Automated sample-to-microarray apparatus and method

摘要

An apparatus having within or as part of a housing; a sample port; a microarray port; a lysis module; a purification module for containing a solid phase for binding of oligonucleotides; a thermocycling module for containing a polymerase chain reaction; a fragmentation module; and a microarray module for holding a microarray and a liquid in contact with the microarray. The apparatus is configured to be coupled to a device for: pumping a liquid through, in order, the lysis, purification, thermocycling, fragmentation, and microarray modules; sonicating any contents of the lysis module; thermocycling the thermocycling module to perform the polymerase chain reaction; heating the fragmentation module to fragment any oligonucleotides contained therein; circulating a fluid over the surface of the microarray; and performing one or more washing or staining steps on the microarray.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a housing; a sample port for placing a liquid biological sample into the housing; a microarray port for inserting a microarray having oligonucleotide probes thereon into the housing; a lysis module within the housing and coupled to the sample port; a purification module within the housing coupled to the lysis module and containing a solid phase comprising covalently immobilized capture probes that are capable of capturing 80% of human genomic DNA; a thermocycling module within the housing coupled to the purification module and capable of containing a polymerase chain reaction; a fragmentation module within the housing coupled to the thermocycling module; and a microarray module within the housing coupled to the fragmentation module and capable of holding the microarray and a liquid in contact with the microarray;
wherein the apparatus is configured to be coupled to a device capable of:
pumping a liquid through, in order, the lysis module, the purification module, the thermocycling module, the fragmentation module, and the microarray module;sonicating any contents of the lysis module;thermocycling the thermocycling module to perform the polymerase chain reaction;heating the fragmentation module to fragment any oligonucleotides contained therein;circulating a fluid over the surface of the microarray; andperforming one or more washing or staining steps on the microarray.