Controlled evaporation, temperature control and packaging for optical inspection of biological samples

摘要

Controlling humidity at the surface of a solution containing analyte and ligand, e.g., for an assay, is disclosed, wherein the control of the humidity induces evaporative stirring in the solution to bring analyte and ligand into contact more quickly than when using diffusion. An oven which blows air in a controlled stream across slides, with wells containing reagent and analyte, is disclosed. Also disclosed is optical tape which can replace a conventional glass coverslip used for viewing of the reaction results.