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Method of detecting an analyte

  • US 8,088,578 B2
  • Filed: 08/24/2009
  • Issued: 01/03/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting an analyte, the method comprising:

  • (a) providing a droplet in a droplet operations gap of a droplet actuator in a detection window comprising an opening or window in a substrate of the droplet actuator, the droplet comprising;

    (i) a signal-producing substance indicative of the presence and/or quantity of an analyte;

    (ii) one or more magnetically responsive beads which may interfere with signal produced by the signal producing substance;

    (b) using a magnetic field for;

    (i) magnetically removing the magnetically responsive beads from the detection window, wherein the magnetic field aggregates the magnetically responsive beads in a region of the droplet which is outside the detection window; and

    /or(ii) magnetically restricting the magnetically responsive beads from entering the detection window while transporting and/or retaining the droplet in the detection window, wherein the magnetic field aggregates the magnetically responsive beads in a region of the droplet which is outside the detection window;

    (c) detecting a signal from the droplet within the detection window produced by the signal-producing substance to detect the presence, absence and/or quantity of the analyte while the magnetically responsive beads are outside the detection window.

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