The present disclosure provides an isolated, engineered or non-naturally occurring protein comprising an antibody light chain variable domain (V.sub.L) which may comprise at least one negatively charged amino acid positioned between residues 49 to 56 according to the numbering system of Kabat, the protein capable of binding specifically to an antigen.

A method of determining whether an individual is infected with mycobacteria. The method comprising the steps of (a) providing a system which comprises at least two different mycolic-acid derived antigens; (b) introducing a sample obtained from the individual into the system and into contact with each of the at least two different mycolic-acid derived antigens; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of the binding of a biomarker in the sample with each antigen in the system. The method may be particularly suitable for determining the presence or absence of a disease antibody indicative of infection with any disease caused by infection with mycobacteria, for example tuberculosis, leprosy, pulmonary disease, burili ulcer, Johne's disease and bovine tuberculosis. A kit and device are also described. The present invention may provide an over the counter device to allow individuals to check on a routine basis that they have normal immune responses.

The present invention provides an Analyzer adapted to receive an immunoassay cartridge comprising an imaging module including a two-dimensional light sensor and a plurality of light sources. The light sources and the two-dimensional light sensor are arranged such that the light sources are adapted to illuminate a result display section and a graphical code of the immunoassay cartridge and the two-dimensional light sensor is adapted to acquire images of both the graphical code and the result display section. The analyzer comprises an oscillator portion being adapted to cause the immunoassay cartridge to perform oscillations at a pre-set oscillation frequency. The analyzer comprises a processing section adapted to process an image of the graphical code acquired by the two-dimensional sensor to determine the pre-set oscillation frequency. The analyzer comprises a controller adapted to control the oscillator portion to cause the immunoassay cartridge to oscillate at the pre-set oscillation frequency.

A system for detecting concentration of a target in a solution where sample fluid is passed into a microchannel with wall coated with the receptor that reacts and crosslinks with the target to constrict the channel and slow or stop sample flow through the microchannel. Concentration of the target is determined by measuring length of the sample filled channel.

Screening assays and methods of performing such assays are provided. In certain examples, the assays and methods may be designed to determine whether or not two or more species can associate with each other. In some examples, the assays and methods may be used to determine if a known antigen binds to an unknown monoclonal antibody.

A microfluidic device is contemplated comprising an open-top cavity with structural anchors on the vertical wall surfaces that serve to prevent gel shrinkage-induced delamination, a porous membrane (optionally stretchable) positioned in the middle over a microfluidic channel(s). The device is particularly suited to the growth of cells mimicking dermal layers.

A method for the quantitative characterization of substances with regard to their properties of binding to amyloid-β (Aβ) conformers, comprising the steps of: —fractionating a sample including various Aβ conformers; —immobilizing a biotinylated Aβ conformer of the desired fraction on the surface of a substrate having high affinity for biotin; and —deriving the binding behavior of an aggregate quality control probe to the desired Aβ conformer from the measurement signal by determining the kinetic and/or thermodynamic parameters. A device for carrying out the method.

The present invention relates to systems and methods that utilize a combination of immunoassay and magnetic immunoassay techniques to detect an analyte within an extended range of specified concentrations. In particular, a device includes a housing, a heterogeneous surface capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a first signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in an upper concentration range, and a homogeneous magnetic bead capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a second signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in a lower concentration range.

The invention relates to methods for binding biologically active molecules to surfaces by coating the surface with a supported reagent in a first step and then covalently coupling said biologically active molecules to the supported reagent using a biorthogonal cycloaddition reaction. Fields of application of the invention include biochemical research, medical diagnostics and the pharmaceutical industry.

The present disclosure relates to lateral flow test strips comprising an active control and diagnostic devices comprising same for making determinations about the presence or absence of one or more target analytes in a sample. For example, the present disclosure relates to lateral flow test strips comprising an active control which recognises a control analyte which is abundant in the biological sample being tested e.g., such as human serum albumin (HSA) in blood, and diagnostic devices comprising same. In some examples, the lateral flow test strips of the disclosure may comprise an active control and one or more internal controls.