# US 2013/0252249 A1 · Method for Separating and Detecting an Analyte

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- Number: US 2013/0252249 A1
- Document ID: US20130252249A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/905,915
- Filed: 2013-05-30
- Published: 2013-09-26
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-10
- Assignees: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Renato Belz; Andreas Gisler; Robert Huesler; Rolf Knobel; Christian Thalmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130252249A1

## CPC

- C12N 15/1006: {by means of a solid support carrier, e.g. particles, polymers}
- A01G 7/00: Botany in general
- A01G 25/00: Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like (special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B)
- B01L 9/543: {for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes}
- G01N 35/0098: {involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation (magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C)}
- B01L 3/0275: {Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips}
- B01L 7/52: {with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples}
- B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
- B01L 2200/141: Preventing contamination, tampering
- B01L 2300/04: Closures and closing means
- B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes
- B01L 2400/043: magnetic forces
- G01N 35/028: {having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates}
- G01N 35/1074: {arranged in a two-dimensional array}
- G01N 2035/00277: {Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)}
- G01N 2035/00326: {Analysers with modular structure}
- G01N 2035/00356: {Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)}
- G01N 2035/103: {using disposable tips}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method for separating and analyzing an analyte is provided which comprises, in a first position, transferring a liquid sample to a multiwell plate with a pipette tip, replacing the tips in the tip rack in the same position, and re-using the pipette tips for aspirating and dispensing liquid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for isolating and analyzing an analyte that may be present in a fluid sample, the method comprising the automated steps of:
a) transferring said fluid sample from a sample vessel to a processing vessel with a pipette tip of a first type;
b) combining together a solid support material and said fluid sample in a well of said processing vessel for a period of time and under conditions sufficient to permit said analyte to be immobilized on the solid support material;
c) isolating the solid support material from other material present in the fluid sample in a separation station; and
d) purifying the analyte in the separation station by separating the fluid sample from the solid support material and washing the materials one or more times with a wash buffer;
wherein said pipette tip of a first type used in step a) is re-used after step a), and wherein said pipette tip of a first type is stored in a rack comprising pipette tips of a first type and pipette tips of a second type.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step a) comprises:
a1) engaging pipette tips of a first type which are held in a rack in a first position with a first process head;
a2) transferring said fluid sample from a sample vessel to a processing vessel with pipette tips of a first type engaged to a first process head;
a3) placing said pipette tips in said rack and disengaging said pipette tips from said process head;
a4) transporting said rack comprising said pipette tips and said processing vessel to second positions; and
a5) engaging said pipette tips of a first type which are held in said rack with a second process head in said second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said analyte is a nucleic acid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said transporting of said rack comprising said pipette tips and said processing vessel to a second position occurs between a separate first cell of an analytical instrument and a separate second cell of said analytical system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said rack comprises independent chambers to accommodate pipette tips.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said first type of pipette tips is re-used for the washing in step d).

### Claim 7

An analytical system for processing an analyte, said system comprising:
a) a first position comprising a first receptacle holding a liquid sample comprising an analyte, a second receptacle for holding a liquid sample, a rack holding pipette tips, and a first process head for transferring a liquid sample from the first receptacle to a second receptacle;
b) a second position comprising a station for receiving said second receptacle, and a rack holding station for receiving said rack; and
c) a transfer system for transferring the second receptacle and the rack holding pipette tips between the first position and the second position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The analytical system of claim 7, wherein the positions are separate cells.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The analytical system of claim 7, wherein the rack transferred by said transfer system comprises pipette tips which were used in the first position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The analytical system according to claim 7, wherein the first receptacle is a sample vessel and the second receptacle is a processing vessel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The analytical system according to claim 7, wherein said processing vessel is a multiwell vessel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The analytical system according to claim 7, wherein the transport system transfers the receptacle and the rack from the first position to the second separate position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The analytical system of claim 7, wherein said transport system comprises a handler constructed and arranged to grip and transport said rack and said processing vessel from a first to a second location within the system.

### Claim 14

An automated analyzer for detecting an analyte comprising
a) a plurality of stations disposed within said analyzer, wherein the plurality of stations comprises:
i) a sample dispensing station disposed in a first location, said sample dispensing station being constructed and arranged to dispense liquid sample comprising an analyte from a sample vessel to a processing vessel with pipette tips held in a rack;
ii) a separation station disposed in a second location, wherein said separation station is constructed and arranged to receive said processing vessel holding said liquid sample and said rack holding pipette tips used in the sample dispensing station and to separate an analyte from other material present in the liquid sample; and
iii) a reaction station disposed in a third location, wherein said reaction station comprises a temperature-controlled incubator for incubating said analyte with reagents necessary to obtain a detectable signal;
b) a transport mechanism constructed and arranged to transport said sample vessel and said rack from said sample dispensing station to said separation station.