System and Method for Separating Samples in a Continuous Flow

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method for identifying within a single record the location of each of a plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein the single record is obtained from a flowing stream of the plurality of samples passing through a particle analyzer. The method comprises introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein each ones of the plurality of samples are separated by fluid gaps to produce a plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps and wherein each of the plurality of samples further comprises marker particles. The plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps are flowed through the conduit as a flowing sample stream to a detector of a particle analyzer. The particle analyzer is for example a flow cytometer. The particles of interest when present and/or marker particles are detected as the plurality of samples pass the detector of the particle analyzer. A record over time for the particles of interest when present and/or marker particles in each of the plurality of samples are obtained in the single file once the plurality of samples pass the incident beam of light of the particle analyzer. A time position in the record is identified where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present based upon the detection of marker particles present within each combined sample from the flowing stream of the plurality of samples.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying within a single record the location of each of a plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein the single record is obtained from a flowing stream of the plurality of samples passing through a particle analyzer, the method comprising:
 introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples suspected of containing particles of interest wherein each ones of the plurality of samples are separated by fluid gaps to produce a plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps and wherein each of the plurality of samples further comprises marker particles;   flowing the plurality of samples separated by fluid gaps through the conduit as a flowing sample stream to a detector of a particle analyzer;   detecting particles of interest when present and/or marker particles as the plurality of samples pass the detector of the particle analyzer;   obtaining in the single file a record over time for the particles of interest when present and/or marker particles in each of the plurality of samples once the plurality of samples pass the incident beam of light of the particle analyzer; and   identifying a time position in the record where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present based upon the detection of marker particles present within each combined sample from the flowing stream of the plurality of samples.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein introducing into a conduit the plurality of samples includes uptaking each of the plurality of samples from the respective sample container. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the respective sample container is a microplate having rows and columns of sample wells for holding samples to be tested. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a sampling order of the rows and columns of the sample wells are determined by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sampling order is correlated with the identifying a time position in the record where particles of interest within any one of the plurality of samples would be located if present to identify the location of the sample well from which the sample was uptaken. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein fluid gaps are gas gaps 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the gas gaps are air gaps. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein flowing the plurality of samples includes moving the samples with a pump, gravity, acoustic means, microcapillary action, pressurization or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting particles of interest when present depends on the optical and/or physical characteristic of interest selected for the particles of interest. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting marker particles depends on the optical and/or physical characteristics selected for the marker particles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the marker particles are selected based upon optical and/or physical characteristics which may be the same or different from the optical and/or physical characteristics of the particles of interest. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the particle analyzer is a flow cytometer.