Patent ID: 7867713

Claim:
A polymerase chain reaction method of analyzing a sample that includes nucleic acid, comprising the steps of: providing the sample that includes nucleic acid; providing magnetic beads; providing ethanol; providing a polymerase chain reaction master mix; providing a flow channel, said flow channel including a polymerase chain reaction chamber, a pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position adjacent said polymerase chain reaction chamber, and a post polymerase chain reaction magnet position adjacent said polymerase chain reaction chamber; mixing a chaotropic agent with the sample that includes nucleic acid and with said magnetic beads to enable the nucleic acid to be bound to said magnetic beads; flowing said magnetic beads with the nucleic acid bound to said magnetic beads to said pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position in said flow channel; washing said magnetic beads with the nucleic acid bound to said magnetic beads at said pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position by flowing said ethanol in said flow channel so that it flows over said magnetic beads with the nucleic acid bound to said magnetic beads; flowing said magnetic beads with the nucleic acid bound to said magnetic beads in said flow channel into said polymerase chain reaction chamber; amplifying the nucleic acid in said polymerase chain reaction chamber providing amplified nucleic acid; flowing said magnetic beads and said amplified nucleic acid to said post polymerase chain reaction magnet position in said flow channel; sequestering said magnetic beads at said post polymerase chain reaction magnet position separating said magnetic beads and said amplified nucleic acid into a waste stream containing said magnetic beads and a post polymerase chain reaction mix containing said amplified nucleic acid, flowing said magnetic beads to waste in said flow channel; and flowing said post polymerase chain reaction mix containing said amplified nucleic acid to an analysis unit in said channel for analysis.