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System for performing multi-formatted assays

  • US 8,008,066 B2
  • Filed: 03/10/2006
  • Issued: 08/30/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system configured to process the contents of multiple receptacles to determine the amount of a first target nucleic acid present in samples contained in a first group of receptacles and to ascertain the presence or absence of a second target nucleic acid in samples contained in a second group of receptacles, said system comprising:

  • (A) at least one temperature-controlled incubator having a housing defining a temperature-controlled chamber configured to hold a plurality of receptacles, said housing including one or more closable receptacle access openings for moving the receptacles into and out of said incubator;

    (B) a nucleic acid quantification system including a signal measuring device constructed and arranged to measure a signal emitted by the contents of a receptacle held within said temperature-controlled chamber and placed in operative proximity to said signal measuring device, said nucleic acid quantification system being constructed and arranged to determine the amount of the first target nucleic acid within each receptacle of the first group of receptacles held within said temperature-controlled chamber during a nucleic acid amplification process by;

    (1) periodically measuring the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of each receptacle with said signal measuring device; and

    (2) quantifying the amount of the first target nucleic acid present in each receptacle based upon the periodic measurements;

    (C) a nucleic acid detection system, distinct from said nucleic acid quantification system and said incubator and including a signal detecting device constructed and arranged to detect a signal emitted by the contents of a receptacle placed in operative proximity to said signal detecting device within a detection chamber distinct from said incubator, said nucleic acid detection system being constructed and arranged to ascertain the presence of the second target nucleic acid within each receptacle of the second group of receptacles after the receptacle is transferred from said incubator to said detection chamber after an end-point nucleic acid amplification assay by;

    (1) detecting a signal emitted by the contents each receptacle transferred to said detection chamber with said signal detecting device; and

    (2) ascertaining the presence or absence of the second target nucleic acid in the receptacle based upon whether or not a signal above a threshold level is detected; and

    (D) a receptacle transport system configured and controlled to;

    (1) successively transport a plurality of receptacles to said incubator, by, for each of the receptacles transported to said incubator, opening one of said receptacle access openings and moving the receptacle through the opened receptacle access opening and into said temperature-controlled chamber and then closing the receptacle access opening, thereby permitting ambient light to enter the temperature-controlled chamber of the incubator through the opened receptacle access opening,(2) successively remove receptacles from said incubator after completion of an amplification reaction within the receptacles by, for each receptacle removed from said incubator, opening one of said receptacle access openings and moving the receptacle through the opened receptacle access opening and out of said incubator and then closing the receptacle access opening, thereby permitting ambient light to enter the temperature-controlled chamber of the incubator through the opened receptacle access opening, and(3) successively move each receptacle removed from the incubator and belonging to the second group of receptacles to said detection chamber and into operative proximity to said signal detecting device,wherein said receptacle transport system is configured and controlled to successively transport receptacles to said incubator and successively remove receptacles from said incubator while said nucleic acid quantification system determines the amount of the first target nucleic acid within each receptacle of the first group of receptacles held within said temperature-controlled chamber during the nucleic acid amplification process.

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