An analytical biochemistry system featuring a substrate with reactants
immobilized thereon at fixed, known locations, a holder supporting the
substrate and a manipulator for transporting the holder to a fixed sample
and to an inspection station. The reactants are binding agents for a
target biomolecule in a sample which forms a bound substance having a
detectable characteristic. The holder may be a standard pipettor,
optionally carried by a robot arm or hand as the manipulator to contact
the sample for detection of the presence of target biomolecules within
the sample. In one embodiment, the holder is a pipette tip within which
the substrate is housed, or it may be a pipette adapter which bears the
substrate and fits within the sample wells of a standard microtiter
plate. After appropriate incubation, the substrate and holder may be
moved from contact with the sample, and the substrate may be exposed to
any necessary development steps before being moved by the manipulator to
a location for probing, such as by a beam. Probing of the substrate is
performed to identify binding or complexing of target biomolecules of the
sample with the reactants immobilized on the substrate, and may be
accomplished via fluorescence detection, light scattering,
autoradiography, or some other detection method.