Patent ID: 8703476

Claim:
A cartridge for the detection of the presence, absence and/or amount of a target nucleotide sequence in a sample comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences, the cartridge comprising: a first component for processing a fluid having a sample, said first component including: one or more processing chambers, a first fluid opening for fluid access to at least one of said processing chambers of the first component, and a first sealing surface associated with the first fluid opening; a second component connectable to the first component for processing the fluid, said second component including: one or more processing chambers, a second fluid opening for fluid access to at least one of said processing chambers of the second component, said second fluid opening formed in a flexible portion of the second component that is at least flexible in a direction perpendicular to the second sealing surface, and a second sealing surface associated with the second fluid opening, the first and second components are moveable relative to each other when the first component is connected to the second component to selectively position the first and second fluid openings in (i) an open fluid communication position, wherein the first fluid opening is generally aligned with the second fluid opening to allow the fluid to move between the first component and the second component, and (ii) a closed fluid communication position, wherein the first fluid opening is unaligned with the second fluid opening to prevent the fluid from moving between the first component and the second component; and a biaser for biasing the second sealing surface toward the first sealing surface to engage the second sealing surface with the first sealing surface to provide a sealed fluid pathway between the first and second components, thereby preventing fluid from leaking external to said cartridge.