Verfahren zur Verarbeitung von flexiblen Reaktionsküvetten

Flexible reaction cuvettes are well known for carrying out reactions, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Such cuvettes comprise a plurality of compartments filled with reagents for the reaction, each compartment being sealed from the others. Patient sample is injected into one compartment and is then transferred to a detection chamber by bursting the compartment. However, the presence of air in the detection chamber can reduce the efficiency of the detection. Described herein is a method for forcing liquid out of a burstable compartment (26) into a detection chamber (40) without also forcing residual air of that compartment to interfere with liquid detection. The method features applying pressure sufficient to eject the liquid but not the residual air, and retaining that pressure as long as the reaction period of the liquid takes place and then completing the ejection to eject residual air into the chamber (40).