High-throughput screening with multi-through hole testing plate

Abstract

A high throughput screening method. At least one liquid sample is provided that includes an analyte that directly or indirectly produces a detectable characteristic in one or more first assays. A plurality of through holes is filled with portions of the liquid sample in a testing assembly that has a pair of opposing surfaces, each through hole extending from one of the opposing surfaces to the other of the opposing surfaces, with the through holes arranged in group. Surface tension holds the respective portions in the respective plurality of through holes. A detection is made of which of the through holes contains a liquid sample portion that includes said analyte. The detectable characteristic may be produced in various assays such as an absorbance transcription assay, a fluorescent transcription assay, a fluorescent secreted enzyme assay, or a microorganism screening assay.

1 . A high throughput screening method comprising: 
 a. providing at least one liquid sample that includes an analyte that directly or indirectly produces a detectable characteristic in one or more first assays;    b. providing a testing assembly having a pair of opposing surfaces and a plurality of through holes, each of said through holes extending from one of the opposing surfaces to the other of the opposing surfaces, the through holes arranged in groups, each of the groups comprising at least two rows and two columns of through holes; and    c. at least partially filling a plurality of said holes of said assembly with at least portions of said at least one liquid sample, where surface tension holds the respective portions in the respective plurality of through holes; and detecting which of said plurality of through holes contains a liquid sample portion that includes said analyte.    
     
     
         2 . The high throughput screening method of  claim 1 , wherein said detectable characteristic is produced in an absorbance transcription assay.  
     
     
         3 . The high throughput screening method of  claim 1 , wherein said detectable characteristic is produced in a fluorescent transcription assay.  
     
     
         4 . The high throughput screening method of  claim 1 , wherein said detectable characteristic is produced in a fluorescent secreted enzyme assay.  
     
     
         5 . The high throughput screening method of  claim 1 , wherein said detectable characteristic is produced in a microorganism screening assay.  
     
     
         6 . The high throughput screening method of  claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the respective portions in the respective plurality of holes to reaction conditions to cause a reaction prior to detecting which of said plurality of holes contains a liquid sample portion that includes said analyte.  
     
     
         7 . A method comprising: 
 providing a testing assembly having a pair of opposing surfaces and a plurality of through holes, each of said through holes extending from one of the opposing surfaces to the other of the opposing surfaces, the through holes arranged in groups, each of the groups comprising at least two rows and two columns of through holes;    at least partially filling a plurality of said through holes with respective liquid sample portions, wherein surface tension holds the respective liquid sample portions in the respective plurality of through holes; and    subjecting the respective liquid sample portions to one or more first assays in the respective plurality of through holes.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said at least partially filling comprises immersing the testing assembly into a liquid sample.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the said one or more first assays comprises one or more of an absorbance transcription assay, a fluorescent transcription assay, a fluorescent secreted enzyme assay, and a microorganism screening assay.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising analyzing at least one of said liquid sample portions in at least one of said through holes.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said respective liquid sample portions includes an analyte that directly or indirectly produces a detectable characteristic in one or more first assays; and wherein said method further comprises: detecting which of said plurality of through holes contains a liquid sample portion that includes said analyte.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising stacking the testing assembly on top of another testing assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of said respective through holes has a constant diameter from one of the opposing surfaces to the other of the opposing surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constant diameter is about 1 millimeter.