Method for simultaneously performing multiple amplification reactions

1. A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in each of multiple samples, the method comprising performing within a housing of an analyzer the automated steps of:

(a) contacting each of multiple samples containing a nucleic acid with a solid support, such that a complex comprising the nucleic acid and the solid support is formed in each of the samples, wherein the solid support comprises a magnetically-responsive particle, and wherein the complex formed in each of the samples is suspended in a fluid component of the sample;

(b) after step (a), subjecting the complex in each of the samples to a magnetic field;

(c) during step (b), purifying the nucleic acid in each of the samples by accessing and removing at least a portion of the fluid component of each of the samples from the complex;

(d) forming multiple mixtures, each of the mixtures comprising the purified nucleic acid of one of the samples of step (c) and reagents for performing a nucleic acid amplification, wherein the mixtures are separately formed in multiple receptacles of a set of receptacles;

(e) moving the set of receptacles to a temperature-controlled environment;

(f) in each of the multiple receptacles, performing nucleic acid amplification, whereby amplification products are enzymatically synthesized, each of the amplification products comprising (i) a target sequence contained in the nucleic acid or (ii) the complement of the target sequence;

(g) in each of the multiple receptacles, selectively hybridizing a detectably labeled probe to an amplification product that is one of the amplification products synthesized in step (f), thereby forming a hybrid that comprises the probe and the amplification product, wherein the amplification product comprises the target sequence or its complement, and wherein the probe hybridizes to the target sequence or its complement in the amplification product; and

(h) in each of the multiple receptacles, detecting the presence of the hybrid, wherein the presence of the hybrid in each of the multiple receptacles is an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in each of the samples,

wherein the method is performed without human intervention.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing within the housing of the analyzer, prior to step (h) and after step (g), a step of providing a selection reagent to each of the multiple receptacles, whereby a label of an unhybridized, detectably labeled probe in each of the multiple receptacles is selectively hydrolyzed, wherein the label is an acridinium ester.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing within the housing of the analyzer an automated step of washing the solid support of each of the samples one or more times after step (c) and prior to step (d).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each receptacle of the set of receptacles comprises a cylindrical tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of receptacles is an integrally formed set of receptacles.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the amplification products consists of a nucleic acid sequence having the target sequence or its complement.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplification products include nucleic acid sequences having a sequence that is the same as the target sequence and nucleic acid sequences having a sequence that is the complement of the target sequence.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (f) is carried out in a temperature- controlled incubator maintained at a substantially uniform temperature.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (f) is performed in a temperature-controlled chamber of a first incubator, and wherein step (g) is performed in a temperature-controlled chamber of a second incubator, the first and second incubators being in a spaced-apart relationship.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe is detectably labeled with a fluorescent or chemiluminescent label.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid formed in each of the multiple receptacles is in solution in steps (g) and (h).

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed at multiple locations of a processing deck contained within the housing.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing remains closed during the method.

14. The method of claim 5 , wherein the integrally formed receptacles are arranged in a linear array.

15. A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in each of multiple samples, the method comprising performing within a housing of an analyzer the automated steps of:

(a) contacting each of multiple samples containing a nucleic acid with a solid support, such that a complex comprising the nucleic acid and the solid support is formed in each of the samples, wherein the solid support comprises a magnetically-responsive particle, and wherein the complex formed in each of the samples is suspended in a fluid component of the sample;

(b) after step (a), subjecting the complex in each of the samples to a magnetic field;

(c) during step (b), purifying the nucleic acid in each of the samples by contacting the fluid component of each of the samples with a fluid aspirator and aspirating at least a portion of the fluid component from the complex;

(d) forming multiple mixtures, each of the mixtures comprising the purified nucleic acid of one of the samples of step (c) and reagents for performing a nucleic acid amplification, wherein the mixtures are separately formed in multiple receptacles of a set of receptacles;

(e) moving the set of receptacles to a temperature-controlled environment;

(f) in each of the multiple receptacles, performing nucleic acid amplification, amplification products are enzymatically synthesized, each of the amplification products comprising (i) a target sequence contained in the nucleic acid or (ii) the complement of the target sequence;

(g) in each of the multiple receptacles, selectively hybridizing a detectably labeled probe to an amplification product that is one of the amplification products synthesized in step (f), thereby forming a hybrid that comprises the probe and the amplification product, wherein the amplification product comprises the target sequence or its complement, wherein the probe hybridizes to the target sequence or its complement in the amplification product, and wherein the hybrid is formed in solution; and

(h) in each of the multiple receptacles, detecting the presence of the hybrid while the hybrid is in solution, wherein the presence of the hybrid in each of the multiple receptacles is an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in each of the samples,

wherein the method is performed without human intervention.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising performing within the housing of the analyzer, prior to step (h) and after step (g), a step of providing a selection reagent to each of the multiple receptacles, whereby a label of an unhybridized, detectably labeled probe in each of the multiple receptacles is selectively hydrolyzed, wherein the label is an acridinium ester.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein step (f) is performed in a temperature-controlled chamber of a first incubator, and wherein step (g) is performed in a temperature-controlled chamber of a second incubator, the first and second incubators being in a spaced-apart relationship.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising performing within the housing of the analyzer an automated step of washing the solid support of each of the samples one or more times after step (c) and prior to step (d).

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein each receptacle of the set of receptacles comprises a cylindrical tube.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the set of receptacles is an integrally formed set of receptacles.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the integrally formed receptacles are arranged in a linear array.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid aspirator comprises an aspirator tube in frictional engagement with a contamination-limiting element configured to permit the passage of the fluid component of the specimen therethrough, and wherein the contamination- limiting element contacts the fluid component of the specimen in step (c).

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the contamination-limiting element is a tiplet.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the amplification products consists of a nucleic acid sequence having the target sequence or its complement.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the amplification products include nucleic acid sequences having a sequence that is the same as the target sequence and nucleic acid sequences having a sequence that is the complement of the target sequence.

26. The method of claim 15 , wherein step (f) is carried out in a temperature-controlled incubator maintained at a substantially uniform temperature.

27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the probe is detectably labeled with a fluorescent or chemiluminescent label.

28. The method of claim 15 , wherein the method is performed at multiple locations of a processing deck contained within the housing.

29. The method of claim 15 , wherein the housing remains closed during the method.

30. The method of claim 15 , wherein the hybird formed in each of the multiple receptacles is in solution.