Optimizing Magnetic Separation and Cleaning Module in Fully Automated Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer Using a Special Arrangement of Spliced Magnets and a Three-Stage Magnetic Bead Collection Method

The magnetic separation and cleaning module, as a core component of the fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) analyzer, encounters issues including high magnetic bead loss rate, long cleaning time, and poor cleaning effect. Based on a simulation analysis using COMSOL, we proposed a novel magnetic separation and cleaning module applied to a fully automated CLIA analyzer. The module adopted a method of arranging spliced rectangular magnets on opposite sides, where the same polarity faced each other, as well as a three-stage magnetic bead collection method. With the proposed method, the total cleaning process can be accomplished within 225 s; the total magnetic bead loss rate over three rounds of cleaning is 6.03%, whereas that of traditional instruments is 25.85%; the coefficient of variation (CV) of the magnetic bead loss rate is less than 0.5%; effective cleaning of free markers is achieved under various sample conditions. Compared with traditional CLIA instruments, this method comprehensively improves key performance indicators of the magnetic separation and cleaning module, providing a reference for similar modules in fully automated CLIA analyzers and positively impacting the accuracy of CLIA for the detection of disease biomarkers.