Device for manipulating magnetic beads and assay method

Abstract

Various devices are described for separating magnetic beads from a suspension in a tube. The devices allow a magnet to be placed near, or removed from, a cap associated with the tube. Magnetic beads can be attached to the cap by holding the tube such that the suspension flows onto an inner surface of the cap. The cap may be removed and replaced on a tube or moved to a different tube. Removing the device, or a magnet of the device, allows the magnetic beads to be released into a liquid in a tube. In a kit, a plurality of tubes may be pre-filled with reagents for an assay. In a process, the device can be used to move magnetic beads from one tube to another. Other devices and process are described for separating magnetic beads from liquid in a syringe or flowing into or out of a syringe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.