| CPC G01N 27/44713 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/6806 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 27/44791 (2013.01); C12Q 2565/125 (2013.01); G01N 27/44721 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A system for performing capillary electrophoresis of multiple samples, the system comprising:
a capillary containing a separation medium and comprising an inlet end, a distal end, and an interrogation region between the inlet end and the distal end;
an inlet in communication with the inlet end of the capillary and configured to receive a plurality of samples containing DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
a detector configured to detect DNA fragments moving through the interrogation region of the capillary;
a power source configured to selectively apply forward and reverse polarity voltages between the inlet end and the distal end of the capillary; and
logic configured to cause execution of the following operations:
introducing a first sample of the plurality of samples to the inlet end of the capillary, the first sample comprising first DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes;
performing electrophoresis on the first sample in the capillary by applying a first substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage to the capillary while the detector detects some of the first DNA fragments at the interrogation region;
before all of the first DNA fragments have passed the interrogation region, applying a reverse polarity voltage pulse to the capillary, thereby transporting at least some of the first DNA fragments in the capillary toward the inlet end of the capillary;
introducing a second sample of the plurality of samples to the inlet end of the capillary, the second sample comprising second DNA fragments having a plurality of different sizes; and
applying a second substantially constant forward polarity electrophoresis voltage to the capillary to simultaneously perform electrophoresis on the second DNA fragments and the first DNA fragments.
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