Method and device for mixing samples on a support

Abstract

A method for detecting analytes in a liquid is provided in which the liquid is subjected to a mixing treatment on an area of a support which has in particular immobilized reactants, wherein in the mixing treatment the liquid is impinged upon by a stream of gas that sweeps across at least some areas of the support surface in a scanning manner by means of a jet directed towards the support surface. The invention also concerns a method for mixing a liquid sample comprising an analyte and a device for carrying out the method.

1 . A method for mixing a liquid sample comprising an analyte, the method comprising: 
 providing a support comprising an area comprising a reactant immobilized thereon and the sample, wherein the sample wets the area, and    providing a stream of gas that impinges upon and sweeps across at least a part of the area in a scanning manner, the stream of gas being provided by means of a jet directed toward the area, thereby causing a mixing of the liquid sample and thereby causing the analyte to be available for reaction with the immobilized reactant.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stream of gas is a stream of air.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stream of gas is a stream of moistened air.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a stream of gas also includes generating a relative movement between the jet and the support.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a trough-shaped vessel having an essentially flat bottom.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the vessel also contains microparticles with a reactant immobilized thereon.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a biochip having multiple areas upon which a reactant is immobilized.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stream of air is continuous and essentially uniform.  
     
     
         10 . A method for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample comprising: 
 providing a support comprising an area comprising a reactant immobilized thereon and the sample, wherein the sample wets the area,    providing a stream of gas that impinges upon and sweeps across at least a part of the area in a scanning manner, the stream of gas being provided by means of a jet directed toward the area, thereby causing a mixing of the liquid sample and thereby causing the analyte to be available for binding with the immobilized reactant, and    detecting the binding of the analyte with the immobilized reactant.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stream of gas is a stream of air.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stream of gas is a stream of moistened air.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the gas is an inert gas.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a stream of gas also includes generating a relative movement between the jet and the support.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the support is a trough-shaped vessel having an essentially flat bottom.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vessel also contains microparticles with a reactant immobilized thereon.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the support comprises a biochip having multiple areas upon which a reactant is immobilized.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stream of air is continuous and essentially uniform.  
     
     
         19 . A device for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample, the device comprising: 
 a holder,    a support held by the holder and comprising an area comprising a reactant immobilized thereon, the support containing the liquid sample which wets the area,    a gas supply device comprising a jet for supplying a stream of gas to the area, and    a drive device for generating relative movement between the jet and the holder whereby the stream of gas sweeps across at least a part of the area in a scanning manner, thereby mixing the sample and causing the analyte to be available for reaction with the immobilized reactant.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the holder is movably mounted and the drive device moves the holder relative to the jet.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the jet is movably mounted and the drive device moves the jet relative to the holder.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the gas supply device generates a stream of air.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the gas supply device further moistens the air.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the holder stores a plurality of supports and the gas supply device comprises a plurality of jets.