Patent ID: 9150908
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: B01F,B01L,B03C,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising performing within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer the automated steps of: a) contacting the sample with a solid support such that a complex comprising the nucleic acid and the solid support is formed in the sample, wherein the solid support comprises a magnetically-responsive particle, and wherein the complex is suspended in a fluid component of the sample; b) after step a), subjecting the complex contained in the sample to a magnetic field; c) while the complex contained in the sample is subjected to the magnetic field, aspirating at least a portion of the fluid component of the sample from the complex; d) after step c), washing the solid support one or more times with a wash buffer, thereby providing a purified form of the nucleic acid; e) forming a reaction mixture with a pipette of the analyzer, wherein the reaction mixture comprises the purified form of the nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification; f) synthesizing amplification products in the reaction mixture, each of the amplification products comprising a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or its complement; g) exposing an amplification product that is one of the amplification products synthesized in step f) to a probe having a label, such that a hybrid comprising the probe and the amplification product is formed in solution in a mixture containing the probe and the amplification products; and h) in the mixture of step g), detecting the label after formation of the hybrid, wherein the formation of the hybrid in the mixture is an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample, wherein steps b)-d) are performed at a first station of the analyzer and step f) is performed at a second station of the analyzer, and wherein step f) is performed within an enclosure having a receptacle access opening, the receptacle access opening being closed by a door of the enclosure during step f).