System and method for detecting multiple molecules in one assay

1. A system for performing an assay on a sample to determine presence or absence of a target analyte in the sample, the system comprising:

a cartridge having:

(a) planar waveguide with a planar surface and a plurality of capture molecules bound thereto,

(b) refractive volume for optically coupling a light beam to the planar waveguide, the refractive volume refracting the light beam such that all of the light beam focuses at a non-zero, internal propagation angle at the planar surface, and

(c) sample chamber for containing the sample in contact with the plurality of capture molecules; and

a reader instrument having:

(a) light source for delivering the light beam parallel to the planar surface, and offset from the planar waveguide when incident on the refractive volume,

(b) detector for detecting a light signal from a portion of the planar surface on which the plurality of capture molecules is bound,

(c) analysis module for receiving and analyzing the light signal from the detector, and

(d) a beam homogenizer.

2. The system of claim 1 , the plurality of capture molecules comprising at least one molecule selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an antigen, a polysaccharide, sugar, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a synthetic molecule, an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the planar waveguide includes an optically transparent material selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, polyolefin, polystyrene, acrylic, polymethylmethacrylate, and polycarbonate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface is modified using a process selected from the group consisting of plasma activation, chemical vapor deposition, liquid phase deposition, and surface polymerization of an activation chemistry, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sample containing an antibody and an antigen, wherein the cartridge and the reader instrument cooperate so as to detect both the antibody and the antigen in the sample.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of capture molecules includes an array arrangement including at least two reaction sites, each of the at least two reaction sites being formed by printing a composition onto the planar surface, the composition comprising at least one of the capture molecules.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least two reaction sites contain different compositions.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least two reaction sites include capture molecules selected from the group consisting of HIV antigens p17, p24, p31, gp41, p51, p55, p66, gp120, gp160, p41 Type O, p36 of HIV-2, antibodies against HIV antigen p24, and combinations thereof.

9. A method for performing an assay on a sample, the method comprising:

introducing the sample into the sample chamber of the cartridge of claim 1 ;

inserting the cartridge containing the sample, into the reader instrument of claim 1 ;

using the light source, illuminating a portion of the planar waveguide at which the plurality of capture molecules are bound such that, if the sample includes a target analyte, the target analyte interacts with the plurality of capture molecules so as to produce a light signal;

capturing the light signal; and

analyzing the light signal,

wherein illuminating includes

directing the light beam at the refractive volume such that the light beam is incident on the refractive volume in a plane parallel to and offset from the planar waveguide, and

refracting the light beam such that the light beam is focused at the planar surface at a non-zero, internal propagation angle relative to the planar surface for all light within the light beam.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of capture molecules include at least one molecule selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an antigen, a polysaccharide, sugar, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a synthetic molecule, an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising modifying the planar surface using a process selected from the group consisting of plasma activation, chemical vapor deposition, liquid phase deposition, and surface polymerization of an activation chemistry, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 , the sample containing an antibody and an antigen, the method further comprising detecting both the antibody and the antigen in the sample.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of capture molecules are selected from the group consisting of HIV antigens p17, p24, p31, gp41, p51, p55, p66, gp120, gp160, p41 Type O, p36 of HIV-2, antibodies against HIV antigen p24, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the reader instrument further comprising homogenizing the light beam before the light beam is optically coupled to the planar waveguide.

15. A kit for performing a biochemical assay on a sample to determine presence or absence of a target analyte in the sample, the kit comprising:

a cartridge having:

(a) planar waveguide with a planar surface and a plurality of capture molecules bound thereto,

(b) refractive volume for optically coupling a light beam to the planar waveguide, the refractive volume refracting the light beam such that all of the light beam focuses at a non-zero, internal propagation angle at the planar surface, and

(c) sample chamber for containing the sample in contact with the plurality of capture molecules;

a reader instrument having:

(a) receiving mechanism for positioning the cartridge therein,

(b) light source for delivering the light beam parallel to the planar surface, and offset from the planar waveguide when incident on the refractive volume,

(c) detector for detecting a light signal from a portion of the planar surface on which the plurality of capture molecules is bound, and

(d) analysis module for receiving and analyzing the light signal from the detector, and

(e) a beam homogenizer; and

one or more processing solutions for performing the assay on the sample in conjunction with the cartridge.

16. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processing solutions is selected from a group consisting of sample diluents solution, fluorescent conjugate solution, and wash solution.

17. The kit of claim 15 , the plurality of capture molecules including at least one molecule selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a polypeptide, a protein, an antibody, an antigen, a polysaccharide, sugar, an oligonucleotide, a polynucleotide, a synthetic molecule, an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule, and combinations thereof.

18. The kit of claim 15 , wherein the planar waveguide includes an optically transparent material selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, polyolefin, polystyrene, acrylic, polymethylmethacrylate, and polycarbonate.

19. The kit of claim 15 , further comprising a sample containing an antibody and an antigen, and wherein the cartridge and the reader instrument are configured to cooperate so as to detect both the antibody and the antigen in the sample.

20. The system of claim 1 , the cartridge further comprising one or more information indicators disposed on the cartridge, wherein at least one of the one or more information indicators represents at least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of cartridge parameters, cartridge type, print geometry, print layout, print lot, serial number, expiration date and combinations thereof.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of capture molecules is immobilized to the first planar surface as an array comprising:

at least two reaction sites, each of the at least two reaction sites being formed by printing a composition comprising at least one of the plurality of capture molecules onto the first planar surface, and,

one or more positive control sites formed by printing, onto the first planar surface, a composition containing a control molecule that consistently binds to at least one analyte in a sample, at least one of the positive control sites being located at a distal end of the array farthest from the inlet port.

22. The kit of claim 15 , the cartridge further comprising one or more information indicators disposed on the cartridge, wherein at least one of the one or more information indicators represents at least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of cartridge parameters, cartridge type, print geometry, print layout, print lot, serial number, expiration date and combinations thereof.