Abstract: The present invention relates mainly to reaction vessels, to sets of such vessels for automatic immunological assay apparatuses, to automatic immunological assay apparatuses making use of such sets of vessels, and to a method implementing sets of such vessels. According to the present invention, photometric detection is implemented of the luminescence of a reaction mixture found in a reaction vessel, the apparatus and/or the vessel guaranteeing light-tightness so as to prevent entry of external light falsifying the measurement. Advantageously, sets of vessels in accordance with the present invention are made out of a material that is opaque. The present invention is particularly applicable to detecting the presence of a chemical or a biological substance in a sample. The present invention applies mainly to medical analysis and research.

Abstract: An automated immunological assay apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame carrying device for supporting samples to be analyzed, a device for supporting reagents, and a device for displacing sets of reaction wells along a rectangular path. A cog belt extends along the long sides of the path and a mechanism for transverse displacement extends along the short sides of the path. A device is also provided at one end of the path for automatically feeding sets of reaction wells.

Abstract: Automatic immunological assay apparatus comprising reaction wells in which there are deposited quantities of samples to be analyzed and of reagents, the reaction wells being grouped in modules (40) that are moved in translation, sliding between rails that define a U-shaped track (24), running from automatic reaction well feed device (26) to device (28) for ejecting the wells after use.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic reagent consists of magnetic balls covered with a substance binding specifically to a substance to be detected in suspension in a suitable liquid. The magnetic balls consist of an organic matrix enclosing a magnetic charge and having a magnetizable material mass/non-magnetizable material mass ratio between 60 and 70%.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out automatically in several successive steps an immunoassay of at least one biological substance in a plurality of biological samples, and the method and the reagents for the use of the said apparatus.

Abstract: Automatic apparatus for immunological assay, in which reaction vessels containing samples to be analyzed and reagents are carried by a rotary module which is rotated stepwise, and which is associated with a washing head including needles for sucking up and for injecting liquid for washing magnetic particles in the reaction vessels, and additional needles for sucking up and for injecting a cleaning or washing liquid for the reaction vessels.