Methods and systems for using RFID in biological field

• US 8,669,849 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applied Biosystems LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morris, Richard D., Mack, Jerome A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/689,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 435/7.1, 436/47, 436/149, 436/155
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5453 for test tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00782 reprogrammmable code
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00732 Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Biological reagent carrier devices and methods are disclosed, which employ RFID techniques to associate information with biological reagents.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a reagent carrier capable, the method comprising:

reading identification information from an RFID tag associated with a reagent carrier;

determining whether the reagent carrier is authorized for use, wherein the determining uses the identification information; and

optionally performing the biological analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising performing the biological analysis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining whether the reagent carrier is not authorized for use and thereby the biological analysis is not performed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the biological reagent is not authorized for use because the biological reagent is a one time use reagent that has been used.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for performing a polymerase chain reaction, a ligase chain reaction, an antibody binding reaction, an oligonucleotide ligation assay, a hybridization assay, or a genetic sequence determination.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for performing the polymerase chain reaction.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for determining the genetic sequence of a sample.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining whether the biological reagent has been used one time, wherein an attempt to use the biological reagent more than one time is not authorized.

9. the method of claim 4, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for performing a polymerase chain reaction, a ligase chain reaction, an antibody binding reaction, an oligonucleotide ligation assay, a hybridization assay, or a genetic sequence determination.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for performing the polymerase chain reaction.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the biological reagent is a reagent for determining the genetic sequence of a sample.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed two times, wherein the first time the biological reagent is authorized for use and the biological analysis is performed, and the second time the biological reagent is not authorized for use, and the biological analysis cannot be performed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the biological reagent is not authorized for use the second time because it is a one time use reagent.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprising looking up the identification information to determine whether the biological reagent has been used.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the performing is blocked because the biological reagent has been used.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the performing is authorized because the biological reagent has not been used.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological analysis comprises a polymerase chain reaction, a ligase chain reaction, an antibody binding reaction, an oligonucleotide ligation assay, a hybridization assay, or a genetic sequence determination.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological analysis comprises the polymerase chain reaction.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological analysis comprises determining the genetic sequence of a sample.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological analysis comprises an oligonucleotide ligation assay.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological reagent comprises a primer or a probe.