An instrument for detecting signal from a biological sample includes a pipettor module configured to hold a plurality of pipettes in respective pipette positions, to hold liquid in one or more pipette tips, and to pipette liquid in and out of the one or more pipette tips. Each of the one or more pipette tips has a pipette tip point. The instrument further includes one or more magnets positioned such that each of the one or more pipette tips is adjacent one of the one or more magnets.

The present invention relates to multifunctional magnetic-optical nanoparticles.

The multifunctional magnetic-optical nanoparticles according to the present invention are composed of quantum dot nanoparticles and magnetic nanoparticles, and can also be functionalized with biocompatible polymers to specifically allow the capture and detection of biomolecules or biomaterials, as well as quantitative analysis using colorimetric and fluorescence signals. Therefore, the multifunctional magnetic-optical nanoparticles of the present invention can be utilized in various biomedical fields such as disease diagnosis, cell separation and imaging.

Described are multi-functional beads and methods to capture rare cells directly from low-volume biological samples and perform both functional and genomic assays from those cells. This is accomplished using a multifunctional capture bead that allows co-localization of both the single cell capture element and the molecular assay components. When combined with a digital microfluidic platform this enables encoding and/or barcoding of specific single cells.

This disclosure relates to methods of measuring copper concentrations in biological samples. More particularly, this disclosure relates to methods of measuring non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper concentrations and/or labile-bound copper concentrations in biological samples. Such methods are particularly useful in management and treatment of metabolism-associated diseases or disorders.

Provided herein are methods of assessing or determining the presence or absence of particles, such as bead particles, present in a cell composition. Also provided are articles of manufacture and kits for use in the methods.

The present invention relates to automated methods for isolating fetal cells from a sample, such as a blood sample, derived from a pregnant woman. The isolated fetal cells can be used for identifying genetic abnormalities in the fetal DNA.

A collection device for a biological sample to capture target compounds such as viruses or other pathogens or particles for testing from within the sample and move the captured target compound to a separate chamber for subsequent processing. The collection device can include an openable substance blister including capture particles located in a cup interior. Capture particles can attract and bind the target compounds from the sample. An extraction tube extracts any nucleic acid from the target compound for storage or subsequent amplification and testing to confirm presence of known microorganisms. The extraction tube can comprise a heat-deformable material and can be connected to a microfluidic cartridge for further processing of nucleic acid including, amplification and detection. The microfluidic cartridge includes valves and a plurality of chambers for amplification.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting viral particles, viral proteins, viral RNA, or viral DNA in multiple fluids. The methods consist of applying a magnetic torque to functionalized magnetic beads in a fluid solution resting on a functionalized substrate. The solution is comprised of one of the following: intact viral particles, viral proteins, RNA, or DNA. The presence and/or quantity of the aforementioned molecules or viruses is detected by measuring the translational velocity of the beads. The methods here described can detect multiple different species simultaneously using a multiplexed assay. Also, the systems here included are able to process multiple samples simultaneously.

A method for the isolation, or isolation and detection, of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood or lymph, or disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from bone marrow. CDCP1 is used as a biomarker for the isolation of CTCs or DTCs having a mesenchymal phenotype (mCTC, mDTC) or a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype (emCTC, emDTC). Isolation can, for example, be done immunomagnetically using anti-CDCP1 antibodies coupled to magnetic particles.

A novel detection system and method is presented, where a two-bead receptor method is used for capturing pathogens, with one type of bead being magnetic and having a size of 3 microns or smaller, and the other type being polymeric and having a size of 3 microns or larger. The first type is used to concentrate a pathogen; the latter is used to create a detectable signal. Fast sensitive detection is achieved by collecting the optical signal created by the distortion of a homeotropically aligned chromonic azo dye in the presence of captured pathogens.