Apparatus and method for providing assay calibration data

Apparatus for providing assay information useful for calibration or normalization of data obtained from panels of assays for a plurality of selected test sample binding components performed on a plurality of biological samples, comprising:

• predetermined machine-readable assay calibration data for calibrating or normalizing the results of preselected panels of assays for a plurality of selected test sample binding components with respect to at least one predetermined standard value;
• data providing means for providing said predetermined machine-readable assay calibration data, wherein said data providing means contains said predetermined machine-readable assay calibration data for said panels of assays and first code means for identifying said predetermined assay calibration data of said preselected panels of assays;
• storage means for storing said calibration data for a plurality of said preselected panels of assays and said first code means;
• user-operable reader means for reading said calibration data and said first code means from said data providing means;
• entering means for entering said calibration data and said first code means read by said user-operable reader means in selected available storage locations in said storage means without performing an assay;
• associating means for associating said predetermined assay calibration data and said first code means read from said data providing means with said selected available storage location of said storage means;
• a plurality of disposable reaction cartridge means each designed for simultaneously carrying out a preselected panel of assays on a single aliquot of a biological sample wherein each said reaction cartridge means contains a preselected panel of assay reagents wherein each assay reagent is bound to its own discrete test site in an array of isolated test sites, and machine-readable second code means for identifying said panel of assays;
• reader means for reading said second code means from each said reaction cartridge means;
• associating means for associating said second code means with said selected available storage location of said storage means for accessing said calibration data stored in said location;
• and
• correlation means for correlating assay results for said panel of assays of each said reaction cartridge means with said predetermined assay calibration data for each said panel of assays in said storage means using said first code means and said second code means.

A method for providing assay calibration data to an instrument capable of simultaneously assaying a single aliquot of a biological sample with a panel of assays of preselected test sample binding, components comprising the steps of:

• providing predetermined assay calibration data for calibrating or normalizing the results of said panel of assays with respect to at least one predetermined standard value for each said binding component and first code means for identifying said calibration data;
• entering said calibration data into a location in a data storage means of said instrument;
• providing assay means for carrying out said panel of assays with said instrument, wherein said assay means comprises an array of isolated test sites wherein each assay reagent is bound to its own discrete test site, and second code means for identifying said panel of assays;
• and
• accessing said calibration data in said data storage means using said first code means and said second code means.