Patent ID: 8349564
Filing Date: 2013-01-08
Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automated method for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to determine the presence or amount of a target nucleic acid in each of the reaction receptacles, the method comprising the steps of: a) isolating and purifying target nucleic acid that may be present in a sample material contained within each of the reaction receptacles by: b) moving the reaction receptacles to a temperature-controlled chamber of an incubator, each reaction receptacle being provided with reagents sufficient to amplify and detect the presence of a target sequence contained within the target nucleic acid under the temperature conditions of the incubator, and effecting amplification of the target nucleic acid; c) exposing each reaction receptacle to a magnetic field within the incubator, thereby aggregating at least a portion of the solid supports within each reaction receptacle, wherein the incubator includes a reaction receptacle carrier that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and is configured to receive and hold reaction receptacles moved to the incubator, and wherein the receptacle carrier comprises: d) during step c), measuring the amount of a signal associated with an amplification product free in solution containing the target sequence or its complement in each reaction receptacle provided to the incubator in accordance with step b).