INSTRUMENT FOR PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON A FLUIDIC CARTRIDGE

A cartridge reader is for carrying out a diagnostic test on a sample contained in a fluidic cartridge inserted into the reader. The fluidic cartridge comprises a fluidic layer comprising at least one sample processing region, at least one collapsible blister containing a liquid reagent, a pneumatic interface, an electrical interface and at least one mechanical valve. The reader comprises a housing; an upper clamp occupying a fixed position relative to the reader, and a lower clamp, movable relative to the first clamp, wherein the upper clamp and the lower clamp define a cartridge receiving region therebetween. The reader comprises a thermal module comprised in the lower clamp, wherein the thermal module comprises at least one thermal stack for heating the at least one sample processing region of the cartridge inserted into the reader. The reader comprises a pneumatics module comprising a plurality of pneumatic interface ports for coupling to the pneumatics interface of the cartridge inserted into the reader, a first pump configured to supply one or more positive pressures to one or more of the pneumatic interface ports, and a second pump configured to supply one or more negative pressures to one or more of the pneumatic interface ports. The reader comprises at least one mechanical actuator for actuating the mechanical valve comprised in the cartridge inserted into the reader; and at least one blister actuator for collapsing the at least one collapsible blister comprised in the cartridge inserted into the reader. The reader comprises an electrical module comprising a plurality of pins for electrically connecting to the electrical interface of the cartridge inserted into the reader; and a barcode reader for reading a barcode printed on the cartridge inserted into the reader. At least part of each of the pneumatics module, the at least one mechanical actuator, the at least one blister actuator, the electrical module and the barcode reader are coupled to the upper clamp so as to be spaced apart from the thermal module by the cartridge receiving region.