Patent ID: 7785535

Claim:
A method of processing sample, comprising: introducing at least one sample into at least one segment of a plurality of segments arranged in an array at least two rows long and two columns wide, each segment of the array being: fluidly isolated from adjacent segments at least in part by at least one breakable seal or by at least one permanent seal; so expandable as to receive a volume of fluid expelled from another segment; and so compressible as to contain substantially no fluid when so compressed; wherein at least two adjacent segments in at least one row are separated by a permanent seal to form at least two tracks; and wherein at least one segment is a branch segment either in fluid communication with the at least two tracks or isolated from the two tracks by one or more breakable seals; incubating the sample in a segment with a substance capable of specific binding to a preselected component of the sample; moving a fluid from a first segment to an adjacent second segment by compressing the first segment and propelling the fluid into the second segment; and splitting a fluid from a branch segment into the at least two tracks, wherein splitting comprises: compressing a receiving segment of each track; decompressing each receiving segment to define a gap to control the volume of the segment; compressing the branch segment to fill receiving segments of each track with a defined volume; and fluidly isolating the receiving segment of each track from the branch segment.