Method for reducing the presence of amplification inhibitors in a reaction receptacle
AssigneeGen-Probe Incorporated
InventorJames Light
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.
Claims34
A method for reducing the presence of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor in a reaction vessel, said method comprising:
- (a) providing to a reaction vessel a surface treating agent and a nucleic acid containing material;
- (b) agitating said reaction vessel to thereby mix the contents of said reaction vessel;
- (c) exposing the contents of said reaction vessel to reagents and conditions sufficient to isolate a target nucleic acid, if present in said nucleic acid containing material, within said reaction vessel;
- (d) during step (c), removing at least a portion of the contents of said reaction vessel;
- (e) providing to said reaction vessel a wash solution;
- (f) exposing the contents of said reaction vessel to reagents and conditions sufficient to isolate said target nucleic acid, if present in said nucleic acid containing material, within said reaction vessel;
- (g) during step (f), removing at least a portion of the contents of said reaction vessel;
- and
- (h) exposing the contents of said reaction vessel to reagents and conditions sufficient to amplify a target sequence present in said target nucleic acid,
- wherein said surface treating agent is provided to said reaction vessel in an amount sufficient to reduce the presence of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor during steps (d) and (g), and
- wherein said surface treating agent is not an inhibitor of a nucleic acid amplification reaction.
A method for reducing the presence of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor in a reaction vessel, said method comprising:
- (a) removing at least a portion of a nucleic acid containing material from a reaction vessel;
- (b) after step (a), providing to said reaction vessel a wash solution and a surface treating agent;
- (c) agitating said reaction vessel to thereby mix the contents of said reaction vessel;
- (d) exposing the contents of said reaction vessel to reagents and conditions sufficient to isolate a target nucleic acid, if present in said nucleic acid containing material, within said reaction vessel;
- (e) during step (d), removing at least a portion of the contents of said reaction vessel;
- and
- (f) exposing the contents of said reaction vessel to reagents and conditions sufficient to amplify a target sequence present in said target nucleic acid,
- wherein said surface treating agent is provided to said reaction vessel in an amount sufficient to reduce the presence of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor during step (e), and
- wherein said surface treating agent is not an inhibitor of a nucleic acid amplification reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.