Multiwell plate
An assembly for processing a sample is provided. The assembly comprises a first body having a plurality of spaced-apart conduits and a second body having a plurality of chambers wherein each conduit is fluidically connected to a separate chamber. The assembly forms a plurality of liquid flow paths, each flow path comprising a conduit and a chamber. An analyte capture element is detachably attached to a conduit and is in fluidic communication with the liquid flow path of the conduit. Optionally, the assembly further may comprise a third body comprising a plurality of reservoirs. The assembly can be used to process a liquid sample for detecting an analyte.
1. A method of detecting a presence or an absence of an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising:
contacting the liquid sample with a capture element detachably attached to a conduit in an assembly, the assembly comprising;
a first body comprising a plurality of spaced-apart conduits, the conduits configured in a linear array;
wherein the plurality of conduits comprises:
a first conduit having a first opening and a second opening;
a second conduit adjacent the first conduit, the second conduit having a first opening and a second opening;
a second body operably coupled thereto;
wherein the second body comprises a plurality of spaced-apart chambers; each chamber having conduit-receiving opening, an interior volume, and a drain;
wherein the plurality of spaced-apart chambers comprises:
a first chamber having a first interior volume and a first drain;
a second chamber adjacent the first chamber, the second chamber having a second interior volume and a second drain;
wherein, when the first body and the second body are operably coupled, a portion of the first conduit is disposed in the first interior volume forming a first flow path including the first drain, and a portion of the second conduit is disposed in the second interior volume forming a second flow path including the second drain; and
a capture element detachably attached to the first conduit and disposed in fluidic communication with the first flow path;
wherein a first shortest distance between the second opening of the first conduit and the second opening of the second conduit is shorter than a second shortest distance between the first drain and the second drain;
detaching the capture element from the assembly; and
detecting a presence or an absence of an analyte retained from the sample by the capture element.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detaching the capture element from the assembly comprises moving an outlet through the conduit to which the capture element is detachably attached.