Reagent cartridge for an assembly for selectively performing a clincial chemical test or an elisa test, use of said reagent cartridge and assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a reagent cartridge 10 for an assembly for selectively performing a clinical chemical test or an ELISA assay comprising a housing 11 having at least one cavity 12, 13, 14 that contains a reaction or diluting component and having a recess 15 in which a solid phase 20 to which an antigen or antibody can be coupled is inserted into the recess 15 of the housing 11 . It is particularly advantageous if the reagent cartridge 10 comprises three cavities 12, 13, 14 and the reagent cartridge 10 can be used for analyzing clinical chemical parameters, for analyzing immunodiagnostic parameters, for providing additional reagents, and as a diluting cartridge.

1 . A reagent cartridge ( 10 ) for an assembly for selectively performing a clinical chemical test or an ELISA test, comprising a housing ( 11 ) having at least one cavity ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) that contains a reaction or diluting component and wherein the housing comprises a recess ( 15 ) and a solid phase ( 20 ) to which an antigen or antibody can be coupled is inserted into the recess ( 15 ) of the housing ( 11 ), characterized in that the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) comprises three cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ),
 wherein the first cavity ( 14 ) is either used as diluting cavity or contains diluent solution, or contains an additional reagent for performing a clinical chemical test,   wherein the second cavity ( 13 ) is either used as diluting cavity, or contains enzyme conjugate K for performing an ELISA, or contains a detection reagent (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Ra) for performing a clinical chemical test,   wherein the third cavity ( 12 ) is either used as diluting cavity, or contains substrate (S) for performing an ELISA, or contains a detection reagent (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Ra) for performing a clinical chemical test, or is empty, and   wherein either all cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) of the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) are used as diluting cavities and/or contain diluent solution, and/or are empty, or wherein the cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) of the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) contain a detection reagent (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Ra) for performing a clinical chemical test, enzyme conjugate (K) for performing an ELISA, or substrate (S) for performing an ELISA, or are empty.   
     
     
         2 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) is a reagent cartridge for performing a clinical chemical test wherein the first cavity ( 14 ) is empty, the second cavity ( 13 ) contains a first detection reagent (R 1 ), and the third cavity ( 12 ) contains a second detection reagent (R 2 ) for performing a clinical chemical test. 
     
     
         3 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) is a reagent cartridge for performing a clinical chemical test wherein two of the cavities ( 12 ,  13 ) are empty and the third cavity ( 14 ) contains a detection reagent (Ra, R 3 ) for performing a clinical chemical test. 
     
     
         4 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid phase ( 20 ) has neither an antigen nor an antibody bound to it and represents a fourth, empty cavity of the reagent cartridge ( 10 ). 
     
     
         5 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) is a reagent cartridge for performing an immunodiagnostic test, wherein the first cavity ( 14 ) is empty, the second cavity ( 13 ) contains enzyme conjugate (K), and the third cavity ( 12 ) contains substrate (S) for performing an ELISA, wherein an antigen or antibody (A) is coupled to the solid phase ( 20 ). 
     
     
         6 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) is a reagent cartridge for diluting a sample, wherein at least one of the three cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) contains a diluent solution and at least one of the three cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) is used as diluting cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein neither an antigen nor an antibody is bound to the reagent cartridge ( 10 ) and in that the solid phase ( 20 ) is used as diluting cavity or is empty. 
     
     
         8 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid phase ( 20 ) is made of a different material than the housing ( 11 ). 
     
     
         9 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid phase ( 20 ) is made of polystyrene. 
     
     
         10 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein a reagent (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , Ra, K, S) is pre-filled in at least one of the cavities ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ). 
     
     
         11 . The reagent cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid phase ( 20 ) is either charged with antibody (A), is empty, or is used as diluting device. 
     
     
         12 . Use of a reagent cartridge according to  claim 1  for analyzing a clinical chemical parameter in a sample. 
     
     
         13 . Use of a reagent cartridge according to  claim 1  for analyzing an immunodiagnostic parameter in a sample. 
     
     
         14 . Use of the reagent cartridge according to  claim 1  as a diluting device. 
     
     
         15 . Use of the reagent cartridge according to  claim 1  for providing additional reagents. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly ( 100 ) for selectively performing a clinical chemical test or an ELISA test comprising an analytical device ( 40 ), at least one reagent cartridge ( 10 ), and at least one measuring cell ( 30 ), wherein the reagent cartridge is a reagent cartridge according to any one of  claim 1  and in that a measuring cell is assigned to each reagent cartridge, wherein the reagent cartridge and the measuring cell ( 30 ) assigned to it are in a linear assembly in the analytical device. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the analytical device ( 40 ) comprises a sample receptacle ( 41 ), a holding fixture ( 42 ) for the reagent cartridges ( 10 ) and for the measuring cells ( 30 ), and a pipetting device ( 43 ). 
     
     
         18 . The assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the analytical device ( 40 ) comprises an optical unit ( 44 ) and a washing unit ( 45 ). 
     
     
         19 . The assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the sample receptacle ( 41 ) and the washing unit ( 45 ) are separate from the holding fixture ( 42 ). 
     
     
         20 . The assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the holding fixture ( 42 ) is a carousel, wherein the reagent cartridges ( 10 ) and measuring cells ( 30 ) are arranged along the radii (R) of the carousel and wherein the measuring cells ( 30 ) are arranged on the outer ends of the radii (R).