Test apparatus and method for testing cuvette accommodated samples

A device for testing blood, comprising:

• a cuvette that defines at least one conduit therein, said at least one conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end has an inlet port opening to a surface of said cuvette for receiving said test fluid;
• at least one reagent compound disposed within said at least one conduit between said first end and said second end;
• means for introducing a predetermined volume of said fluid sample into each said conduit through said inlet port;
• pumping means for selectively moving said predetermined volume of said fluid sample from a first position in said conduit to a second position;
• mixing means disposed in said conduit disposed between a first position and a second position for physically mixing said fluid sample in said conduit with said at least one reagent;
• testing means for testing a characteristic associated with said predetermined volume of fluid sample,
• wherein said at least one reagent compound includes magnetic particles and capture antibodies attached to said magnetic particles, whereby said magnetic particles and capture antibodies bond to target antigens if present in the blood.

A device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a blood sample, said device comprising:

• a) a cuvette that includes:
• i) at least one conduit that extends from a supply port to a pumping port for receiving the blood sample, wherein a certain air pressure is created within the conduit;
• ii) a reagent disposed within said conduit having a magnetic particle coupled to an antibody, wherein said antibody will bind to the analyte when mixed with the blood sample if the analyte is present in the blood sample;
• iii) a photoemitter means for emitting photons when impinged upon by the magnetic particle;
• b) a testing machine having at least one pump for increasing or decreasing the pressure in said at least one conduit, wherein said at least one pump on said testing machine is aligned to couple to at least one conduit of said cuvette;
• wherein said testing machine further comprises:
• i) means for selectively exposing the blood sample in said cuvette to an electromagnetic field, wherein said electromagnetic field causes the magnetic particles to impinge upon said photoemitter means;
• ii) a photodetector for detecting photons emitted by said photoemitter.

A method of testing a fluid sample for the presence of a targeted substance, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cuvette having at least one conduit therein, wherein said at least one conduit has a reagent disposed therein, said reagent having a predetermined characteristic relative to the targeted substance;
• introducing the fluid sample into the cuvette;
• pneumatically pumping the fluid sample within said at least one conduit between a first position and a second position, whereby the fluid sample is caused to mix with said reagent;
• measuring a characteristic associated with the fluid sample to determine the effect of said reagent on the fluid sample, wherein said effect serves as an indicator whether the fluid sample contains the targeted substance.