Assay system

1. An assay cartridge comprising at least two wells and a membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells, said membrane-tipped pipette having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being closed by a liquid permeable membrane, wherein said cartridge further comprises a capillary-tipped pipette.

2. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane-tipped pipette is closed by a sloping liquid permeable membrane.

3. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sloping membrane lies in a plane at an angle of 20 to 40° to the axis of said membrane-tipped pipette to which it is attached.

4. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said a membrane-tipped pipette has a membrane-tipped end is of rectangular cross section.

5. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cartridge comprises detachable base and cap members, said wells being disposed in said base member and said cap member being arranged to carry said membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells.

6. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cap member comprises means to receives said capillary-tipped pipette.

7. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of said wells is sealed at its upper end by a frangible seal and wherein said cap member is provided with a cutter arranged to pierce said seal.

8. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 5 wherein said base member comprises an absorbent wiper arranged to wipe the outside of said capillary-tipped pipette inserted therein.

9. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said membrane-tipped pipette the proximal end whereof is closed by a piercable self-sealing membrane.

10. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wells in said cartridge are arranged in a linear array.

11. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said wells contains an assay reagent.

12. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein said capillary tip is provided with a detachable sleeve.

13. An assay cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one said well has two parallel planar side walls joined by a base wall comprising at least one planar face a normal to the surface whereof is coplanar to and non-perpendicular to normals to the parallel planar surfaces of said side walls.

14. An assay device comprising a) a cartridge holder capable of receiving an assay cartridge comprising at least two wells and a membrane-tipped pipette positionable in at least two of said wells, said membrane-tipped pipette having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being closed by a liquid permeable membrane; b) drive means operable to position said membrane-tipped pipette of said cartridge in selected wells of said cartridge; c) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said membrane-tipped pipette of said cartridge whereby to cause liquid flow therethrough; and d) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from said well of said cartridge or from said membrane-tipped pipette thereof

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said radiation detector comprises a digital camera.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a light source arranged to illuminate said cartridge.

17. A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a magnet.

18. A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a heater arranged to heat said cartridge.

19. A device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a controller arranged to control assay performance by said apparatus.

20. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said gas pressure applicator comprises a piston disposed within a cylindrical housing and a drive motor arranged to drive said piston.