Modular point-of-care devices, systems, and uses thereof

1. A method of detecting at least two analytes present in a sample, the method comprising:

positioning a cartridge in an instrument, wherein the cartridge comprises:

at least one sample vessel containing the sample; a plurality of reagent units; a plurality of assay units; at least one pipette tip, and at least one touch-off pad, all of the foregoing arranged in a two-dimensional pattern and not together in a single row;

processing the sample to provide processed sample portions in selected assay units of the cartridge, wherein a) at least one of said selected assays units contains a first processed sample portion comprising one or more reagents and at least a first diluted portion of the sample at a first dilution, and b) at least another of said selected assays units contains a second processed sample portion comprising one or more reagents and at least a second diluted portion of the sample at a second dilution, wherein concentration of analytes in the first diluted portion is a fraction of the concentration of analytes in the sample and wherein the first dilution is different from the second dilution;

decoupling at least one of said selected assay units from the cartridge and transporting said at least one of said selected assay units to a signal detector at a different location in the instrument;

using the signal detector to detect at least one signal from at least one of said analytes;

repeating the using the signal detector step with said at least one of said selected assay units or a different assay unit until said at least two analytes are detected; and

containing in the cartridge all reagents and supplies used for detection of said at least two analytes, including containing waste material that is generated from said detection or sample processing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge is positioned in the instrument effective that an automated fluid transfer device of the instrument can engage at least one sample vessel, one of said reagent units, one of said assay units, or at least one pipette tip.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said assay units comprises a pipette tip with a capture surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said assay units comprises a pipette tip with a reaction site.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a housing for holding said reagent units and said assay units.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reagent units comprise instrument-operable containers that encapsulate liquid reagents.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reagents include liquid-phase and solid-phase reagents.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing serial dilution on the sample, wherein the second diluted portion is formed from the first diluted portion.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising using fingerstick blood from a single subject as the sample.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the cartridge further comprises a housing, wherein a bottom of the housing is configured to collect waste liquids.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cartridge is configured to collect waste liquids after use that are transferred through a hole in a housing of the cartridge.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein said processing of the sample comprises transferring sample and diluent to one of the assay units using a fluid transfer device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fluid transfer device is automated to follow a protocol associated with the cartridge to perform serial dilution of the sample.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fluid transfer device is automated to follow a protocol associated with a cartridge identifier that is associated with a subject.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expelling processed sample from the assay units and storing such expelled processed sample in the cartridge.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch-off pad is positioned on the cartridge in a plane different from at least some cavity openings on the cartridge.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using the fluid transfer device to perform an automated process carried out by a user-defined protocol.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein processing, diluting, decoupling, and detecting steps all occur within the instrument.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the instrument is at a point-of-care (POC) location.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said point-of-care (POC) location is a pharmacy.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising sending data from the instrument in an encrypted format over a public network to a server comprising a network interface and a processor, wherein the server processes the data and then send assay results over the public network to a user station display.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein said instrument comprises a translational stage for receiving said cartridge.

23. The method of claim 2 , wherein said automated fluid transfer device comprises part of a bench-top instrument.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sample has a volume of between about 1 μL to about 100 μL.

25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining said sample by lancing a subject to obtain a fingerstick blood sample.

26. The method of claim 2 , wherein the automated fluid transfer device comprises a motor in communication with a programmable processor, wherein the motor can move a pipette head of the fluid transfer device based on a protocol from said programmable processor to change a sequence transporting assay units and reagent units.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is configured to automatically receive and process a whole blood sample to yield a plasma portion.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein cartridge identifier information is used to determine automated fluid transfer device movement.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a beads well.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional pattern comprises a rectangular array.