Assays based on liquid flow over arrays

Abstract

Cassette (50) performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (50), flowing over wide array (20) of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1×10−1 to 5×10−3, are heated in region (34) preceding and including bubble removal system (128). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (32). External actuations of displacement pumps (30, 37) and valves (137 A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (150, 152). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (131). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage (134, 135) to reaction (133) to waste (139), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction. Reading of fluorescence is by external reader, employing calibration, control and reference features on capture surface. Extensive set of calibration features of differing intensities enables self-calibration.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] (Under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1), this application claims the benefit of prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 688,269, filed Jun. 6, 2005.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The field of invention relates to solid phase assays for the detection of analytes in liquid samples. BACKGROUND [0003] Ligand receptor-ligand assays on solid surfaces, such as sandwich assays, have been a standard tool in chemical and biological research and in diagnostics for many decades. For instance, Enzyme-Linked Immunoabsorbent Assays (ELISA) have been standard for quantitative analysis of protein in blood and other body fluids. Assay results have often been read by quantitative measurement of fluorescence from tags associated with ligand receptor-ligand complexes on the solid surface. [0004] In the recent decade there has been a strong effort to perform multiple ligand receptor-ligand assays simultaneously within a small geometry, in order to reduce reagents, lab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] It is recognized that a bubble removal system incorporated in such cassettes, preceding the capture surface, enables the liquid flow over the capture surface to be free of detrimental gas micro-bubbles that could otherwise attach to and effectively obscure a region of ligand receptors from the analyte or agent in the liquid. In particular, it is realized that harmful gas micro-bubbles may occur in a liquid merely by the act of bringing the liquid up to assay temperature, owing to the decrease in solubility of dissolved gases in liquids as the temperature of the liquids rises. Likewise, it is realized that agent-combining action and other activities in the cassette may produce gas micro-bubbles that impair the interaction of the analyte-containing liquid with the capture regions.

[0141] An especially important contribution here is the provision of features that contribute to a single assay technique (or “platform”) for protein biomarkers which, above all, is robust. The assay technique can produce highly credible results, with low coefficients of variation (and so is highly repeatable), and is immune to interferences and performs its function with sufficient margins that it is useful over a wide range of analytes, levels of dilution and starting conditions that heretofore have called for using a number of different assay techniques. Furthermore, such a robust assay technique is provided that also is sensitive, is capable of significant throughput, employs equipment that is easy to use and has small footprint, and is capable of extensive multiplexing (conducting multiple assays at once). Preferred embodiments are implemented to require little sample or reagent, to require little handling of the sample, and to enable simple design of particular assays.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, it is realized that harmful gas micro-bubbles may occur in a liquid merely by the act of bringing the liquid up to assay temperature, owing to the decrease in solubility of dissolved gases in liquids as the temperature of the liquids rises.

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