Optical bio-discs including spiral fluidic circuits for performing assays

A method of making a chromatographic optical bio-disc, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate having a center and an outer edge;
• providing a cap portion having an inlet port and a vent port formed therein;
• providing a first channel layer having cut-out portions;
• providing a second channel layer having cut-out portions;
• providing a third channel layer having cut-out portions;
• providing a fourth channel layer having cut-out portions;
• and
• assembling the optical bio-disc such that said cap portion and said channel layers are supported by the substrate and said cut-out portions form a spiral fluidic circuit.

A method of using an optical bio-disc, the method comprising:

• depositing a test sample into the bio-disc through an inlet port;
• rotating said bio-disc at a predetermined speed and for a predetermined period of time to allow said test sample to move through a bio-matrix pad so that analytes present in the sample bind to capture agents in the bio-matrix pad;
• continuing said rotating step to thereby move said test sample through a spiral fluidic circuit of the optical bio-disc and into an analysis chamber;
• depositing signal agents having one or more reporters attached thereto into the bio-disc through said inlet port;
• rotating said disc to cause said signal agents to move through said bio-matrix pad so that said signal agents bind to any analyte that is bound to the capture agents in the bio-matrix pad;
• and
• scanning the bio-matrix pads located in the inlet and outlet passages with a beam of electromagnetic radiation to determine the presence and amount of signal agents bound to the analytes within the bio-matrix pads.