The present invention is directed to a method of identifying, isolating, and enabling downstream analysis of circulating tumor cells comprising contacting a blood or blood serum sample of a subject with a composition comprising a phospholipid ether analog bound to a luminescent molecule or a magnetic bead and subjecting the blood or blood serum sample of the subject to fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry or magnetic isolation.

Methods and kits are provided for analyzing a fluid with a flow cytometer to determine the concentration of a target component in the fluid. At least two bead groups are combined with the fluid, wherein each of the bead groups includes surface-functionalized beads that have a different size from the other bead groups. The target component can bind to the functional groups on the beads, and the beads with the targets can be counted with the flow cytometer. Based on the numbers of beads with targets in each group, a most probable number (MPN) of the target component can be determined.

The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR). The evaluation results can be used to validate and/or correct the measurements obtained in the target region (TR).

This method for detecting a target particle comprises (a) preparing a solution containing a target particle, a luminescent probe that binds to the target particle and a particle for separation and recovery, or containing the target particle bound to the luminescent probe, the luminescent probe and the particle for separation and recovery, and forming a complex composed of the target particle, the luminescent probe and the particle for separation and recovery in the solution, (b) recovering the particle for separation and recovery from the solution by solid-liquid separation treatment after the (a) and preparing a sample solution containing the particle for separation and recovery, and (c) calculating the number of the complex present in the sample solution according to a scanning molecule counting method, wherein the particles for separation and recovery bind to a complex composed of the target particles and the luminescent probe.

A sample is added to a chamber (12) in which magnetic particles (P) are provided. The sample includes a target component (T) and the chamber (12) has a detection surface (122). A magnetic force is exerted on the magnetic particles (P) to attract the magnetic particles (P) to the detection surface (122). The bound magnetic particles that captured the target component (T) in the magnetic particles (P) and the unbound magnetic particles that captured no target component (T) in the magnetic particles (P) are held at the detection surface (122). At least part of the sample is drained out of the chamber (12) and a new sample added to the chamber (12). The magnetic force exerted on the magnetic particles (P) is altered to release the unbound magnetic particles from the detection surface (122). An amount of the bound magnetic particles that are held at the detection surface (122) are measured. The target component (T) is preconcentrated by repeating the steps of magnetically binding the target component (T) from the newly added sample and washing the detection surface (122) from unbound magnetic particles.

The present invention relates to systems 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 is provided for detecting an analyte in a biological sample. The device includes a first electrochemical sensor positioned on a substrate. The first electrochemical sensor includes an immobilized layer of antibody configured to bind to the analyte. The device further includes a second electrochemical sensor positioned adjacent to the first electrochemical sensor on the substrate, and a magnetic material that generates a magnetic field aligned with respect to the second electrochemical sensor. The magnetic field captures magnetic beads that have an immobilized layer of antibody configured to bind to the analyte, and concentrates the magnetic beads on or near a surface of the second electrochemical sensor.

Provided are methods for detecting or isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a subject. The methods may include detecting the expression of at least one epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarker. Further provided are kits for detecting or isolating CTCs. The kits may include antibodies to at least one EMT biomarker. Further provided are methods of predicting the responsiveness of a subject to a cancer drug, methods of targeting delivery of a cancer drug in a subject, methods of providing a cancer prognosis to a subject, and methods for following the progress of cancer in a subject.

Devices for sorting components (e.g., cells) contained in a liquid sample are provided. In certain aspects, the devices include a magnetic separation device and an acoustic concentrator device fluidically coupled to magnetic separation device. Aspects of the invention further include methods for sorting cells in a liquid sample, and systems, and kits for practicing the subject methods.

The present disclosure provides compositions, reagents, kits, systems, system components, and methods for performing assays. More particularly, the disclosure relates to an assay composition for detecting Ituninescence, which comprises an alkyl diethanolamine, for example, N-butyldiethanolamnine (BDEA). In emodiments, the assay composition comprises 2-dihutylaminoethanol (BDAE),

A microfluidic Western blot method and system including a microfluidic western blot method for immunoassay of proteins, the method including introducing a sample including the proteins onto a chip; electrophoretically separating the proteins; binding the separated proteins to beads to form protein-attached beads, the beads being magnetic; flowing the protein-attached beads into a magnetic holding region; applying a magnetic field to the magnetic holding region to fix the protein-attached beads in place within the magnetic holding region; binding primary antibodies to target proteins on the protein-attached beads; binding secondary antibodies to the bound primary antibodies; and detecting the bound secondary antibodies.