Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Biosystem Development, LLC

Robert J Sakowski

Scott P Fulton

William F Bowers

William Bowers

The present invention relates to an improved system for efficiently and accurately performing immunoassays, such as ELISAs. The invention provides an immunoassay assembly which includes a flow-through unit and an aspiration pump. The immunoassay flow-through unit includes an outer seal; at least one bed support; an inner seal; and a packed non-porous bed. The unit is releasably attached to an aspiration pump which enables the controlled flow rate of liquid passing through the packed bed of the flow-through unit. The invention also provides a method of using the immunoassay assembly to identify analytical targets of interest.

Immunoassay assembly and methods of use

The present invention provides a low bed-volume spin column system and methods of use. The system includes various combinations of spin columns with packed beds, a rack for holding the spin columns, a receiver plate that attaches to the rack and that has wells in registration with the spin columns held in the rack, a lid that attaches to the receiver plate and seals the spin columns, and an incubator block configured for accepting the wells of the receiver plate and for incubating the packed bed. The lid, spin columns, rack, receiver plate, and incubator block are preferably capable of being assembled in a nested configuration. In preferred versions of the invention, the rack is compatible with and attachable to conventional 96-well microplates. Further provided are methods of using the spin column system that include quantitatively purifying and analyzing an analyte, removing and preventing air entrainment within the packed bed, and incubating the packed bed while preventing drying thereof.

Spin column system and methods

The present invention provides a novel system for efficiently and accurately analyzing targets in samples and for preparing samples for analysis with various analytical methods. A version of the present invention comprises a multi-function probe, configured for pipetting liquids directly, with a pipet tip, or with an assay unit described herein. Another version of the present invention includes an apparatus for conducting an immunoassay or selective adsorption separation comprising an assay unit and a multi-function probe. Another version of the present invention includes a multi-function probe and assay unit for use with an automated Cartesian robot. Other versions include one- or two-dimensional arrays comprising multi-function probes connected to syringe barrels for use with assay units.

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Barneveld, WI, United States of America

Robert J Sakowski