A chip device for nucleic acid detection in a sample, includes a substrate and piston-type containers. The piston-type containers are communicated with each other by means of microfluidic channels; the chip device for nucleic acid detection is further provided with piston valves each located between containers for controlling the fluid communication between the containers communicated with each other; the chip device for nucleic acid detection comprises: a sample receiving module; a sample lysis module; a nucleic acid extraction module, optionally, the nucleic acid extraction module comprising a nucleic acid binding unit, a nucleic acid cleaning unit and a nucleic acid elution unit; and a nucleic acid amplification module. The nucleic acid amplification module comprises multiple amplification area units and an optional pre-amplification area unit.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for performing automated assays, and particularly to performing sequential assays on a sample on an automated instrument.

Cartridges for the isolation of a biological sample and downstream biological assays on the sample are provided, as are methods for using such cartridges. In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sample is isolated from a biological sample and the nucleic acid sample is amplified, for example by the polymerase chain reaction. The cartridges provided herein can also be used for the isolation of non-nucleic acid samples, for example proteins, and to perform downstream reactions on the proteins, for example, binding assays. Instruments for carrying out the downstream biological assays and for detecting the results of the assays are also provided.

A method for performing an amplification reaction comprises the automated steps of combining a fluid sample together with one or more amplification reaction reagents in a reaction receptacle using a first automated pipettor, thereby forming a reaction mixture, transporting the reaction receptacle to a first, predetermined location of a centrifuge, subjecting the reaction mixture to centrifugation, after subjecting the reaction mixture to centrifugation, removing the reaction receptacle from a second, predetermined location of the centrifuge different from the first predetermined location and placing the reaction receptacle in a thermocycler, and in the thermocycler, subjecting the reaction mixture to one or more temperature cycles.

The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides.

Disclosed is a station, for testing an analyte in a sample, enabling accurate and quick reaction and analysis of the sample and a reagent in one apparatus. To this end, the present disclosure provides a station, which is for testing a sample by means of inserting a cuvette, having a standby chamber on which a collecting member is placed, a sample chamber, a reagent chamber and a detection unit. The station comprises: a housing which has an input/output part into which a cuvette is inserted; a driving unit which is provided inside the housing, horizontally moves the cuvette, vertically moves a collecting member, reacts a sample in a sample chamber and a reagent in a reagent chamber, and injects a reaction result thereof into a detection unit; and an optical reader which is provided on the horizontal movement path of the cuvette and is for analyzing the reaction result.

A microplate reader and a method for operating the microplate reader are disclosed. The microplate reader includes a housing, a first NFC reader/writer, a filter tray positioning device, a filter tray, an optical filter disposed in the filter tray, and a controller. The filter tray has a filter tray NFC tag disposed thereon and the filter has a filter NFC tag disposed thereon. The controller receives information about an assay protocol to be undertaken, wherein the assay protocol specifies a filter to be used. The first NFC reader/writer reads filter information stored in the filter NFC tag, the controller directs the NFC reader/writer to store the filter information in the filter tray NFC tag, and the controller enables operation of the microplate reader to undertake the assay protocol only if filter information indicates that the optical filter is in accordance with the filter specified in the assay protocol.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for performing automated assays, and particularly to performing sequential assays on a sample on an automated instrument.

This invention relates to a cartridge assembly tray for conducting automated biochemical tests, such as immunoassay tests. The tray comprises a base member, a hinged frame and a locking mechanism. The base member includes a plurality of slots within the base member. Each of the plurality of slots is to receive a test cartridge. The hinged frame is coupled to the base member. The hinged frame is capable to rotate to an opened position or a closed position. The hinged frame includes a horizontal push bar configured to apply a downward force to test cartridges received in the plurality of slots when the hinged frame is in the closed position. The locking mechanism is to lock the hinged frame in the closed position when the hinged frame rotates to the closed position.