Patent ID: 7276330

Claim:
A method of performing successive reactions in a microfluidic device, comprising: providing a microfluidic device comprising a reaction zone disposed within the microfluidic device, wherein the reaction zone is in fluid communication with a source of first reagent through a first fluid path, with a source of second reagent through a second fluid path, and with a source of third reagent through a third fluid path, wherein the second and third fluid paths are configured to deliver the second reagent to the reaction zone prior to the third reagent; applying the same constant driving force across each of the first fluid path, the second fluid path, and the third fluid path to flow the first reagent through the reaction zone, introduce the second reagent into the reaction zone causing a first reaction between the first reagent and the second reagent, and subsequently introduce the third reagent into the reaction zone to cause a second reaction between the first reagent and the third reagent; detecting an effect of the first reaction as a reactant or product of the first reaction flows through detection zone; and detecting an effect of the second reaction as a reactant or product of the second reaction flows through the detection zone.