Abstract: The present invention provides a method of analyzing a sample containing an analyte to be qualitatively and/or quantitatively determined, comprising a binding step and a washing step, wherein the binding step comprises: interacting the analyte with beads having a density m1; obtaining a structure of packed beads comprising quantifiable bead complexes having a density m2; and the washing step comprises: dispersing the packed beads in a liquid medium having a density d>m2 and m1; and separating the liquid medium and the beads comprising the quantifiable bead complexes.

Abstract: A method for transferring beads in a fluidic chip having an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, including beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force includes providing beads having a density equal to, or lower than, m1 in a section of the fluid circuit, where the section includes at least a first outlet. The method includes providing a first liquid medium having a density d2 to the section, such that d2>m1, and applying a centrifugal force such that the beads migrate in an opposite direction of the centrifugal force.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of separating beads in a fluidic chip comprising an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, in which at least one of the reactants are beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force, the method comprises the steps of: providing at least a first set of beads (8a) having a density m1 and a second set of beads (8b) having a density m2 in a section (7, 15, 18) of the fluid circuit, the section comprising at least a first outlet (16, 13, 17); providing a first liquid medium in the section, the liquid medium having a density d3, such that m1<d3<m2; and applying a first centrifugal force (G) such that the first set of beads (8a) and the second set of beads (8b) migrates in opposite directions within the section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of separating beads in a fluidic chip comprising an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, in which at least one of the reactants are beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force, the method comprises the steps of: providing at least a first set of beads (8a) having a density m1 and a second set of beads (8b) having a density m2 in a section (7, 15, 18) of the fluid circuit, the section comprising at least a first outlet (16, 13, 17); providing a first liquid medium in the section, the liquid medium having a density d3, such that m1<d3<m2; and applying a first centrifugal force (G) such that the first set of beads (8a) and the second set of beads (8b) migrates in opposite directions within the section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of analyzing a sample containing an analyte to be qualitatively and/or quantitatively determined, comprising a binding step and a washing step, wherein the binding step comprises: interacting the analyte with beads having a density m1; obtaining a structure of packed beads comprising quantifiable bead complexes having a density m2; and the washing step comprises: dispersing the packed beads in a liquid medium having a density d>m2 and m1; and separating the liquid medium and the beads comprising the quantifiable bead complexes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of transferring beads in a fluidic chip comprising an internal fluid circuit through which various reactants, in which at least one of the reactants are beads, may be moved by use of centrifugal force, the method comprises the steps of: providing beads (8) having a density equal to, or lower than, m1 in a section (7, 15) of the fluid circuit, the section comprising at least a first outlet (16, 13); providing a first liquid medium to the section, the liquid medium having a density d2, such that d2>m1; and applying a centrifugal force such that the beads migrate in the opposite direction of the centrifugal force.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated lab-on-a-chip device for carrying out a nucleic acid extraction process on a fluid sample containing cells and/or particles, the device comprising: (a) a sample inlet (1) for loading of a fluid sample, (b) a lysis unit (4) for lysis of cells and/or particles present in the fluid sample, (c) a reservoir of lysis fluid (7) for the lysis unit, (d) a nucleic acid extraction unit (5) downstream of the lysis unit, and (e) reservoirs of first washing buffer and eluant fluid (8, 9, 10) for the nucleic acid extraction unit, wherein the device further comprises (f) a mixing unit (6) downstream of the nucleic acid extraction unit, and (g) a source of mixing fluid (11) for the mixing unit. The reservoirs of lysis fluid, first washing buffer and eluant fluid may be provided parallel to one anther so that they may be actuated by a single pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfabricated device for metering an analyte comprising a nucleic acid sequence into a plurality of parallel reaction chambers for nucleic acid sequence amplification. The present invention further provides a method of metering an analyte into a plurality of parallel reaction units of an integrated microfabricated device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated lab-on-a-chip device for carrying out a nucleic acid extraction process on a fluid sample containing cells and/or particles, the device comprising: (a) a sample inlet (1) for loading of a fluid sample, (b) a lysis unit (4) for lysis of cells and/or particles present in the fluid sample, (c) a reservoir of lysis fluid (7) for the lysis unit, (d) a nucleic acid extraction unit (5) downstream of the lysis unit, and (e) reservoirs of first washing buffer and eluant fluid (8, 9, 10) for the nucleic acid extraction unit, wherein the device further comprises (f) a mixing unit (6) downstream of the nucleic acid extraction unit, and (g) a source of mixing fluid (11) for the mixing unit. The reservoirs of lysis fluid, first washing buffer and eluant fluid may be provided parallel to one anther so that they may be actuated by a single pump.

Abstract: An integrated lab-on-a-chip device for carrying out an assay to detect the presence of a biological molecule in a fluid sample, the device comprising: (a) an inlet for a fluid sample; (b) one or more reaction sites each in fluid communication with the inlet; (c) one or more reagent reservoir systems each containing reagents required for an assay to detect a biological molecule, the reagents being arranged sequentially in each reservoir system in the order in which they are required for the assay and separated from one another by a fluid.