Provided herein are compositions and methods for detecting the binding of a peptide to an MHC molecule, and the binding of a peptide:MHC complex to a TCR. In preferred embodiments, the compositions and methods are in a highly-multiplexed way. The compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to provide direct information on which peptides are bound to an MHC molecule. Also provided is a method for simultaneously detecting a large number of peptides for binding to an MHC molecule and/or a T cell. A method for detecting competitive binding of a large number of peptides to an MHC molecule and/or a T cell is also disclosed. Also provided herein is a method for simultaneously detecting a large number of specific TCRs. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for vaccine design, research and monitoring of autoimmune and infectious disease, immunogenicity testing of therapeutics, and tissue typing.

A method of separating free target analyte from protein-bound target analyte is described. Such can include obtaining an aqueous sample containing a target analyte in a free form (free target analyte) and the target analyte in a protein-bound form (protein-bound target analyte), passing the aqueous sample through a size exclusion chromatography matrix with a molecular weight cut off sufficient to allow the free target analyte to permeate into pores of the size exclusion chromatography matrix and exclude the protein-bound target analyte, whereupon the free target analyte adheres to and is immobilized by the size exclusion chromatography matrix and the protein-bound target analyte does not adhere to by the size exclusion chromatography matrix, separating the free target analyte from the protein-bound analyte by removing the protein-bound target analyte from the size exclusion chromatography matrix, and eluting the free target analyte from the size exclusion chromatography matrix with an organic solvent.

A method of separating free target analyte from protein-bound target analyte is described. Such can include obtaining an aqueous sample containing a target analyte in a free form (free target analyte) and the target analyte in a protein-bound form (protein-bound target analyte), passing the aqueous sample through a size exclusion chromatography matrix with a molecular weight cut off sufficient to allow the free target analyte to permeate into pores of the size exclusion chromatography matrix and exclude the protein-bound target analyte, whereupon the free target analyte adheres to and is immobilized by the size exclusion chromatography matrix and the protein-bound target analyte does not adhere to by the size exclusion chromatography matrix, separating the free target analyte from the protein-bound analyte by removing the protein-bound target analyte from the size exclusion chromatography matrix, and eluting the free target analyte from the size exclusion chromatography matrix with an organic solvent.

The present invention relates to methods or assays for detecting proteins or molecules of interest in a sample. Aptamers specific to the protein of interest are obtained and are then incubated with the sample. If the protein of interest is present in the sample, protein-aptamer conjugates are formed. The incubated sample is then passed through a sorbent material designed to retain proteins and other cellular material whilst allowing free nucleic acid to flow through substantially unimpeded. If aptamer is detected in the output material at levels equivalent to the aptamer concentrations initially, this is indicative that no protein of interest was present in the sample, whereas if no (or potentially reduced) amounts of aptamer is detected in the flow through this is indicative of protein of interest in the sample as this will have bound to the aptamers and been retained by the sorbent material.

An analyte test meter that detects contact between a user and an electrochemical test strip includes a test strip port, a capacitive sensor positioned proximate to the test strip port, and a controller connected to the test strip port and the capacitive sensor. The controller is configured to identify insertion of the electrochemical test strip into the test strip port, apply a drive signal to the capacitive sensor, measure a first response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, identify dosing of a fluid sample on the electrochemical test strip, apply the drive signal to the capacitive sensor after the dosing, measure a second response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, and detect contact between a body of a user and at least one electrode in the electrochemical test strip in response to a difference between the first and second responses exceeding a predetermined threshold.

An analyte test meter that detects contact between a user and an electrochemical test strip includes a test strip port, a capacitive sensor positioned proximate to the test strip port, and a controller connected to the test strip port and the capacitive sensor. The controller is configured to identify insertion of the electrochemical test strip into the test strip port, apply a drive signal to the capacitive sensor, measure a first response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, identify dosing of a fluid sample on the electrochemical test strip, apply the drive signal to the capacitive sensor after the dosing, measure a second response to the drive signal from the capacitive sensor, and detect contact between a body of a user and at least one electrode in the electrochemical test strip in response to a difference between the first and second responses exceeding a predetermined threshold.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the presence or absence of a disease, the risk of developing a disease, the degree of progression of a disease and/or the degree of progression of aging, in a subject. The present invention achieves the above described object by a method including the following steps (a) to (c): (a) adding a solution containing an antibody obtained from a subject to a column filled with an insoluble carrier on which an Fc-binding protein is immobilized, to allow the antibody to be adsorbed on the carrier; (b) eluting the antibody adsorbed on the carrier using an eluent, to obtain data of a separation pattern of the antibody; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of a disease, the risk of developing a disease, the degree of progression of a disease and/or the degree of progression of aging, in the subject, using the data as an indicator.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the presence or absence of a disease, the risk of developing a disease, the degree of progression of a disease and/or the degree of progression of aging, in a subject. The present invention achieves the above described object by a method including the following steps (a) to (c): (a) adding a solution containing an antibody obtained from a subject to a column filled with an insoluble carrier on which an Fc-binding protein is immobilized, to allow the antibody to be adsorbed on the carrier; (b) eluting the antibody adsorbed on the carrier using an eluent, to obtain data of a separation pattern of the antibody; and (c) detecting the presence or absence of a disease, the risk of developing a disease, the degree of progression of a disease and/or the degree of progression of aging, in the subject, using the data as an indicator.

Provided are a measurement sample diluent that enables the measurement of the proportion of HbA1c in the total Hb molecules in a measurement sample (HbA1c (%)), with high sensitivity, high accuracy, and high correlation with HPLC without being affected by the length of time required to mix a measurement sample with the measurement sample diluent and to drop the mixture onto an immunochromatographic specimen for measuring HbA1c; and a kit containing the measurement sample diluent. The present invention relates to a measurement sample diluent for immunochromatography for quantifying the proportion of hemoglobin A1c in the total hemoglobin molecules in a measurement sample (hemoglobin A1c (%)); and the measurement sample diluent is an aqueous solution that contains a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a buffer.

Provided are a measurement sample diluent that enables the measurement of the proportion of HbA1c in the total Hb molecules in a measurement sample (HbA1c (%)), with high sensitivity, high accuracy, and high correlation with HPLC without being affected by the length of time required to mix a measurement sample with the measurement sample diluent and to drop the mixture onto an immunochromatographic specimen for measuring HbA1c; and a kit containing the measurement sample diluent. The present invention relates to a measurement sample diluent for immunochromatography for quantifying the proportion of hemoglobin A1c in the total hemoglobin molecules in a measurement sample (hemoglobin A1c (%)); and the measurement sample diluent is an aqueous solution that contains a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a buffer.