Patent ID: 7097981
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automated apparatus for immunological assay, the apparatus comprising: means for supporting, guiding, and displacing a plurality of reaction vessels along a path having a predetermined number of positions, means for supporting samples to be analyzed, means for supporting reagents, means for taking determined quantities of samples and of reagents and for injecting the quantities taken into each of the reaction vessels, means for washing each of the reaction vessels, means for reading results, means for feeding the plurality of reaction vessels and for ejecting the plurality of reaction vessels, means for forming a temporary dark chamber with each reaction vessel, the temporary dark chamber being proof against external light, photometric means for measuring an intensity of light, wherein each reaction vessel includes walls for receiving a sample to be tested, a test reagent, and a substrate coupled with a chemiluminescent substance, each reaction vessel further includes a filling opening, wherein the walls are proof against any light emitted by the chemiluminescent substance, apart from a window for reading the intensity of any light emitted by a reaction mixture formed by the sample to be tested, the reagent, and the substrate, and wherein the window corresponds to the filling opening of each reaction vessel and wherein the window is surrounded by a substantially planar zone against which a light-proof shoe is pressed, and a light source for illuminating, on command, outside of a dark chamber, wherein the photometric means is operable to test the dark chamber for light-tightness, the immunological assay being rejected if the photometric means detects light emitted by the light source.