Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L9/00—Supporting devices; Holding devices
  • B01L9/06—Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/47—Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection
  • G01N21/49—Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection within a body or fluid
  • G01N21/51—Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection within a body or fluid inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N35/00584—Control arrangements for automatic analysers
  • G01N35/00594—Quality control, including calibration or testing of components of the analyser
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N35/0099—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor comprising robots or similar manipulators
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
  • B01L2200/025—Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
  • B01L2300/0809—Geometry, shape and general structure rectangular shaped
  • B01L2300/0829—Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
  • G01N15/06—Investigating concentration of particle suspensions
  • G01N15/075—Investigating concentration of particle suspensions by optical means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N2035/00465—Separating and mixing arrangements
  • G01N2035/00524—Mixing by agitating sample carrier
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N35/00—Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor
  • G01N2035/00465—Separating and mixing arrangements
  • G01N2035/00534—Mixing by a special element, e.g. stirrer
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
  • Y10T436/11—Automated chemical analysis

Definitions

• This disclosure generally relates to methods of measuring the adequacy of a clinical sample by estimating the cell count in known fluid volumes using light scattering techniques, in particular turbidity.
• this disclosure provides machines for measuring the adequacy of a clinical sample by estimating the cell count. These machines can be used for high-throughput processing of clinical samples.
• this disclosure provides methods of determining whether a sample contains adequate material for testing of the sample to be informative.
• the present disclosure provides a sample assurance reader comprising one or more channels to measure turbidity of one or more samples in unison or separately, each comprising: one or more light sources and one or more light detectors, whereby a sample is determined to be adequate or inadequate for a primary test.
• the present disclosure provides a method of using a sample assurance reader to determine the turbidity of at least one sample prior to effecting at least one primary test, wherein the primary test is an HPV primary or secondary screening test.
• Fig. 28 shows a calibration curve for a working model of an 8-channel SAM.
• Fig. 33 shows the distribution of turbidity measurements of blank samples by an
• Detection wavelengths are generally selected based on available detector sensitivity in a wavelength of interest. It is preferred that the detector's responsiveness is acceptable in the range of light that is scattered from the sample. In certain exemplary embodiments, the latter range is the same wavelength as the illumination source light.
• SAM 100 capable of measuring the turbidity of a sample is shown.
• a sample is provided in container 150 which is supported by housing 120.
• Light source 102 which comprises an LED, for example, emits light that travels along a schematically shown illumination beam path 104 and illuminates sample 112. Light is reflected or scattered from particles suspended within sample 112 and travels along emitted beam path 106 to sample detector 108.
• Sample 112 has sufficient volume that meniscus 1 13 is above the portion of sample 112 that reflects or scatters light, some of which travels along emitted beam path 106.
• Reference detector 110 detects light transmitted from light source 102 along reference beam path 111 to allow correction for the intensity of light emitted from light source 102.
• the ability to detect if the illumination source is working and detector are working may be incorporated into the system.
• the device may have the illumination source flash at a known frequency to confirm that both detectors and the source are working with or without a sample container present. Confirmation of the optical channel then allows saturated signals to be considered adequate samples in a qualitative determination of sample adequacy.
• the sample adequacy may be reported simply as positive or alternatively as >200,000 cells/ml for a saturated measurement detector signal.
• This optical channel self test allows the design to achieve higher resolution by setting the analog to digital converter (ADC) to a finer resolution.
• ADC analog to digital converter
• the reader can report corrected readings to the automated system via a communications port.
• the software can then compare the value to a predefined absolute cutoff value for that sample type. Samples with a light scatter reading greater than or equal to the cutoff can be considered adequate. Samples with a value less than the cutoff can be considered inadequate in cellularity.
• SAM 200 capable of measuring the turbidity of a sample is shown.
• emitted and/or detected light travels through beam channels formed as enclosed, generally enclosed or screened-off passageways.
• the beam channels which may include a light-transmitting medium such as air, gas, glass, tranparent plastic, or the like, are expected to reduce background arising from ambient light, and from light scattered from defects in sample container 150.
