Abstract: A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample.

Abstract: A monochromator of the Czerny-Turner type includes an entrance slit, a collimating mirror for receiving light output by the entrance slit, a planar grating for receiving light reflected by the collimating mirror, a focusing mirror for receiving light reflected by the grating, and an exit slit for receiving light focused by the focusing mirror. Light generally proceeds from the entrance slit to the collimating mirror, form the collimating mirror to the grating, from the grating to the focusing mirror and from the focusing mirror to the exit slit. The improvement comprises the use of a single toroidal collimating mirror in the system in combination with a spherical focusing mirror.