Integrated thermal conditioning and PCR in a molecular POC diagnostic device and system

• Main Authors: Molly Rose Jowsey, Matthew Selby
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.04.2024
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; ENZYMOLOGY; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

A fluidic test device comprises a first heating zone 9a; characterised in that a sample will be within the first heating zone at a first time point before PCR reagents are added, and at second time point the sample and the polymerase chain reaction reagent will be within the first heating zone and heated as part of a thermocycling profile. There may be reagent chambers 6 present which can store dried or lyophilised reagents (e.g. inhibition reduction reagents such as thiols and TCEP). The device may be a microfluidic cassette and is receivable in a diagnostic system (figure 4) which may comprise heaters, and pump and valve actuators. Using the apparatus may comprise combining an aliquot of the sample with PCR reagents by moving the sample to a reagent chamber, combining it with the reagent, and moving the combined sample and reagent back to the first heating zone.