High-throughput screening with multi-through hole testing plate

Abstract

A high throughput screening method. At least one liquid sample is provided that includes an analyte that directly or indirectly produces a detectable characteristic in one or more first assays. A plurality of through holes is filled with portions of the liquid sample in a testing assembly that has a pair of opposing surfaces, each through hole extending from one of the opposing surfaces to the other of the opposing surfaces, with the through holes arranged in group. Surface tension holds the respective portions in the respective plurality of through holes. A detection is made of which of the through holes contains a liquid sample portion that includes said analyte. The detectable characteristic may be produced in various assays such as an absorbance transcription assay, a fluorescent transcription assay, a fluorescent secreted enzyme assay, or a microorganism screening assay.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of copending Ser. No. 10 / 223,893, filed Aug. 20, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 970,578 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,632), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 528,085 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,578), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 471,852 (abandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 272,122 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,873). Each of the patent applications described in this paragraph is hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention is related generally to a screening method and, more particularly, to a method employing multi-through hole testing plate for high throughout screening. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Prior testing apparatuses have consisted of a testing plate with a pair of opposing surfaces and plurality of wells. The wells extend in from one of the opposing surfaces, bu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The method and apparatus for holding samples for analysis in accordance with the present invention provides a number of advantages. For example, the present invention simplifies testing procedures. The samples of solution to be analyzed can be loaded into the testing plate by simply dipping or flooding one of the surfaces of the testing plate into the solution. As a result, the present invention does not require the use of a separate delivery systems for loading solution into the wells on the testing plate.

[0014] The present invention also simplifies the construction of the testing apparatus. The testing apparatus merely needs one of the opposing surfaces of the testing apparatus to be spaced away by additional spacers or machined to create a recessed portion and then a plurality of holes need to be drilled through the plate in the recessed portion. Unlike prior testing apparatuses, the present invention does not require any special construction techniques to male the bottom of the wells transparent because the holes extend all of the way through the plate.

[0015] The present invention also permits an operator to more easily identify a particular hole filled with a sample for further analysis. Instead of spacing the holes equidistantly over the testing plate, the present invention arranges the holes in groups of at least two columns and two rows of holes and arranges the groups in sets of at least two or more. The groups are spaces further apart then the holes within each group and sets of groups are spaced further apart then the groups are spaced apart. As a result, an operator can more easily identify a particular hole based upon which set, group, row, and column the hole is located in on the testing plate.

Problems solved by technology

Although these testing apparatuses work there are some problems.

For example, the wells in these testing apparatuses are difficult to fill.

These special delivery systems are often expensive and difficult to operate.

As a result, the overall cost of the testing procedure is increased.

Another problem with these prior testing apparatuses is with their construction.

However, the rest of the testing plate needs to be constructed of a non-transparent material.

The construction of a testing apparatus with these characteristics is difficult and expensive.

Yet another problem with these prior testing apparatuses is with the operator locating a particular well in the testing apparatus.

As a result, locating a particular well within the large number of wells is difficult.

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