There is a need in the point-of-care diagnostic community for an efficient and portable method for testing blood and other biological fluids that can be easily translated across multiple applications. An aspect of the invention described involves monitoring the optical properties of molecularly-mediated nanoparticle assemblies though an optically transparent and magnetically active microfluidic chip, which has recently emerged as an attractive method for biomarker detection as it is an efficient tool for monitoring the binding events that take place in a sensing assay. In one embodiment, this device is directed towards two-nanoparticle assays that rely on the assembly or disassembly of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles in response to a certain analyte. A further embodiment is directed to a spiral microfluidic using inertial forces to filter fluid components by size, connected to a magnetically active channel comprised of a nickel micropad array, optically transparent microchannel, and permanent magnets.

A method involves detecting in a sample an autoantibody binding specifically to a mammalian VGLUT. An autoantibody binding specifically to a mammalian VGLUT and a diagnostically useful carrier with a solid phase with an immobilized polypeptide containing a mammalian VGLUT or a variant thereof, are useful. The autoantibody can be used for diagnosing a neurological autoimmune disease or a cancer.

The present invention provides devices and methods for capturing rare cells. The devices and methods described herein can be used to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of metastatic cancers.

The present invention concerns a multilayer structure for a biosensor, comprising a base layer, a biocompatible layer comprising a reagent on the base layer, a self-adhesive layer on the biocompatible layer, such that the reagent is at least partially aligned with a channel formed in the self-adhesive layer, and a top layer on the self-adhesive layer. According to the present invention, the biocompatible layer is deposited directly onto the base layer and is adhesive. The present invention also concerns a biosensor and a method for the manufacture of such a multilayer structure.

The invention relates to the rapid enrichment of nucleic acid molecules of interest from complex mixtures of nucleic acids for the purpose of sequencing genes and variants, e.g. for clinical uses as well as other applications. A hybridisation column comprising an inner channel, wherein a portion of said channel is filled completely with a porous solid support comprising (a) a plurality of interconnected, micron-sized voids that permit a fluid to flow between them and the remainder of the channel, and (b) a plurality of hybridisation probes, which are bound to the surfaces of the solid support forming the voids is disclosed.

An immunoblotting test board reaction device includes a tray rack and at least one tray, wherein a plurality of grooves for receiving test boards are provided in the upper surface of each tray and tray back bayonets (24) for placing the tray onto a full-automatic immunoblotting instrument are provided on the bottom surface of the tray. The tray rack includes tray grooves and snap bayonets so that the trays and the test boards can be installed and removed conveniently, and the test boards can be always in a steady state no matter in a washing process or an incubating process. Moreover, a plurality of samples in their corresponding test boards can be scanned at a time, thereby facilitating the processing of test results.

Methods and systems for isolating platelet-associated nucleated target cells, e.g., such as circulating epithelial cells, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating endothelial cells (CECs), circulating stem cells (CSCs), neutrophils, and macrophages, from sample fluids, e.g., biological fluids, such as blood, bone marrow, plural effusions, and ascites fluid, are described. The methods include obtaining a cell capture chamber including a plurality of binding moieties bound to one or more walls of the chamber, wherein the binding moieties specifically bind to platelets; flowing the sample fluid through the cell capture chamber under conditions that allow the binding moieties to bind to any platelet-associated nucleated target cells in the sample to form complexes; and separating and collecting platelet-associated nucleated target cells from the complexes.

Diagnostic systems, methods, and devices employing low-cost handheld components are disclosed herein. A diagnostic system can include a diagnostic device that is configured to perform one or more assays on a fluid sample, such as a whole blood sample, in one or more microfluidic channels or chambers. The diagnostic device can move the fluid sample into or through the one or more microfluidic channels or chambers without using any electrical power, for example, using manual actuation to generate a positive or negative pressure within the diagnostic device. The diagnostic device can have a connector for interfacing with a separate handheld unit that can provide power and data processing. For example, the separate handheld unit can be a smartphone or PDA, and the connector can interface with an existing input/output port of the unit to draw power and/or transmit data.

The test device is provided with a testing means for testing an added extraction solution utilizing immunochromatography or nucleic acid chromatography, an extraction solution container, and a tubular guiding member having an extraction solution inflow port communicating with the extraction container in a sealed manner at one end side and having an extraction solution outflow port at the other end side. The guiding member is configured so as to have inside the tube a rod-shaped extraction solution guide having capillary action and having one end at the extraction solution outflow port side able to contact the testing means and so that the extraction solution absorbed from the extraction solution inflow port side at the extraction solution guide moves by capillary action through the inside of the extraction solution guide and is added to the testing means through the one end of the extraction solution guide contacting the testing means.

A test kit for detecting viral or biochemical infections is disclosed comprising a housing, at least one test well in the housing comprising a test material for detecting and indicating the presence of a virus, biochemical agent or antibodies in a test sample, and a control material adjacent the housing comprising a damage indicating material, a taggant material or a track and trace element. A method of detecting viral or biochemical infections using the test kit is also disclosed. The method includes contacting a test material with a test sample, and observing any change in appearance of the test material to determine the presence or absence of the virus, biochemical agent or antibodies.