Abstract: An apparatus to separate and resuspend magnetic beads in a solution in a bottle includes a magnet assembly mounted on a moveable carriage. The carriage movable from a first position wherein the magnet assembly is proximate a bottle disposed on a rotating base to a second position wherein the magnet assembly is distal from the base. The magnet assembly is configured to impart a magnetic field amplitude gradient in the bottle when the bottle is proximate to the magnet assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for resuspending or maintaining suspension of magnetic beads in a reagent tray includes a di-pole magnet assembly disposed proximate the reagent tray. The di-pole magnet assembly inducing a static magnetic field having an amplitude gradient in a material disposed in the reagent tray. The di-pole magnet assembly magnetic field is movable with respect to the reagent tray. In some embodiments the magnetic field or the magnet assembly is movable linearly, rotationally or both linearly and rotationally with respect to the reagent tray.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a housing having at least one electrically operated illumination source. The housing has a plurality of openings corresponding in position to each well or tube in a well tray, a tube tray or a tube strip. The illumination source is configured to provide light to each opening. A magnetic separator having well or tube openings therein corresponding in position to a position of each opening in the housing is disposed on top of the housing. The well tray, tube tray or tube strip comprises a plurality of wells or tubes positioned to correspond to each well or tube opening in the magnetic separator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing a nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a disposable self-contained processing module that contains the nucleic acid and substantially all of the fluids to effect a nanoparticle hybridization test, a pump coupled to the processing module, a valving system disposed between the pump and processing module and a control system coupled to the pump and valving system causing the processing fluids to interact with the nucleic acid to effect a sandwich hybridization test using nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing a nucleic acid. The apparatus includes a disposable self-contained processing module that contains the nucleic acid and substantially all of the fluids to effect a nanoparticle hybridization test, a pump coupled to the processing module, a valving system disposed between the pump and processing module and a control system coupled to the pump and valving system causing the processing fluids to interact with the nucleic acid to effect a sandwich hybridization test using nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a test sample for detecting a predetermined target nucleic acid. The method includes the steps of providing a test probe comprising an oligonucleotide attached to a nanoparticle and providing a hybridization unit containing the test sample and the test probe, wherein said hybridization unit further includes a target sample substrate and a distribution manifold coupled to a first side of the substrate. The method further includes the steps of clamping a processing fluids manifold to the distribution manifold of the hybridization unit, denaturing the test sample and preparing the test sample for detecting the predetermined target nucleic acid by pumping a plurality of processing fluids between the processing fluids source manifold and distribution manifold to hybridize the test probe and predetermined target nucleic acid to the target sample substrate, to wash the hybridized sample and to amplify a detectable parameter of the hybridized sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for preparing a test sample for detecting a predetermined target nucleic acid. The method includes the steps of providing a test probe comprising an oligonucleotide attached to a nanoparticle and providing a hybridization unit containing the test sample and the test probe, wherein said hybridization unit further includes a target sample substrate and a distribution manifold coupled to a first side of the substrate. The method further includes the steps of clamping a processing fluids manifold to the distribution manifold of the hybridization unit, denaturing the test sample and preparing the test sample for detecting the predetermined target nucleic acid by pumping a plurality of processing fluids between the processing fluids source manifold and distribution manifold to hybridize the test probe and predetermined target nucleic acid to the target sample substrate, to wash the hybridized sample and to amplify a detectable parameter of the hybridized sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for preparing a test sample for detecting a predetermined target nucleic acid. The method includes the steps of providing a test probe comprising an oligonucleotide attached to a nanoparticle and providing a hybridization unit containing the test sample and the test probe, wherein said hybridization unit further includes a target sample substrate and a distribution manifold coupled to a first side of the substrate. The method further includes the steps of clamping a processing fluids manifold to the distribution manifold of the hybridization unit, denaturing the test sample and preparing the test sample for detecting the predetermined target nucleic acid by pumping a plurality of processing fluids between the processing fluids source manifold and distribution manifold to hybridize the test probe and predetermined target nucleic acid to the target sample substrate, to wash the hybridized sample and to amplify a detectable parameter of the hybridized sample.