Immunological assay conducted in a microlaboratory array

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of performing an immunological assay separately and in parallel for each of at least a first sample containing or prospectively containing a first binding moiety, which can be an antigen or an antibody, and a second sample containing or prospectively containing the first binding moiety, the method comprising: placing the first sample and the second sample into an array comprising a solid substrate, a plurality of wells and channels, wherein at least one channel is a crossover channel formed in the upper surface of the substrate and is situated above another channel formed in the lower surface of the substrate, thereby forming crossovers comprising crossing but non-intersecting channels; moving said first sample into a first well containing a second binding moiety, which can be an antigen or an antibody, that binds to the first binding moiety, wherein the second binding moiety is bound to the walls of the first well; moving said second sample into a second well containing the second binding moiety bound to the walls thereof; and parallelly pumping one or more fluids through the first and second wells to develop a detectable result that varies depending on the amount of the first binding moiety present in the first or second wells.