The Ciba Corning ACS:180 benchtop immunoassay analyzer.

We describe a new clinical laboratory instrument, the ACS:180, used to automate heterogeneous immunoassay testing. The ACS:180 automates immunoassays in which paramagnetic particles are the solid phase and changes in chemiluminescence are measured. The system can accommodate both competitive and sandwich-type assay configurations. The microprocessor-based instrument fully automates each step of the assay, including sample and reagent addition, separation and wash of paramagnetic particles, and generation and acquisition of the chemiluminescent signal. The instrument has the flexibility to operate in random-access or batch mode. The time from application of sample to first result is less than 15 min; throughput is as much as 180 tests per hour.