Arrays and their reading

Abstract

A method of reading an array of moieties such as polynucleotides (for example, DNA) on at least a portion of a surface of a transparent slide which is opposite a first portion on the opposing surface, which array has been previously exposed to a sample. The method may include mounting the slide on a slide holder and retaining the slide thereon in a mounted position in which the holder does not contact the previously exposed array. The holder is then inserted into an array reader and the array read. A holder and slides which can be used in the method are also provided.

1 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A holder having a body comprising: 
 (a) opposing side portions;    (b) a channel between the side portions comprising an open end for receiving a transparent slide having opposing front and rear surfaces and carrying one or more arrays of moieties exposed to a sample on at least a portion of the rear surface of the slide, the channel further having a bottom surface forming a backer member;    (c) clamp members which can be resiliently urged against edge portions of the slide for retaining the slide in the channel and the moieties out of contact with the backer member when the rear surface of the slide faces the backer member.    
     
     
         44 . The holder of  claim 43 , wherein the clamp members comprise a fixed clamp member set and a movable clamp member set, wherein the fixed clamp member set is fixed to the body side portions while the movable set is movable to an open position away from the fixed set for receiving edge portions of the slide between the fixed and movable clamp members and can be urged against the edge portions for mounting the slide within the holder.  
     
     
         45 . The holder of  claim 43  wherein the moieties on the rear side of the slide are spaced from the backer member by between 0.1 mm to 10 mm, when the slide is mounted within the holder.  
     
     
         46 . The holder of  claim 43  wherein the backer is opaque.  
     
     
         47 . The holder of  claim 43 , additionally comprising two spaced apart guides extending from the body adjacent the opposing side portions so as to guide the sliding of the slide into a mounted position.  
     
     
         48 . The holder of  claim 43 , wherein opposed sides of the channel comprises ledges.  
     
     
         49 . The holder of  claim 44 , additionally comprising a control member set positioned on the holder outside the channel for moving the movable clamp set to the open position.  
     
     
         50 . The holder of  claim 44 , wherein the control member set comprises a button.  
     
     
         51 . The holder of  claim 48 , wherein the ledges act as clamp members.  
     
     
         52 . The holder of  claim 51 , wherein the ledges are movable by a control member set to an open position.  
     
     
         53 . The holder of  claim 47 , wherein the guides comprise ledges for sliding the slide along.  
     
     
         54 . The holder of  claim 43 , wherein the holder is configured for insertion into an array reader.  
     
     
         55 . A method of reading one or more arrays of moieties on at least a portion of a rear surface of a transparent slide having opposing front and rear surfaces, which array has been previously exposed to a sample, the method comprising: 
 (a) mounting the slide in a slide holder according to claim  1  and retaining the slide thereon in a mounted position in which the previously exposed array faces, and is spaced apart from, the backer member of the holder without the array contacting the holder,    (b) inserting the holder into an array reader and reading the array.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the clamp members of the sets are resiliently urged towards one another.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the clamp members comprise a fixed clamp member set and a movable clamp member set, wherein the fixed clamp member set is fixed to the body side portions while the movable member set is movable to an open position away from the fixed member set for receiving edge portions of the slide between the fixed and movable clamp members.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the holder additionally comprises a control member set positioned on the holder outside the channel and wherein the control member set is moved to move the movable clamp set to the open position.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the holder additionally comprises two spaced apart guides extending from the body adjacent the opposing side portions and wherein the slide is slid into a mounted position along the guides.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the channel further comprises a closed end and the slide is slid along the guides up to the closed end.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , additionally comprising removing the slide from the holder after the reading.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the slide comprises an identification code on the front surface and the method further comprises reading the identification code.