Method and apparatus for detecting elution of samples
AssigneeWallac Oy
InventorsIda Erling, Raimo Harju
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting elution of a sample from a sample substrate to incubation buffer contained in a sample well while the sample substrate is still within the well. The method comprises measuring light absorption of the contents of the sample well at a predefined wavelength or wavelength range, and determining, based on the absorption measurement, the degree of elution of the sample. According to the invention, a wavelength or wavelength range is used which is absorbed by at least one elutable component of the sample but transmitted by the sample substrate. The invention provides a reliable way of determining the degree of elution of blood samples in neonatal screening, for example.
Claims12
A method for detecting elution of a sample from a sample substrate to incubation buffer contained in a sample well, comprising
- measuring light absorption of the contents of the sample well at a predefined wavelength or wavelength range,
- determining, based on the absorption measurement, the degree of elution of the sample,
- wherein the sample substrate is present in the sample well during said measurement and a wavelength or wavelength range is used which is absorbed by at least one elutable component of the sample but transmitted by the sample substrate.
An apparatus for optical analysis of samples eluted from a sample substrate to incubation buffer contained in a sample well of a sample holder loadable into the apparatus, comprising
- a light source for directing light through the sample well containing the sample substrate and the incubation buffer at a predefined wavelength or wavelength range absorbed by at least one elutable component of the sample but transmitted by the sample substrate,
- a detector for detecting light transmitted from the sample well,
- a computing unit adapted to determine, based on the light detected, the degree of elution of the sample in the sample well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.