Multi-channel optical detection system

摘要

An apparatus for thermally controlling and optically interrogating a reaction mixture includes a vessel (2) having a chamber (10) for holding the mixture. The apparatus also includes a heat-exchanging module (37) having a pair of opposing thermal plates (34A, 34B) for receiving the vessel (2) between them and for heating and/or cooling the mixture contained in the vessel. The module (37) also includes optical excitation and detection assemblies (46, 48) positioned to optically interrogate the mixture. The excitation assembly (46) includes multiple light sources (100) and a set of filters for sequentially illuminating labeled analytes in the mixture with excitation beams in multiple excitation wavelength ranges. The detection assembly (48) includes multiple detectors (102) and a second set of filters for detecting light emitted from the chamber (10) in multiple emission wavelength ranges. The optics assemblies (46, 48) thus provide a multi-channel system for detcting a plurality of different target analytes in the mixture.