US 6,097,831 A · Non-contract method for assay reagent volume dispense verification

Abstract

Methods and systems for verifying the volume of a reagent dispensed into an affinity assay vessel are described. In one embodiment, a method is for verifying the volume of a reagent dispensed into an affinity assay vessel described in which a fluid sample is deposited into a vessel that includes a reaction chamber and a volume determination reference point. The reaction chamber further includes a test strip. According to one embodiment, the dispensed fluid is agitated to promote contact between the fluid and a test strip disposed within the reaction chamber. The relative positions of the volume determination reference point and an edge of the meniscus of the dispensed fluid are then determined such that the meniscus of the dispensed fluid is not penetrated. The volume of the dispensed fluid is determined from these relative positions.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method for detecting anti-ligand in a fluid dispensed into a reaction chamber of an automated affinity assay vessel having a volume determination reference point, said reaction chamber having a test strip disposed therein, said test strip having a immobilized ligand capable of complexing said anti-ligand, said method comprising the steps of:

a) dispensing the fluid into said reaction chamber;
b) agitating said fluid in said reaction chamber to promote contact between said fluid and said test strip;
c) without contacting said fluid, determining the relative positions of an edge of the meniscus of said fluid and said volume determination reference point;
d) calculating the volume of said fluid contained in said vessel from said relative positions within an error tolerance of less than 10%;
and
e) automatically remotely inspecting the test strip in situ by a method comprising:
(i) illuminating the test strip, in said chamber with light from a light emission source;
(ii) reading the light reflected from the test strip with a video imaging system;
and
(iii) analyzing the reflected light to determine whether the immobilized ligand on the test strip has complexed the anti-ligand.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Non-contract method for assay reagent volume dispense verification

Life of this patent

Non-contract method for assay reagent volume dispense verification

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31