Amoco Corporation

Kevin R Kearney

Ernest Bate

David Robinson

Donald E Mahan

Thomas M Shimei

Mark L Collins

David V Morrissey

John K Eldredge

Philip Missing

Mark Watson

Simon Kellard

Novel reagents are provided along with methods for their use in nucleic acid hybridization assays for detecting target nucleic acids in samples. The most preferred reagent is a mixture of guanidinium thiocyanate and tetramethylammonium:Trifluoracetate and possesses many properties for facilitating hybridization between target nucleic acid and nucleic acid probes capable of binding thereto and surprisingly results in the phenomenon of superstoichiometric labeling.

Hybridization promotion reagents

Closed disposable package

Test tray

A dependable cost-effective clinical analyzer machine provides an efficient and easy-to-use diagnostics instrument and process to accurately, rapidly and automatically test and analyze samples in test packs for an analyte. In the clinical analyzer machine, remote-controlled trams transport test packs containing loading/unloading station to a processing/testing station via a carousel and vice versa. In the processing station, a special processor with mechanically-operated rollers mixing shoes, wastegate assembly, magnets, clamp plate and a thermal sealer, process samples in test packs with various reagents to detect an analyte. The carousel holds the test packs during incubation periods and rotates the tested disposable packs past an optical reader which optically senses the presence of an analyte in the sample. Bar code readers are provided to assist in identification of the test pack, patient and sample.

Diagnostics instrument

Growing community of inventors

Worcester, MA, United States of America

Kevin R Kearney