Patent ID: 7108970

Claim:
A method of screening an array of at least 96 samples to identify conditions, compounds, or compositions that inhibit or prevent transitions of physical state comprising: (a) preparing and identifying an array of at least 96 samples in tubes and support plates or in sample well plates and dispensing a liquid medium, a disease-causing substance comprising crystallized calcium oxalate in liquid form, salts of citric acid and one or more additional components into sample tubes or sample wells with an automated distribution mechanism, and wherein each sample differs with respect to the identity of one or more of the additional components; (b) processing one or more of the samples to induce crystallization, precipitation or deposition of the disease causing substance, said processing comprising the addition of one or more additional components; (c) analyzing the processed samples to detect the induction of said crystallization, precipitation or deposition using polarized light analysis and Raman spectroscopy; and (d) selecting those processed samples that exhibit inhibition or prevention of a transition in physical state.