Patent ID: 8476078

Claim:
A method, comprising: moving a plunger within a reagent chamber of a cartridge such that the plunger punctures a portion of a puncturable member defining a boundary of the reagent chamber, the moving the plunger including transferring a plurality of magnetic particles from the reagent chamber to a first chamber defined by a housing of the cartridge; disposing a magnetic shaft at least partially within a movable valve member of a valve to attract the plurality of magnetic particles into a cavity defined by the movable valve member, the valve at least partially disposed within the first housing, the valve including the movable valve member and a valve housing; rotating the movable valve member relative to the valve housing to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the first chamber of the housing and a second chamber defined by the housing while sealing the plurality of magnetic particles within the cavity; disposing the magnetic shaft at least partially within a movable valve member of a second valve to attract the plurality of magnetic particles into a cavity defined by the movable valve member of the second valve, the second valve at least partially disposed within the housing, the second valve including the movable valve member and a valve housing; and moving the valve member of the second valve relative to the valve housing of the second valve to transfer the plurality of magnetic particles between the second chamber of the housing and a third chamber defined by the housing.