Method and apparatus for performing automated, multi-sequential immunoassays

Claim 1

A method for automatically performing immunoassay techniques on a rack of reaction tubes, the method comprising the steps of: identifying uniquely a rack of reaction tubes; communicating to an automatic controller the immunoassay technique to be performed on said rack of reaction tubes; automatically communicating to the controller the unique identity of said rack; loading the rack to a first station; I. at the first station, according to the particular immunoassay technique selected, (a) automatically adding sample serum to each of said reaction tubes to permit the sample serum to contact a substance which will immunochemically bond to a specific immunogenic component of said sample serum; (b) automatically adding a first reagent to said reaction tubes which reagent also immunochemically bonds to said specific immunogenic component of the sample serum to form a first complex; (c) removing said rack of reaction tubes from the first station; incubating said reaction tubes for a first period of time; loading the rack to a second station; automatically verifying by said controller the unique identity of said rack; and II. at the second station, according to the particular immunoassay technique originally selected, (a) automatically washing away unreacted components of the sample serum and reagents in each reaction tube to leave said first complex; (b) automatically adding a second reagent to said washed reaction tubes which second reagent results in the formation of an optically detectable substance; (c) incubating the rack of reaction tubes for a second period of time; (d) automatically adding a diluent and/or a quenching reagent to said reaction tubes; and (e) automatically transfering the contents of each reaction tube to an optics module; and (f) obtaining and presenting an optical characterization of the contents of each of said reaction tubes.

Claim 2

A method for automatically performing immunoassay techniques on a rack of reaction tubes, the method comprising the steps of: identifying uniquely a rack of reaction tubes; communicating to an automatic controller the immunoassay technique to be performed on said rack of reaction tubes; automatically communicating to the controller the unique identity of said rack; loading the rack to a first station; I. at the first station, according to the particular immunoassay technique selected, (a) automatically adding sample serum to each of said reaction tubes to permit the sample serum to contact a substance which will immunochemically bond to a specific immunogenic component of said sample serum; (b) automatically adding a first reagent to said reaction tubes which reagent also immunochemically bonds to said specific immunogenic component of the sample serum to form a first complex; (c) removing said rack of reaction tubes from the first station; incubating said reaction tubes for a first period of time; loading the rack to a second station; automatically verifying by said controller the unique identity of said rack; and II. at the second station, according to the particular immunoassay technique originally selected, (a) automatically washing away unreacted components of the sample serum and reagents in each reaction tube to leave said first complex; (b) automatically adding a second reagent to said washed reaction tubes which second reagent results in the formation of an optically detectable substance; (c) incubating the rack of reaction tubes for a second period of time; (d) automatically adding a diluent and/or a quenching reagent to said reaction tubes; and (e) automatically transfering the contents of each reaction tube to an optics module; and (f) obtaining and presenting an optical characterization of the contents of each of said reaction tubes.

Claim 11

An apparatus for automatically performing immunoassay techniques on a rack of reaction tubes, which comprises: (a) means for identifying uniquely a rack of reaction tubes; (b) an automatic controller; (c) means for automatically communicating to the controller the unique identity of said rack; (d) a first station; (e) means for automatically adding sample serum to each of said reaction tubes; (f) means for automatically adding a first reagent to said reaction tubes; (g) means for automatically verifying by said controller the unique identity of said rack; (h) a second station; (i) means for automatically washing away unreacted components of the sample serum and reagents in each reaction tube to leave said first complex; (j) means for automatically adding a second reagent to said washed reaction tubes; (k) automatically adding a diluent and/or quench reagent to said reaction tubes; (l) an optics module; (m) means for automatically transfering the contents of each reaction tube to an optics module; and (n) obtaining and presenting an optical characterization of the contents of each of said reaction tubes.

Claim 12

An apparatus for automatically performing immunoassay techniques on a rack of reaction tubes, which comprises: (a) means for identifying uniquely a rack of reaction tubes; (b) an automatic controller; (c) means for automatically communicating to the controller the unique identity of said rack; (d) a first station; (e) means for automatically adding sample serum to each of said reaction tubes; (f) means for automatically adding a first reagent to said reaction tubes; (g) means for automatically verifying by said controller the unique identity of said rack; (h) a second station; (i) means for automatically washing away unreacted components of the sample serum and reagents in each reaction tube to leave said first complex; (j) means for automatically adding a second reagent to said washed reaction tubes; (k) automatically adding a diluent and/or quench reagent to said reaction tubes; (l) an optics module; (m) means for automatically transfering the contents of each reaction tube to an optics module; and (n) obtaining and presenting an optical characterization of the contents of each of said reaction tubes.