It is an object of the present invention to provide improved lateral flow test devices that can provide sensitive and accurate quantitative test results, and methods for the manufacture thereof.

An apparatus (1) for detecting the presence and/or the quantity of a target component in a biological fluid in an integrated assay cartridge (52) of predetermined configuration, the assay cartridge comprising a capture component (22) at a predetermined location in the assay cartridge, the apparatus comprising: a detector (12)for detecting the amount of light scattered, transmitted or emitted by the sample to provide an indication of the presence and/or the quantity of the target component within the sample; three location positions (30), the three positions defining a location along the optical path of the detector on which to locate the cartridge of a predetermined size; wherein location positions are configured such that the capture component of the assay cartridge is located, in use, at the focal plane of the detector. Measures to ensure quality control may also be provided.

The invention relates to an aqueous solution of AuCl.sub.3×2H.sub.2O or HAuCl.sub.4×4H.sub.2O, ZnCl.sub.2 or ZnSO.sub.4, and AgNO.sub.3 having an Au.sup.3+ concentration of 0.8 mM-1.6 mM, a Zn.sup.2+ concentration of 15 μM-50 μM, and an Ag.sup.+ concentration of 5 μM-50 μM. The invention extends to a kit comprising a solution of the invention, a method of preparing said solution, and the use of a solution of the invention, a solution prepared by a method of the invention, or a kit of the invention in predicting and/or diagnosing and/or monitoring a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum. The invention extends to a method for predicting and/or diagnosing and/or monitoring a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum in a patient comprising contacting a tear sample from the patient normalised for protein concentration with a solution of the invention; applying an amount of the tear sample thus obtained to a surface; allowing the tear sample to dry; and drawing a conclusion based on the pattern of the thus obtained dried tear sample, whether the patient is at risk of or suffers from a neurocognitive disorder of the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.

The present relates, in general terms, to a device for monitoring oxidative stress in a sample, a method of making the device and a method of monitoring oxidative stress in a sample thereof.

The present relates, in general terms, to a device for monitoring oxidative stress in a sample, a method of making the device and a method of monitoring oxidative stress in a sample thereof.

A kit for detecting a nucleic acid and a method for preparing the same are provided. The kit includes: a test area which has a lower surface formed as a concave curved surface and includes molecular beacons concentrated on a glass fiber network; a surrounding area which completely surrounds the test area; and a support area which surrounds the surrounding area, wherein the surrounding area includes a hydrophobic polymer on the glass fiber network, the test area does not include the hydrophobic polymer, and a glass fiber in the test area is functionalized.

The present invention relates to a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having a chemical structure comprising: A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of formula (I): (A)-x.sub.1-(B)-x.sub.2-(C), wherein (A) is at least one motif specifically binding to cell membranes of neoplastic cells; (B) at least one chelator moiety of radiometals; (C) a dye moiety; x.sub.1 is a spacer covalently connecting (A) and (B); x.sub.2 is a spacer or a chemical single bond connecting (B) and (C); wherein (C) has the formula

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wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.9, a, b, Y and X.sup.1 to X.sup.4 have the meaning as indicated in the claims and description. The invention further relates to compositions comprising said compounds as well as a method for detecting neoplastic cells in a sample in vitro with the aid of the compounds or composition.

Methods for determining bacterial identity and susceptibility or resistance to antibiotic or antimicrobial agents are provided. In one embodiment, the bacteria is cultured in the presence or absence or the antibiotic agent to generate a plurality of primary cultures, which are then cultured in the presence or absence of transforming phages to generate a first secondary culture that comprise transformed bacteria that have been treated with the antibiotic agent and a second secondary culture that comprises transformed bacteria that have not been treated with the antibiotic agent. The recombinant phages are specific to the bacteria and comprise a heterologous marker. The susceptibility or resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic or antimicrobial agent is determined by comparing a level or activity of the marker in the first and second secondary cultures.

Methods for determining bacterial identity and susceptibility or resistance to antibiotic or antimicrobial agents are provided. In one embodiment, the bacteria is cultured in the presence or absence or the antibiotic agent to generate a plurality of primary cultures, which are then cultured in the presence or absence of transforming phages to generate a first secondary culture that comprise transformed bacteria that have been treated with the antibiotic agent and a second secondary culture that comprises transformed bacteria that have not been treated with the antibiotic agent. The recombinant phages are specific to the bacteria and comprise a heterologous marker. The susceptibility or resistance of the bacteria to the antibiotic or antimicrobial agent is determined by comparing a level or activity of the marker in the first and second secondary cultures.

Disclosed herein are methods of producing a test element for studying a body fluid sample. In the methods, a detection layer is covered with a polymeric spreading layer and applied to a support. The spreading layer can be produced by being sprayed onto the detection layer such that the spreading layer has a thickness of at most about 20 μm. Also disclosed are test elements produced by the methods, as well as tape cassettes incorporating such test elements.