• Light emitted from light source 202 travels through input beam channel 209 and illuminates sample 212. Particles suspended within sample 212 reflect or scatter light, some of which travels through emitted beam channel 214 to sample detector 208.
• FIG 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an extraction tube unit (“ETU”)
• the frame 1 102 may comprises a rigid structure that has suitable strength to convey the tubes 1 102 and samples contained therein throughout the processing steps without substantially deforming under applied loads.
• the material also should be stable and sufficiently strong at the operating temperatures within the system. Suitable materials may include, for example, metal, wood, or plastic (e.g., nylon, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polystyrenes such as ABS and HIPS, etc.).
• the tubes 1104 may comprise any suitable shape.
• the embodiment depicted has a round bottom which facilitates vortex mixing and minimizes pipetting dead volume. Conical bottom tubes would also share these characteristics. Other shapes, such as flat-bottomed shapes, may be used in other embodiments.
• the dimensions and shapes of the tubes 1 104 may be configured to facilitate upstream or downstream processing.
• the tubes 1104 may be made of any suitable material, such as glass or plastic.
• the test tubes 1 104 preferably are formed in part or entirely from a transparent or semi- transparent material having sufficient clarity and transparency to permit the desired testing.
• test tubes 1 104 are arranged in a line along the length of the frame 1 102, but in other embodiments, in which the frame 1102 may have different shapes, the test tubes 1104 may be arranged in any other suitable array or pattern.
• frame 1 102 is elongated, and may have enlarged ends 1106 that result in recesses being formed along one or both long sides of the frame 1 102.
• the frame has a "dog bone" shape as viewed from above.
• the recesses create spaces between adjacent ETUs when multiple ETUs are tightly packed together. This permits a gripper to access and individually grasp each ETU ] 100.
• Each reference detector 410 detects light transmitted from each light source along each reference beam channel 416.
• Each sample detector and reference detector is mounted to a support 422 which may comprise a printed circuit board. In other embodiments, multiple detectors and and even emitters may be integrated into a single detector board, and such a board may include all eight measurement detectors in the shown 8- tube system.
• the illumination beam has a small spot size when entering the tube which reduces the area of the tube surface through which the beam passes.
• this relatively small area is sensitive to scratches or hazing that could affect the amount and diretion of light available for sample adequacy detection.
• this area is kept scratch-free, but some system tolerance to scratches and other imperfections is expected.
• the measurement detector's field of view may include a majority of the portion of the core fluid region that is illuminated, and little of the uniUuminated core region, to reject ambient light and secondary scattering from reflections rather than primary illumination.
• each detector is situated to detect light emitted along a beam path at an angle offset from the long axis of the ETU.
• the emitted beam path preferably travels through a protected surface of the ETU, i.e., portion of the ETU that is less likely to rub against another surface during use and accordingly is protected from scratches.
• the tube surfaces most likely to be scratched are on the sides of the tubes along exterior planes that are tangent to all the tubes outer diameters — stated differently the portions of the tubes perpendicular to the long axis of the ETU 1100.
• each tube 1104 The remaining portions of each tube 1104 are protected, at least to some degree, by the adjacent tubes 1 104, because an object must come at least partially between adjacent tubes to contact and mar or scratch the protected portins of the tube's surface.
• the end tubes do not necessarily enjoy this kind of protection, and the emitted beam path may travel through a potentially exposed location.
• the detectors attached to support 422 in the right- most position may detect turbidity through a portion of the right-most tube that is not protected by an adjacent tube.
• each ETU has its own light source, sample detector, and reference detector (such as shown in Figure 1 or 2), though not all are shown or labeled in the figure.
• Each sample detector and reference detector is mounted to a support 522 which may comprise a printed circuit board.
• a sample contained in each individual tube of ETU 1 100 is illuminated from beneath by a light source, and a portion of the light scattered or reflected from particles contained within each sample light travels down light path 514 and detected by sample detector 508.
• Reference detector 510 detects light transmitted from light source 502 along reference beam channel 516.
