Patent ID: 8445201

Claim:
A method for hybridizing a target nucleic acid to a probe on an array, the method comprising: providing a first substrate, wherein the first substrate comprises a support member, and wherein the array is attached to the support member; providing a second substrate, wherein the second substrate comprises a container having a sub-chamber comprising a permeable barrier; providing mixing beads, wherein the mixing beads are contained within the permeable barrier in the sub-chamber of the container such that a direct contact between the mixing beads and the surface of the array is prevented when the array is in the container; adding a solution to the container, wherein the solution includes the target nucleic acid; dipping the array into the solution; and hybridizing the target nucleic acid to the probe, wherein the hybridization includes agitation of the mixing beads, and wherein the agitation of the mixing beads additionally mixes the solution.