Patent ID: 8168442

Claim:
A method for conducting a chemical reaction, the method comprising the steps of: a) introducing a sample into a device comprising: i) a body having a plurality of sensor chambers having optical sensors positioned to detect liquid in the sensor chambers, and a sample flow path having a separation region in the sample flow path for separating a desired analyte from the sample; and ii) a reaction vessel extending from the body, the reaction vessel having a rigid frame defining side walls of a reaction chamber, wherein at least two of the sidewalls are optically transmissive and angularly offset from each other by about 90°, an inlet port connected to the reaction chamber via an inlet channel, and an outlet port connected to the reaction chamber via an outlet channel; wherein the body further has a first channel connected to the inlet port of the vessel and a second channel connected to the outlet port of the vessel; b) separating the analyte from the sample in the separation region; c) forcing the analyte to flow into the reaction chamber of the vessel via the first channel in the body while air displaced from the reaction chamber exits through the outlet channel and outlet port of the vessel into the second channel in the body; and d) conducting a chemical reaction in the reaction chamber.