Wash process for a sample being analyzed

Abstract

A method for removing an undesired component from a bound desired component in an analysis that includes the steps of: (a) providing a container having a desired component bound thereto and an undesired component; (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact at least a portion of the bound desired component; (c) oscillating the level of the wash fluid in the container; and (d) removing at least a portion of the wash fluid from the container. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for washing an analyte bound to the walls of a surface coated container of an analyzer that includes: (a) providing a surface coated container having an analyte bound thereto; (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact at least a portion of the analyte bound thereto; (c) oscillating the level of the wash fluid in the container; and (d) removing the wash fluid from the surface coated container. Also described is a method for removing an undesired component from a bound desired component in an analysis that includes the steps of: (a) providing a container having a desired bound component bound thereto and an undesired component; (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to wash at least a portion of the bound desired component; (c) removing the wash fluid from the container; (d) subsequently dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a subsequent level that is lower than the first level and is sufficient to wash at least a portion of the bound desired substrate; and (e) removing the wash fluid from the container. In a preferred embodiment, the analyte being measured is Troponin I.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for removing an undesired component from a bound desired component in an analysis comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container having a desired component bound thereto and an undesired component;    (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact at least a portion of the bound desired component;    (c) oscillating the level of the wash fluid in the container; and    (d) removing at least a portion of the wash fluid from the container.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein steps (b)-(d) take about 2.5 seconds or less.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising after step (d), incubating the container containing the wash fluid.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the incubation takes about 37.5 seconds.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a subsequent dispensing of a wash fluid in the container at a level that is lower than the first level and is sufficient to contact at least a portion of the bound desired component; and    a subsequent removing of the wash fluid from the container, wherein the oscillating (c) occurs between any of the dispensing and removing steps.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the oscillating occurs during a dispensing and removing step subsequent to the first dispensing and removing step.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removing the wash fluid includes aspirating the wash fluid out of the container with an aspirating nozzle.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is cup-shaped with features at the upper end.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein during the removing of the wash fluid step no additional wash fluid is dispensed and the rate of descent of the aspirating nozzle is reduced relative to a previous removing of the wash fluid to reduce or avoid the contact of the outer surface of the nozzle with the wash fluid.  
     
     
         10 . A method for washing an analyte bound to the walls of a surface coated container of an analyzer comprising: 
 (a) providing a surface coated container having an analyte bound thereto;    (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to contact at least a portion of the analyte bound thereto;    (c) oscillating the level of the wash fluid in the container; and    (d) removing the wash fluid from the surface coated container.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a subsequent dispensing of a wash fluid in the container at a level that is lower than the first level and is sufficient to contact at least a portion of the bound analyte; and    a subsequent removing of the wash fluid from the container, wherein the oscillating (c) occurs between any of the dispensing and removing steps.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the oscillating occurs during a dispensing and removing step subsequent to the first dispensing and removing step.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the analyzer is an immunodiagnostic assay analyzer.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the container is cup-shaped and is coated with an antibody.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the analyte being measured is Troponin I.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the removing the wash fluid steps includes aspirating the wash fluid out of the container with an aspirating nozzle.  
     
     
         17 . A method for removing an undesired component from a bound desired component in an analysis comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container having a desired bound component bound thereto and an undesired component;    (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to wash at least a portion of the bound desired component;    (c) removing the wash fluid from the container;    (d) subsequently dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a subsequent level that is lower than the first level and is sufficient to wash at least a portion of the bound desired substrate; and    (e) removing the wash fluid from the container.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising oscillating the level of the wash fluid between at least one of the dispensing and the removing steps.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the oscillating occurs during a dispensing and removing step subsequent to the first dispensing and removing step.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the removing the wash fluid step (e) includes aspirating the wash fluid out of the container with an aspirating nozzle.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the container is cup-shaped with features at the upper end.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein during the removing of the wash fluid step (e) no additional wash fluid is dispensed and the rate of descent of the aspirating nozzle is reduced relative a previous removal of the wash fluid to reduce or avoid the contact of the outer surface of the nozzle with the wash fluid.  
     
     
         23 . A method for washing an analyte bound to the walls of a surface coated container of an analyzer comprising: 
 (a) providing a surface coated container having an analyte bound thereto;    (b) dispensing a wash fluid in the container at a first level sufficient to wash at least a portion of the analyte bound thereto;    (c) removing the wash fluid from the surface coated container;    (d) subsequently dispensing a wash fluid in the sample container at a second level that is lower than the first level and sufficient to wash at least a portion of the analyte bound thereto; and    (e) removing the wash fluid from the sample container.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the dispensing and removing the wash fluid steps occurs at least four times, with the subsequent wash fluid levels lower than or equal to previous levels and at least one subsequent level lower than a previous level.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the analyzer is an immunodiagnostic assay analyzer.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the container is cup-shaped and is coated with an antibody.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the container is cup-shaped and is coated with an antibody.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the analyte being measured is Troponin I.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the removing the wash fluid steps includes aspirating the wash fluid out of the container with an aspirating nozzle.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the removing the wash fluid steps includes aspirating the wash fluid out of the container with an aspirating nozzle.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein during the fourth removal of the wash fluid, no additional wash relative to an earlier removal of the wash fluid is dispensed and the rate of descent of the aspirating nozzle is reduced relative to an earlier removal of the wash fluid to reduce or avoid the contact of the outer surface of the nozzle with the wash fluid.  
     
     
         32 . A method of determining the amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a sample containing an analyte in a coated container;    (b) providing a reagent in the container;    (c) optionally incubating the combined sample and reagent;    (d) performing the wash according to  claim 10;     (e) optionally adding a signal reagent; and    (f) analyzing the sample for an analyte.    
     
     
         33 . A method of determining the amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 (g) providing a sample containing an analyte in a coated container;    (h) providing a reagent in the container;    (i) optionally incubating the combined sample and reagent;    (j) performing the wash according to  claim 23;     (k) optionally adding a signal reagent; and    (l) analyzing the sample for an analyte.    
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 1  implemented by a computer program interfacing with a computer.  
     
     
         35 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code configured to conduct the process of  claim 1.