Patent ID: 8215338

Claim:
A method for controlling the progression of a fluid from inlet to an outlet of a microfluidic component comprising: providing the microfluidic component with a microchannel comprising a plurality of successive reaction or detection zones connected in series, a plurality of passive valves connected in series with the reaction or detection zones wherein each two successive reaction or detection zones in the microchannel are separated by one passive valve from the inlet to the outlet; applying a plurality of pressure pulses comprising a first step at a first pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the microfluidic component during a first period, wherein the first pressure difference is higher than a threshold value for the passive valve so as to achieve progression of the fluid via the successive passive valves; and applying a zero pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the component between two successive pressure pulses so as to stop progression of the fluid between two successive passive valves.