Point of Care Concentration Analyzer

A method of detecting the presence of a target analyte in a sample, the method comprising:

• introducing the sample into a cartridge, the cartridge including a fluid system for isolating the target analyte of the sample and collecting a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample, the fluid system comprising:
• a first chamber,
• a second chamber, and
• a channel extending from the first chamber to the second chamber;
• binding the target analyte to a substrate comprised of paramagnetic beads;
• positioning a first magnet near a first surface of the cartridge and adjacent to the first chamber;
• facilitating relative movement of the first magnet and the cartridge so as to pull the paramagnetic beads out of suspension and into a bolus, the relative movement being facilitated by at least one of moving the first magnet across the first surface or moving the cartridge;
• directing electromagnetic radiation from a first electromagnetic radiation source to form an interrogation space within the cartridge;
• receiving, in a first detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space;
• and
• identifying, using a controller, the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.

A method of detecting the presence of a target analyte in a sample, the method comprising:

• introducing a sample into a cartridge, the cartridge including a fluid system for isolating the target analyte of the sample and collecting a quantity of a first label that is proportional to a quantity of the target analyte in the sample, the fluid system comprising:
• an inlet chamber,
• a separation area connected to the inlet chamber, the separation area including an inner separation chamber and an outer separation chamber, and
• a detection chamber downstream of the separation area;
• transferring the sample from the inlet chamber to the separation area;
• rotating the cartridge using the centrifuge so as to move more dense constituents in the sample toward the outer separation chamber and move less dense constituents toward the inner separation chamber;
• transferring the less dense constituents of the sample from the inner separation chamber to a mixing chamber;
• isolating the target analyte from the less dense constituents of the sample;
• transferring the target analyte to the detection chamber;
• directing electromagnetic radiation from a first electromagnetic radiation source to form an interrogation space within the detection chamber of the cartridge;
• receiving, in a first detector, electromagnetic radiation emitted in the interrogation space by the first label if the first label is present in the interrogation space;
• and
• identifying, using a controller, the presence of the target analyte in the sample based on electromagnetic radiation detected by the first detector.