Disclosed herein are methods of detecting microbial infection in mammalian subjects comprising treatment of a sample and detection of galactofuranose (galF)-containing antigenic components utilizing monoclonal antibodies. The methods disclosed provide for pretreatment of biological samples, such as urine samples, to maximize detection of galF antigens and improvement of sensitivity of galF antigen detection assays. The methods include minimizing intelectin-1 binding to galF antigens and improvement of monoclonal antibody binding. The detection methods are useful for identifying the presence of microbial antigens related to bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Coccidioides species, Cryptococcus species, Histoplasma species, and Leishmania species.

Presented herein are compositions, systems, and methods related to optical substrates that simultaneous (1) enhance a fluorescence signal emitted by a fluorophore and (2) enhance “contrast” signal that comprises scattered signal intensity over substrate reflectivity at a non-fluorescent wavelength. In certain embodiments, the optical substrate comprises a thin, transparent, dielectric layer. In alternative embodiments, the optical substrate comprises a stack of thin, transparent dielectric layers, for example, that is designed for both specific scattering enhancement and fluorescence enhancement.

Provided is a biochemical reaction substrate which can achieve higher test sensitivity and shorter testing time in an allergy test, which can also reduce a required amount of blood or the like needed as a specimen and decrease the number of test steps, thereby facilitating performance of the test, and which is to be used in an allergy test in which infection risk of the test staff is reduced. A biochemical reaction substrate, including: a reaction plate; an absorber; a reaction plate storing portion for storing the reaction plate; an absorber storing portion for storing the absorber; a storage container having a heated portion; and a cover assembled to the storage container so as to cover at least a part of the reaction plate and the absorber stored in the storage container, wherein the reaction plate includes a reaction area in which a specific binding substance that specifically reacts with a substance to be tested in a specimen is immobilized, and a flow passage that connects the absorber and the reaction area, and wherein the cover includes an injection hole for injecting a specimen or the like into the reaction plate.

A method according to one or more aspects may be a method of measuring a detection material contained in a sample by using a cartridge including: chambers each capable of housing at least one of the detection material and a reagent; and a path through which the detection material is transferred between the chambers. The method may include: moving at least one of the chambers and the path to a measurement position and an image capturing range by rotating the cartridge about a rotational shaft; measuring the detection material in the measurement position; and capturing an image of a monitoring target comprising at least one of the chambers and the path in the image capturing range.

An example system includes an input channel to receive particles through a first end, a separation chamber, at least two output channels, an integrated pump to facilitate flow through the separation chamber and a cell analysis portion. The separation chamber is in fluid communication with a second end of the input channel. The separation chamber has a passive separation structure including an array of columns spaced apart to facilitate separation of particles into at least two flow paths based on a size of the particles. The size associated with a first flow path of the at least two flow paths corresponds to a cell. A first output channel is to receive the first flow path corresponding to a cell. The cell analysis portion is coupled to the first output channel and is to perform at least one analysis associated with cells in the first output channel.

An immunoassay includes forming first mixtures by reacting a combination reagent with serum of a subject; simultaneously forming second mixtures by reacting randomly selected platelet samples with the serum wherein in each mixture there are immunity compounds formed by combining the platelet antigens with predetermined antibodies in the serum, and other platelet antigens and other antibodies in the serum not forming the immunity compounds; preparing an interception device including receptacles and a filter net; placing each mixture in one receptacle; washing the mixtures wherein the mixtures forming the immunity compounds are intercepted by the filter net with others passing through; adding a signal sensing reagent to each receptacle; reacting the signal sensing reagent with the intercepted mixtures forming the immunity compounds to form final products; and performing a signal sensing to determine whether the final products contain anti-platelet antibodies and determine compatibility of cross matching of respective platelet samples.

A reader for a lateral flow test device includes a tray or drawer, extendable from the reader, which receives the test device. The tray includes a calibration test pattern affixed or printed thereon placed proximate to the test device and in alignment with the axis of the test device. As the tray is closed and the test device is inserted to the reader, the calibration test pattern is first read by an optics unit including a photodiode. The resulting photodiode output provides a calibration curve S that the reader then uses to correct for any non-linear response of the reader's optical or electronic systems, thus insuring that every reader will yield the same readout for a given test cartridge, despite reader-to-reader variations or reader degradation with time. One use of the reader is for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and kits for processing nucleic acid molecules. A method may comprise providing a template nucleic acid fragment (e.g., within a cell, cell bead, or cell nucleus) within a partition (e.g., a droplet or well) and subjecting the template nucleic acid fragment to one or more processes including a barcoding process and a single primer extension or amplification process. The processed template nucleic acid fragment may then be recovered from the partition and subjected to further amplification to provide material for subsequent sequencing analysis. The methods provided herein may permit simultaneous processing and analysis of both DNA and RNA molecules originating from the same cell, cell bead, or cell nucleus.

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. The reader component may communicate with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.

A biosensor with improved detection sensitivity of a target substance, a method for preparing a biosensor with improved detection sensitivity, and a method for detecting a target substance using the biosensor.