Methods of concentrating an analyte
First Claim
1. A method of concentrating an analyte present in a fluid sample provided to a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a first volume in a first chamber of the receptacle, the first volume comprising the fluid sample and a liquid reagent containing a solid support;
(b) immobilizing the analyte on the solid support;
(c) moving an aliquot of the first volume from the first chamber to a directly connected second chamber of the receptacle by applying one or more compressive forces to a flexible portion of the first chamber with one or more actuators, wherein the volume capacity of the second chamber is less than the first volume;
(d) isolating the analyte immobilized on the solid support in the second chamber;
(e) moving non-analyte components of the sample from the second chamber to a directly connected waste chamber of the receptacle by applying a compressive force to a flexible portion of the second chamber with an actuator;
(f) repeating steps (c) through (e) one or more times while retaining immobilized analyte in the second chamber, thereby accumulating concentrated analyte in the second chamber; and
(g) after step (f), moving the concentrated analyte accumulated in the second chamber to a directly connected third chamber by applying a compressive force to a flexible portion of the second chamber with an actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of concentrating an analyte present in a fluid sample provided to a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a first volume in a first chamber of the receptacle, the first volume comprising the fluid sample and a liquid reagent containing a solid support; (b) immobilizing the analyte on the solid support; (c) moving an aliquot of the first volume from the first chamber to a directly connected second chamber of the receptacle by applying one or more compressive forces to a flexible portion of the first chamber with one or more actuators, wherein the volume capacity of the second chamber is less than the first volume; (d) isolating the analyte immobilized on the solid support in the second chamber; (e) moving non-analyte components of the sample from the second chamber to a directly connected waste chamber of the receptacle by applying a compressive force to a flexible portion of the second chamber with an actuator; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) one or more times while retaining immobilized analyte in the second chamber, thereby accumulating concentrated analyte in the second chamber; and (g) after step (f), moving the concentrated analyte accumulated in the second chamber to a directly connected third chamber by applying a compressive force to a flexible portion of the second chamber with an actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification