Patent ID: 6489132
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for determining a presence of a plurality, n, of analytes within a matrix, said method comprising the steps of:a) providing a plurality, n, of membranes; b) passing the matrix through a first membrane to remove extraneous matter therefrom, such that a filtrate containing said analytes will pass through the first membrane; c) passing the filtrate through nâˆ’1 additional membranes such that each of said additional membranes captures one of said n analytes, and such that a sub-filtrate containing the remaining analyte will pass through all of said nâˆ’1 membranes; d) collecting the sub-filtrate which has passed through said first membrane and said nâˆ’1 additional membranes, and combining said sub-filtrate with at least one reagent to provide a sub-filtrate reagent admixture from which a presence of said remaining analyte may be determined; e) eluting each of said analytes captured by said nâˆ’1 additional membranes from each of said additional membranes, and combining each of such eluants with at least one reagent to provide an eluant-reagent admixture from which a presence analyte may be determined; f) determining a presence of said remaining analyte in said sub-filtrate-reagent admixture; and g) determining a presence of the analytes in the eluant-reagent admixtures.