Patent ID: 8828654

Claim:
A method for moving fluids between chambers of a receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers, the method comprising the steps of: (a) combining in a first chamber of the receptacle a fluid sample and a combination including a sample processing reagent comprising dispersible solid supports in a liquid medium and an immiscible liquid to concentrate the solid supports in the first chamber, wherein the fluid contents of the first chamber comprise the fluid sample, the liquid medium, and the immiscible liquid, and wherein the solid supports are magnetically-responsive and adapted to immobilize one or more analytes thereon wherein the plurality of interconnected chambers defines a non-linear arrangement of chambers; (b) exposing the solid supports in the first chamber to a magnetic field; and (c) moving at least a portion of the fluid contents of the first chamber from the first chamber to a second chamber of the receptacle through a connection while continuing to expose the solid supports in the first chamber to the magnetic field to retain the solid supports in the first chamber, wherein the connection is an openable connection that is altered from a closed state to an open state when a substance-moving force is applied to the contents of the first chamber during step (c).