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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to PCT patent application PCT / EP / 2010 / 063732 filed on Oct. 17, 2010; and German patent application DE 051428.7 filed on Oct. 30, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a reagent cartridge for an assembly for selectively performing a clinical-chemical test or an ELISA test according to the preamble of claim 1, use of the reagent cartridge according to claims 11 to 15, and an assembly according to the preamble of claim 16.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Among experts skilled in the art, analytical devices are known for the automatic determination of clinical chemical as well as immunodiagnostic parameters. The devices for determining clinical chemical parameters must meet different requirements than devices for determining immunological parameters.[0004]Clinical chemical parameters are typically determined in the liquid phase of a sample. A...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]It is another advantage of the invention that the solid phase is made of a different material than the housing. For example, the solid phase can be made of polystyrene. This plastic primarily enhances binding of the desired antigen or antibody to the solid phase. At the same time however, it is not particularly resistant to many reagents needed for performing clinical chemical tests. One can see the benefit gained if the housing consists of another material as mentioned above. For example, it is conceivable that the housing is made of polypropylene, a much more resistant material. It is also ensured in this way that the antigen or the antibody will be coupled to the solid phase safely and lastingly while the reagents for performing clinical chemical tests can still be well stored in the reagent cartridge.

[0017]It is therefore advantageous if a reagent is pre-filled in at least one of the cavities while the solid phase is either charged with antibody, or is empty, or is used as diluting cavity.

[0018]The invention also relates to the use of a reagent cartridge according to the invention for analyzing a clinical chemical parameter in a sample, the use of a reagent cartridge according to the invention for analyzing a immunodiagnostic parameter in a sample, the use of a reagent cartridge according to the invention as a diluting device, and the use of a reagent cartridge according to the invention for providing additional reagents.

[0019]Such a use can be particularly advantageous in a method performed in a fully automated device and comprising the following steps:

[0020]a) Insertion of the reagent cartridges for the analyses to be performed into a holding fixture of the fully automated device;

[0021]b) Insertion of the sample into a sample device of the fully automated device;

Problems solved by technology

There is a risk that the reagents in the other cavities may spill out of the cavities when the user has to apply an adequate compressive force to press the well safely into the analytical insert.

There is another risk that the well in the end may not be correctly positioned in the analytical device, which may result in undesirable light refraction and deflection of the sample beam of the photometric device and falsify the analysis.

In addition, the analytical insert is very fragile, and just the removal of the safety film from the reagent-filled cavities may bend the insert enough so that it can no longer be inserted into the analytical device.

Another disadvantage is that the analytical insert can only be used in devices for performing immunodiagnostic analyses.

This can hardly be done in smaller doctor's offices, since it requires the purchase of one expensive device for analyzing immunodiagnostic values and the purchase of a second expensive device for analyzing clinical chemical parameters.

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