Methods for conducting tests
First Claim
1. A method of testing a sample for a analyte, comprising:
- providing a container having a plurality of fluidly discontinuous compartments, including a sample reacting compartent, different first and second reagents contained in first and second reagent compartments, respectively, and a signal detection compartment;
receiving the sample into the sample reacting compartment;
contacting a surface of the container with a device having a plurality of actuators;
operating multiple different sets of the actuators to independently add the first and second reagents to the sample in a variable sequence and time delay;
moving at least a portion of the reacted sample between the sample reacting compartment and the sample detection compartment using at least one of the sets of actuators; and
reading an analyte-dependent signal from the reacted sample contained in the sample detection compartment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for automated sample analysis are provided in which a plurality actuators are involved in moving a samples from one compartment to another, and appropriate reactants are combined with the sample in one or more of the compartments. The actuators are preferably contained in a device that also has a detector, data reduction capabilities, and a printer. Contemplated signal detectors include a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, and a charge-coupled device. Steps contemplated to be performed automatically include aliquoting the sample, diluting the sample, contacting at least a portion of the sample with a reagent having a substantially selective binding towards the analyte. Contemplated reactants include sense and antisense nucleic acids, antibodies and antigens, solid-phases such as paramagnetic beads, reagents, other substrates, and wash solutions.
178 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of testing a sample for a analyte, comprising:
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providing a container having a plurality of fluidly discontinuous compartments, including a sample reacting compartent, different first and second reagents contained in first and second reagent compartments, respectively, and a signal detection compartment;
receiving the sample into the sample reacting compartment;
contacting a surface of the container with a device having a plurality of actuators;
operating multiple different sets of the actuators to independently add the first and second reagents to the sample in a variable sequence and time delay;
moving at least a portion of the reacted sample between the sample reacting compartment and the sample detection compartment using at least one of the sets of actuators; and
reading an analyte-dependent signal from the reacted sample contained in the sample detection compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification