Sequoia-Turner Corporation

Michael G Konicek

Peter E Lobban

Andrew Stefanski

Alfred H Sturtevant

Daniel R Mack

Methods and apparatus useful in automated performance of immunoassays, in some preferred embodiments, relying upon the sandwich immunoassay technique, are described. Each rack of reaction tubes is uniquely identified by an optical identifier disc which is read by the automatic controller. The assays are performed at two stations which configuration thereby permits arrays to be run on a second rack of reaction tubes while the first rack is in process. The cooperation of the identifier disc and the automatic controller minimizes operator error and helps improve the reliability of the data obtained.

Method and apparatus for performing automated, multi-sequential

Variations in the intensity of a light source and the sensitivity of a fluorescence detector photo-multiplier tube are simultaneously compensated by measuring the intensity (I.sub.LS1) of the light source at the sample excitation frequency with a silicon detector, measuring the intensity (I.sub.LS2) of the light source at the emission frequency with another silicon detector, measuring with the photo-multiplier detector the intensity (I.sub.S) of the sample's fluorescence and the intensity (I.sub.LS3) of the light source at the emission frequency of the sample and then calculating a value F as representative of the sample's fluorescence according to the formula: ##EQU1##

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Michael G Konicek