Cartridge for nucleic acid detection

Abstract

A cartridge for nucleic acid detection is provided with: a first member having multiple nucleic acid extraction wells; a second member having a nucleic acid amplification and determination well for amplification of a nucleic acid and detection of the amplified nucleic acid; and multiple reagent containers. The multiple reagent containers are fixed between the first member and the second member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge for nucleic acid detection which is used in an apparatus for extracting nucleic acids from a specimen, amplifying the extracted nucleic acids and detecting the amplified nucleic acids, wherein a base member of the cartridge for nucleic acid detection comprises:
 a plurality of nucleic acid extraction wells including at least one nucleic acid extraction well having at least one nucleic acid extraction reagent sealed therein in advance;   a nucleic acid amplification/determination well for amplifying the nucleic acids and determining the amplified nucleic acids; and   one or a plurality of reagent containers having a plurality of nucleic acid amplification reagents lyophilized and sealed with aluminum seals therein in advance,   wherein the one or the plurality of reagent containers and the nucleic acid amplification/determination well are linearly arranged with respect to the base member,   the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is fitted into the base member with freedom in the vertical and/or horizontal direction and without being tightly fixed thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is fitted into the base member with freedom in the vertical and/or horizontal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , wherein: the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is provided with a cylindrical part; the base member is provided with a first opening; and the cylindrical part is fitted into the first opening, by which movement between the nucleic acid amplification/determination well and the base member is limited in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 3 , wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical part of the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is made smaller than the diameter of the first opening of the base member. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical part is made smaller than the diameter of the first opening by about 0.1 to about 2.0%. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , wherein: the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is provided with a plurality of nails or a plurality of recessed parts and a flange; and the base member around the first opening is sandwiched between the plurality of nails or the plurality of recessed parts and the flange, by which movement between the nucleic acid amplification/determination well and the base member is limited in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 6 , wherein the distance between the plurality of nails or the plurality of recessed parts and the flange is made greater than the thickness of the base member around the first opening. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the base member around the first opening is made smaller with respect to the distance between the nails and the flange by about 0.1 to about 2.0%. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or the plurality of reagent containers are fitted into the base member. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid amplification/determination well is formed of a material with high light reflection efficiency. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 10 , wherein the material with high light reflection efficiency is a white resin material. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 1 , further comprising cartridge housing, wherein the cartridge housing houses one or more of the cartridge for nucleic acid detection in a stack. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge for nucleic acid detection according to  claim 12 , wherein the cartridge housing comprises an opening for pushing out a bottommost cartridge for nucleic acid detection from the stack.