Abstract: The efficient temperation of a sample is achieved when the sample is subjected to centrifugation simultaneously wish heating and optionally also cooling. This is achieved in a device comprising at least a rotor (1) for holding reaction vessels (2), a motor (3), connected to the rotor, a processor (4) for controlling the speed of the rotor, and elements (5 and 6) for heating and cooling the contents of the reaction vessels, wherein the elements (6) for heating cover the apices of the reaction vessels for at least part of the rotational path of the vessels and that the elements for heating operate at a temperature significantly higher than the meeting temperature of the reaction vessels. The invention further relates to a method for performing chemical reactions and in particular a method for performing biochemical reactions involving thermocycling, for example PCR-reactions.

Abstract: Nucleic acids are extracted rapidly, safely and directly from a sample without pipetting steps by using predispensed, interconnectable vessels. These vessels are used separately or interconnected according to the mictrotiter standard format. The sample is mixed with lysis buffer and the nucleic acids bound to a matrix in a closed system, comprising at least two interconnectable volumes. By forcing the sample and buffer mixture back and forth from one volume to another, passing a narrow passage, thorough mixing is ensured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extraction device and a method of using such an extraction device. The extraction device, includes exchangeable reaction vials (2A, 2B, 2C) and a housing (3) having at least one longitudinally arranged capillary (12) therein. A reaction vial (2A, 2B, or 2C) and housing (3) being constructed to engage and form a closed system communicating the capillary (12) with the interior of a reaction vial (2A, 2B, or 2C). The method of using the closed extraction device involved denaturing a sample containing nucleic acid in a reaction vial followed by engaging the reaction vial to the housing and centrifuging the closed unit to allow a nucleic acid-binding medium to bind the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for performing biochemical reactions and a combination of a capillary (3) and a reaction vessel (1) for use in said method. The reagent capillaries (3) contain frozen reagents (6-13) separated from each other by air or an inert fluid. At use, the reagent capillaries (3) are placed in a reaction vessel (1) to be thawed and then the contents are centrifugated to the bottom of the reaction vessel (1). The invention is intended for use in all types of biochemical standard reactions and diagnostic tests in which the reagents cannot be mixed in advance. It is particularly suitable for PCR diagnostics but is also especially beneficial when handling radioactive reagents, e.g. labeled nucleotides, for sequencing reactions, etc.