Patent ID: 8298763

Claim:
An instrument for detecting different genetic sequences in a sample, comprising: flow channels; an optical detector for monitoring said flow channels, said optical detector having a multiplicity of optical windows; a nucleic acid extraction cartridge operably connected to said flow channels; a sample source; sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids; a pump operatively connected to said flow channels, to said nucleic acid extraction cartridge, to said sample source and said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids; a sample multi-position valve for receiving and processing the sample, said sample multi-position valve connected to flow channels, to said optical detector, to said nucleic acid extraction cartridge, to said sample source, and to said sources of sample preparation fluids and reagent fluids and decontaminating fluids; a reagent multi-position valve operatively connected to said flow channels, to said reagent fluids, and to said sample multi-position valve; two separate waste receptacles for receiving, via said flow channels, chemically incompatible fluids used in said nucleic acid extraction cartridge and the decontaminating of the system; and a control that coordinates the actions of the valves, pumps, and the optical detector, assemble genetic assays using the nucleic acids purified from a sample, transport the genetic assays to the optical detector for amplification and fluorescent analysis, report on the results, and deliver decontaminating fluids through the system after each sample is processed; wherein said sample multi-position valve for receiving and processing a sample utilizes said nucleic acid extraction cartridge creates a sample master mix comprised of the nucleic acids purified from a sample, polymerases, and 2× reaction buffer; wherein said reagent multi-position valve assembles within said flow channel a series of multiplex reagent mixtures containing primers, probes, and controls; wherein said sample multi-position valve for receiving and processing a sample associates portions of a sample master mix with some of the multiplex reagent mixtures in the series to generate a series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification within said flow channel for the sample being processed; and wherein the series of multiplex reaction mixtures containing all the necessary components for genetic amplification are transported to said optical detector in said flow channel, in operative position to the multiplicity of optical windows, for genetic amplification and fluorescent analysis.