Patent ID: 7666361

Claim:
A method of analyzing a sample fluid for a reaction comprising the steps of: (i) providing a microfluidic device, said microfluidic device comprising: a fluidic channel having a first end and a second end in fluid communication with each other through said channel; a plurality of blind flow channels, each blind flow channel terminating at a terminal wall; wherein each blind flow channel is in fluid communication with said fluidic channel, wherein an aqueous fluid that enters the blind flow channel from said fluidic channel can flow out of the blind flow channel only through said fluidic channel; and, an inlet in fluid communication with said fluidic channel; wherein each blind flow channel is associated with a valve that when closed isolates one end of the blind flow channel from the fluidic channel whereby an isolated reaction site is formed between the valve and the terminal wall (ii) introducing said sample fluid into said inlet, said sample fluid filling said blind flow channels; (iii) actuating said valve to separate said sample fluid into said separate portions within said blind flow channels; (iv) thermocycling said sample fluid; (v) analyzing said portions of said sample fluid to determine whether said thermocycling produced said reaction.