Cirrus Diagnostics, Inc.

Icn Micromedic Systems, Inc.

Icn Biomedicals Inc.

Douglas R Olson

Niten V Lalpuria

Darryn W Unfricht

Arthur L Babson

Thomas Palmieri

Victor R Huebner

Arthur L Rabson

Arthur F Ross

Gershon Giter

An automated immunoassay analyzer includes a computer controlled instrument (10) and display (16). The display (16) provides a real-time presentation of all operations being performed within the instrument (10). A large number of samples can be loaded into the instrument (10), and the order of testing the samples can be rearranged according to a priority determined by the operator at any time. A wide variety of immunoassays can be performed on each sample and several different immunoassays can be performed on any one sample. Information related to the type of immunoassays being performed on particular samples is collected by a bar code reader (44) and this information is conveyed to the computer (12) for presentation on the display (16). The computer (12) tracks the progress of each immunoassay through the reaction circuit to the detection station (46). The time to completion for particular immunoassays as well as the concentration information for recently completed immunoassays is provided in a readily usable format. The immunoassay automation process is improved by performing the washing operation with an assay tube (26) which allows water to be expelled by centrifugal forces generated by rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; rather, than by using more conventional aspirating equipment. Bound label is detected by chemiluminescence using a photomultiplier tube (96).

Automated immunoassay analyzer with pictorial display of assay

A centrifuge vessel for performing immunoassays, affinity chromatography, and like experiments includes a center tube and an outer waste chamber. A biomaterial is held within the center tube and is capable of binding specific analytes in test samples. In operation the centrifuge vessel is rotated at high speed about its longitudinal axis, thereby causing all fluid within the center tube to be transported into the outer waste chamber while the analyte of interest remains bound to the biomaterial positioned within the center tube In the centrifuge vessel, a cap connected to the outer waste chamber and extending over the center tube includes structure for preventing waste fluid expelled to the waste chamber from re-entering the center tube. In a first embodiment, the cap is either constructed from or the inside surface is coated with a hydrophobic material which repels fluids back into the waste chamber. In a second embodiment, the cap includes a dam which allows fluid to pass into the waste chamber but blocks the migration of waste fluid back to the center tube. In a third embodiment, the cap includes a sponge that allows fluids in the center tube influenced by the intense centrifugal forces generated during high speed rotation to pass into the waste chamber, but which prevents fluids in the waste chamber, which are influenced by relatively weaker forces, from returning to the center tube.

Centrifuge vessel with coaxial waste chamber having cap to prevent waste

An instrument (50) automatically determines the concentrations of HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides for a sample (80) of whole, anticoagulated blood placed in a doughnut shaped container (10). The sample (80) is first separated into its blood cell and plasma (84) constituents using high speed centrifugation (54) and a thixotropic gel (82). Part of the plasma (84) is then deposited in an HDL separation chamber (14) where LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol are precipitated by a reagent and the precipitant is sedimented by high speed centrifugation (54) against V-shaped grooves (40) in the outermost wall (38) of the HDL separation chamber (14). Part of the plasma (84) is diluted ten-fold. The supernatant in the HDL separation chamber is then placed in a cuvette reaction chamber (b 18) where it reacts with a cholesterol reagent. The diluted plasma is placed in two other cuvette reaction chambers (18) where it reacts with chloesterol and triglycerides reagents, respectively. Calibration reagents, stored in storage chambers (20), react in two other cuvette reaction chambers (18) to establish a reference absorbance. A pipettor (58) handles all the fluid transfers in the doughnut shaped container (10) and operates in conjunction with a slow speed motor (56) that precisely moves the spindle (52) on which the doughnut shaped container (10) is mounted. A colorimetric measuring system (70, 72, and 74) monitors the absorbance of chemical reactions occurring in the cuvette chambers (18).

Multichambered container and instrument for performing diagnostic tests

Compositions and methods are disclosed for multiple simultaneous assays of different analytes using radioactive labeled antibodies to the analytes, at least one portion of the assay being an immunoradiometric assay in which there is employed a metal isotope label, e.g., .sup.57 Co, attached to an antibody to the analyte through a chelator, e.g., ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Multiple simultaneous immunoradiometric assays can be performed by this method, as can multiple simultaneous assays in which one portion of the assay is an immunoradiometric assay and another portion or portions involve one or more other radioassay techniques.

Compositions and methods for multiple simultaneous immunoradiometric

Compounds useful in a simultaneous multiple assay for analytes such as steroids, proteins, peptides, carbohydrates or drugs. The compound or compounds are prepared by labelling an individual analyte with a radioisotope through a chelating agent to form a coordinated compound. The assay uses one or more chelated labelled analytes with one or more labelled analytes wherein each radioisotope is different.

Growing community of inventors

Doylestown, PA, United States of America

Douglas R Olson