Continuous process for performing multiple nucleic acid amplification assays

A method for determining the presence or absence of target nucleic acid sequences in a plurality of samples, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) loading a plurality of samples onto a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer having a view window situated above a generally horizontal work surface, each sample being contained within one of a plurality of receptacles, and each receptacle having an associated label containing machine-readable data;
• b) reading each associated label with a label reading device, wherein the label reading device is in communication with a computer, and wherein the computer associates each sample with one of at least two assays, the at least two assays including a first nucleic acid amplification reaction for amplifying a first target nucleic acid sequence and a second nucleic acid amplification reaction for amplifying a second target nucleic acid sequence, and the first and second target nucleic acid sequences being different from each other;
• c) exposing each sample to a solid support material, the solid support material being capable of immobilizing nucleic acids present in the samples;
• d) isolating the solid support material within each sample and separating a fluid component of the samples from the solid support material;
• e) after step d), washing the solid support material with a wash solution, thereby purifying the nucleic acids immobilized on the solid support material;
• f) forming a plurality of reaction mixtures, each reaction mixture being associated with one of the samples and comprising the nucleic acids from the associated sample that are purified in step e), if any, a first subset of the reaction mixtures comprising a first amplification reagent for performing the first nucleic acid amplification reaction, and a second subset of the reaction mixtures comprising a second amplification reagent for performing the second nucleic acid amplification reaction, wherein the first subset of reaction mixtures does not contain an amplification reagent for amplifying the second target nucleic acid sequence, and wherein the second subset of reaction mixtures does not contain an amplification reagent for amplifying the first target nucleic acid sequence;
• g) transferring the reaction mixtures to a heater disposed on the work surface;
• h) in the heater, simultaneously subjecting a plurality of reaction mixtures from the first and second subsets of reaction mixtures to conditions sufficient to perform the first and second nucleic acid amplification reactions;
• and
• i) determining the presence or absence of the first target nucleic acid sequence in each of the first subset of reaction mixtures and the presence or absence of the second target nucleic acid sequence in each of the second subset of reaction mixtures,
• wherein a plurality of the reaction mixtures from the second subset of reaction mixtures are provided to the heater while a plurality of the reaction mixtures from the first subset of reaction mixtures are being subjected to conditions sufficient to perform the first nucleic acid amplification reaction,
• wherein the determining step is performed during the subjecting step for the first subset of reaction mixtures, and
• wherein steps b)-i) are automated steps performed on the analyzer.