Patent ID: 8765367

Claim:
A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample to a first chamber of the receptacle; (b) independently combining in separate chambers of the receptacle: (i) at least a portion of the sample contained in the first chamber and at least a portion of a sample processing reagent contained in a second chamber of the receptacle, wherein the sample processing reagent contains a solid support for immobilizing an analyte suspected of being present in the sample; (ii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a third chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a fourth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the third chamber; and (iii) at least a portion of a substance contained in a fifth chamber and at least a portion of a substance contained in a sixth chamber that is different from the substance contained in the fifth chamber; (c) removing one or more non-analyte components of the combination of substep (i) to a waste chamber of the receptacle while the analyte remains immobilized by the solid support in a sample processing chamber of the receptacle; and (d) after steps (b) and (c), combining in a chamber of the receptacle the analyte with at least a portion of each of the combinations of substeps (ii) and (iii), wherein the receptacle remains stationary during steps (b) through (d).