Patent ID: 6511853
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: B01F,C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for performing a serial analysis in a microfluidic channel network, comprising:selecting a cycle length of a test plug containing a test compound plug and a spacer plug; identifying a diffusion coefficient of the test compound in the test compound plug; selecting a total reaction time for the test compound; determining one or more of a maximum channel cross-sectional dimension and a channel length for carrying out the analysis, based upon the cycle length, diffusion coefficient and total reaction time, whereby the test compound in the test compound plug disperses a distance that is less than 200% of the test compound plug length during the total reaction time; providing at least a first microfluidic channel that comprises one or more of the maximum channel cross-sectional dimension and channel length; introducing at least a first test plug having the cycle length into the at least first microfluidic channel; and analyzing the test compound in the first microfluidic channel.