• the light paths 514, 516 and detectors 508, 510 are oriented at an oblique angle to the long axis of the ETU 1100, so that the light path passes through the protected portions of the tubes (i.e., portions of the tubes that are adjacent another tube or other structure that inhibits contact with the environment). This arrangement also may facilitate closer placement of multiple SAMs 500 next to one another.
• Figure 27 shows the signal/reference measurements of turbidity standards for a working model of a Sample Adequacy Control Measurement System (''SAM").
• Turbidity standards samples having known turbidity values
• Signal/reference provides the ratio of signal measured at the sample detector to signal measured at the reference detector.
• Enough Buffer ATL is mixed with Proteinase K at 80:20 ratio to add lOOuL to each sample.
• lOOuL of Buffer ATL/PK mix is added to each well of S-block.
• 25OuL of each sample is then added to a we ⁇ l on the S- Block and mixed on a plate shaker at 1 lOOrpm for 15sec.
• the plate is then incubated in 56C in deep well plate heater for 30 minutes. During this incubation cRNAAVE (see below) is added to buffer AL according to calculations below.
• the S-Block is then removed from the deep well plate heater, and 25OuL Buffer AL with cRNA is added to each well of the S-block and mixed on a plate shaker at 1 ] OOrpm for 15sec.
• Eluate in tube is then aliquoted to multiple plates at lOul each and stored at -20C (or 4C if used the same day).
• cRNAAVE carrier RNA in buffer AVE at lug/uL
• 31OuL Buffer AVE is added to a tube containing 31 Oug cRNA (provided lyophilized), mixed gently but thoroughly, then aliquot to individual tubes to be stored at -20C.
• Buffer AL with cRNA is then made as follows: per sample, 300 microliters of buffer AL is mixed with 1.5 microliters of cRNAAVE.
• qPCR was performed essentially according to the following protocol.
• the PCR reaction components are removed from the -2O 0 C freezer and allowed to thaw completely.
• Samples, genomic DNA, and reagents are allowed to thaw completely at room temperature.
• a serial dilution of genomic DNA is made (samples are vortexed for 10 seconds before each aliquot).
• PCR Master Mix In a clean room a PCR Master Mix is made. The total volume is the vol. times the number of reactions that are needed. Using a repeat pipette 45 ⁇ l of master mix is added to each well as indicated by the plate layout. The standards are vortexed for 10 seconds and 5 ⁇ l is added to the designated wells. The isolated DNA from Clinical samples is vortexed for 10 seconds and 5ul is added to the designated wells (PreservCyt samples). 5ul of MBG (Molecular Biology Grade) water is added to the Negative Control (NTC) designated wells.
• NTC Negative Control
• the following example describes a method that may be used to determine a sufficiency threshold for the QIAGEN HR HPV DNA Test® (also referred to as the HC2 assay).
• Cell samples from HPV-infected individuals are obtained.
• the cell content of the samples is determined by cell counting, by quantification of genomic DNA, and/or by turbidity measurement (all as described io the Examples above).
• Serial dilutions of the known numbers of cells are then individually tested to establish the sample concentration at which the true HPV positive clinical sample yields a false negative result. Samples independently collected from multiple individuals are tested in this manner, in sufficient numbers to establish a statistically validated correlation between the sample concentration and probability of detection of a true positive HPV infection.
• sample adequacy may be provided to together with test results.
• Sample adequacy may be indicated as two or more discrete values (e.g., "yes,” “borderline,” or “no").
• sample adequacy may be given as a reliability measure reflecting the statistical probability that a positive result would have been detected given the determined level of sample adequacy.
• sample adequacy may be reported (for example, as individual values or in summary or aggregate form) to individuals responsible for collecting samples or other persons involved including supervisors, managers, trainers, etc. Sample adequacy information can potentially provide feedback to these individuals that can reveal a need for appropriate corrective action.

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• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
• Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
• Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
• Measuring Or Testing Involving Enzymes Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)

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• 2009
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  • 2009-11-12 TW TW098138424A patent/TWI486570B/zh active
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