Abstract: The invention is a method for detecting failures in an analyzer for conducting clinical assays. Potential errors that can result in assay failures in an analyzer are identified, as are their potential sources. The probability that an error source so identified will result in a clinically significant error is also determined. Available potential detection measures corresponding to the source of potential errors are identified with a combination of such measures selected and implemented based on their probability of detecting such errors within an acceptable limit with a concomitant low probability of the false detection of an assay failure. Each of the measures selected are functionally independent of others chosen to address the source of the error and are not subject to the same inherent means of failed detection. Applications of the method in a clinical analyzer are also presented.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for confined amplification and detection of nucleic acid material. The vessel features a plurality of adjacent chambers, each chamber comprising a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a bottom wall, the front and back walls terminating in an upper opening at a top edge of said front and back walls, a side wall of each chamber comprising a side wall in common with an adjacent chamber so as to integrally connect the chambers side-by-side; the front wall of each chamber including a liquid access port spanning all of the chambers below the top edge, the common side walls terminating at the port; and a movable elastomeric plug mounted within the upper opening above the port, shaped to block the port of each of the chambers and to stopper each the chamber when moved below the top edge, the plug spanning across all of the chambers in the vessel so as to close off the port simultaneously for all of the chambers when moved below the top edge.

Abstract: A method and fluorimeter for flashing a target at several different levels for detection of fluorescence by a PMT without blinding the PMT at the highest level. Two lamps are provided each of which is powered to flash at two different levels that are staged in energy from the lowest of four to the highest of four levels, and a shutter is provided to close off the PMT from exposure when an acceptable, detectable level of fluorescence is detected by the PMT.