Reagent container and methods of use

A method for providing reagents to analytical equipment, the method comprising:

• providing a reagent container including a base and a top, the base defining a plurality of wells having openings exposed at an upper surface of the base, the plurality of wells including a first set of wells and a second set of wells, wherein a volume of wells of the second set of wells is larger than a volume of wells of the first set of wells, each well of the first set of wells having an opening to a well bore and a channel in communication with the well bore, the opening having a first portion disposed over the well bore and a second portion disposed over the channel, the first portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the second portion, as measured along the central longitudinal axis of the well bore, an angle defined by tangents to the inner surface of the first and second portions as the inner surfaces approach a junction between the first and second portions being at least 100° and not greater than 155°, the top coupled over the top surface of the base and defining windows providing access to the openings of the plurality of wells, each well of the second set of wells has an opening larger than the opening of each well of the first set of wells;
• and the top has first and second end structures configured to engage complementary structures within analytical equipment, the first and second end structures disposed at respective first and second ends and equally offset from one of the vertical sides of the top;
• piercing, with a pipette tip attached to an automated pipette robot, a foil at a position disposed over the second portion of the opening and disposed over the channel of a well of the first set of wells;
• piercing, with the pipette tip attached to the automated pipette robot, the foil at a position disposed over the first portion of the opening and over the well bore of the well of the first set of wells;
• and
• aspirating a reagent from the well bore of the well of the first set of wells using the pipette tip.

A method for providing reagents to analytical equipment, the method comprising:

• providing a reagent container including a base and a top, the base defining a plurality of wells having openings exposed at an upper surface of the base, the plurality of wells including a first set of wells and a second set of wells, wherein a volume of wells of the second set of wells is larger than a volume of wells of the first set of wells, each well of the first set of wells having an opening to a well bore and a channel in communication with the well bore, the opening having a first portion disposed over the well bore and a second portion disposed over the channel, the first portion having a larger cross-sectional area than the second portion, as measured along the central longitudinal axis of the well bore, an angle defined by tangents to the inner surface of the first and second portions as the inner surfaces approach a junction between the first and second portions being at least 100° and not greater than 155°, the top coupled over the top surface of the base and defining windows providing access to the openings of the plurality of wells, each well of the second set of wells has an opening larger than the opening of each well of the first set of wells;
• and the top has first and second end structures configured to engage complementary structures within analytical equipment, the first and second end structures disposed at respective first and second ends and equally offset from one of the vertical sides of the top;
• applying a first reagent into a well of the first set of wells through the first portion of the opening;
• applying a second reagent into a well of the second set of wells;
• and
• attaching a foil over the openings of the plurality of wells.