnaire sheet is optionally automatically or manually transmitted through the Internet to a specialist at a remote location, and the patient waits for a prescription from the specialist.