ASSAY APPARATUSES, METHODS AND REAGENTS

• US 20110020178A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Vock, Michael L., West, Sharon, Sigal, George, Glezer, Eli N., Clinton, Charles M., Stevens, Carl
• Application Number:
  US12/796,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110020178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00524 Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0425 Stacks, magazines or elevators for plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/69 specially adapted for fluids , e.g. molten metal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1079 with means for piercing stoppers or septums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line

Abstract

We describe apparatuses, systems, method, reagents, and kits for conducting assays as well as process for their preparation. They are particularly well suited for conducting automated sampling, sample preparation, and analysis in a multi-well plate assay format. For example, they may be used for automated analysis of particulates in air and/or liquid samples derived therefrom in environmental monitoring.

Claims

1. An environmental monitoring system comprising a sample collection module fluidically connected to a biological agent detection module, wherein said detection module comprises an integrated pipettor;

i) a fluidic manifold for receiving and transferring sample to a well of a multi-well assay plate in said system;

(iii) a light detection subsystem for measuring luminescence;

(iv) a liquid handling subsystem; and

(v) a plate handling subsystem.

2. The environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said sample collection module processes air samples.

3. The environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said sample collection module processes fluid samples.

4. The environmental monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said sample collection module is selected from the group consisting of filter-based collectors, impactors, wetted cyclones, and combinations thereof.

5. The environmental monitoring system of claim 4, wherein said sample collection module further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a sonicator, a vortex mixer, a shaker, a simple mixer, and combinations thereof.

6. The environmental monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said sample collection module concentrates biological agents suspended in a fluid sample by a method selected from the group consisting of filtration, back-filtration, affinity separation, centrifugation, and combinations thereof.

7. The environmental monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a sample processing module.

8. The environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

9. The environmental monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

10. The environmental monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

11. The environmental monitoring system of claim 4, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

12. The environmental monitoring system of claim 5, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

13. The environmental monitoring system of claim 6, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.

14. The environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein said detection module detects, in parallel, a plurality of different biological agents in a sample.