摘要 |
In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, an apparatus is provided for hybridizing a nucleic acid microarray immobilized on a surface of a solid substrate. The apparatus comprises at least one assembly for securing the solid substrate during hybridization, the assembly comprising a carrier and a cover having a surface facing the carrier. The carrier and the cover can be dimensioned to receive the solid substrate between the carrier and the surface of the cover so that the surfaces of the cover and the solid substrate define a cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include a fluid control module comprising a manifold, at least one liquid reservoir, at least one waste container, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the waste container. The manifold can provide fluid communication between the liquid reservoir and the cavity and between the cavity and the waste container, and the vacuum source can provide a pressure difference between the liquid reservoir and the waste container. The apparatus can further include at least one thermal management module for controlling temperature of the nucleic acid microarray immobilized on the surface of the solid substrate, and the thermal management module thermally can contact the assembly; and a pulse valve in fluid communication with the cavity, the pulse valve adapted to agitate fluid within the cavity.
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