Reagent well having a capillary insert

Abstract

A reagent well having a capillary insert that contains a lyophilized reagent therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reagent well comprising:
 a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open upper end;   a capillary insert disposed within or forming an integral component of the reagent well, the capillary insert including a channel extending therethrough; and   a lyophilized reagent contained within the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The reagent well of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom end of the capillary insert is situated above the bottom wall, thus forming a chamber between the bottom end of the capillary insert and the bottom wall of the reagent well. 
     
     
         3 . The reagent well of  claim 2 , wherein the capillary insert comprises a top end having a recessed portion that tapers inwardly toward the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The reagent well of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary insert is disposed within the reagent well. 
     
     
         5 . The reagent well of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary insert is an integral component of the reagent well. 
     
     
         6 . The reagent well of  claim 1 , further comprising a frangible seal affixed to a top wall of the reagent well and covering the open upper end. 
     
     
         7 . A method for removing a reconstituted form of the lyophilized reagent from the capillary insert of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a reconstitution solution to the channel, thereby forming a reconstituted reagent that is at least partially contained within the channel; and   (b) removing at least a portion of the reconstituted reagent formed in step (a) from the reagent well.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reconstituted reagent is removed from the reagent well with an automated pipettor having a disposable pipette tip. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the capillary insert comprises a top end having a recessed portion that tapers inwardly toward the channel, and wherein the automated pipettor removes at least a portion of the reconstituted reagent from the recessed portion in step (b). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the capillary insert is disposed within the reagent well. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the capillary insert is an integral component of the reagent well. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reagent well comprises a frangible seal affixed to a top wall of the reagent well and covering the open upper end. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction with the reconstituted reagent. 
     
     
         14 . A method of providing a stabilized in a reagent well for use in an automated process, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a liquid reagent to a channel extending through a capillary insert contained within or forming an integral component of the reagent well, wherein at least a portion of the liquid reagent is contained within the channel; and   (b) while the liquid reagent is in the reagent well, subjecting the liquid reagent to conditions suitable for lyophilizing the liquid reagent, thereby forming a lyophilized reagent that is at least partially contained within the channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the capillary insert comprises a top end having a recessed portion that tapers inwardly toward the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the capillary insert is disposed within the reagent well. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the capillary insert is an integral component of the reagent well. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reagent well comprises a frangible seal affixed to a top wall of the reagent well and covering an open upper end of the reagent well. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lyophilized reagent is a nucleic acid amplification reagent.