Manual immunoassays and apparatus therefor

Claim 1

A closure for a small generally tubular container used in immunoassays for containing a liquid under assay consisting essentially of a cap receivable in liquid-tight fashion on said container to close the same and prevent material in said container from exiting said container at any time when closed by said cap, said cap including a liquid-absorbing material accessible to liquid in said container so that, when a closed container with liquid therein is inverted, the liquid absorbing material in the cap absorbs the liquid and retains it therein when the closed container is returned in an upright position thereby separating the absorbed liquid from any solid material in the container.

Claim 10

A method of immunoassay in which a reaction mixture is formed comprising a liquid phase and a solid phase, and wherein the solid phase is separated from the liquid phase, characterized in that there is used a combination of a small generally tubular container for use in immunoassays for containing a liquid under assay and a closure therefore, which closure is receivable on the open end of the container in liquid-tight fashion, the closure consisting essentially of a cap receivable in liquid-tight fashion on said container to close the same and prevent material in said container from exiting said container at any time when closed by said cap, said cap including a liquid-absorbing material accessible to liquid in said container so that, when a closed container with liquid therein is inverted, the liquid absorbing material in the cap absorbs the liquid and retains it therein when the closed container is returned in an upright position thereby separating the absorbed liquid from any solid material in the container, and wherein the said separation is effected by inverting the closed container whereby the liquid is absorbed by the liquid-absorbing material in the cap, the solid phase being retained in the container.

Claim 11

A method of immunoassay in which a reaction mixture is formed comprising a liquid phase and a solid phase, and wherein the solid phase is separated from the liquid phase, characterized in that there is used a combination of a small generally tubular container for use in immunoassays for containing a liquid under assay and a closure therefore, which closure is receivable on the open end of the container in liquid-tight fashion, the closure consisting essentially of a cap receivable in liquid-tight fashion on said container to close the same and prevent material in said container from exiting said container at any time when closed by said cap, said cap including a liquid-absorbing material accessible to liquid in said container so that, when a closed container with liquid therein is inverted, the liquid absorbing material in the cap absorbs the liquid and retains it therein when the closed container is returned in an upright position thereby separating the absorbed liquid from any solid material in the container, and wherein the said separation is effected by inverting the closed container whereby the liquid is absorbed by the liquid-absorbing material in the cap, the solid phase being retained in the container.