Luminex 100 IS User Manual, Version 2.1 - Manual (Page 39)

PN 89-00002-00-061 Rev. A 5 - 1
The System
Theory of Operation
Luminex 100 IS technology is based on flow cell fluorometry with
Luminex-developed innovations. The fluidics, optics, robotics,
temperature control, software, and microspheres work together to
enable simultaneous analysis of up to 100 analytes in a single test
sample. Assay analysis requiring temperature control is provided
through the XYP instrument heater block.
There are two fluidics paths in the Luminex 100 analyzer. The first
path involves a syringe-driven mechanism that controls the sample
uptake. This mechanism permits small sample uptake volumes from
small reaction volumes. The syringe-driven system transports a
specified volume of sample from a sample container to the cuvette.
The sample is injected into the cuvette at a steady rate for analysis.
Following analysis, the sample path is automatically purged with
sheath buffer by the second fluidics path. This process removes
residual sample within the tubing, valves, and probe. The second
fluidics path is driven by positive air pressure and supplies sheath
fluid to the cuvette and sample path.
Sheath fluid is the delivery medium of the sample to the optics
component. The analysis sample is acquired using a Sample Probe
from a 96-well microtiter plate via the XYP instrument and injected
into the base of the cuvette. The sample then passes through with
sheath fluid at a reduced rate resulting in a narrow sample core to
ensure that each microsphere is illuminated individually. The sample
injection rate is such that the microspheres are introduced to the
optics path as a series of single events.
The optics assembly consists of two lasers. One laser excites the dye
mixture inside the xMAP microspheres and the second laser excites
the dye bound to the surface of the xMAP microspheres. Avalanche
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