Assay modules, preferably assay cartridges, are described as are reader apparatuses which may be used to control aspects of module operation. The modules preferably comprise a detection chamber with integrated electrodes that may be used for carrying out electrode induced luminescence measurements. Methods are described for immobilizing assay reagents in a controlled fashion on these electrodes and other surfaces. Assay modules and cartridges are also described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, dry reagent pill zones and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, these modules are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick.

A kit includes an array of charge sensors attached to a solid-phase substrate , wherein individual charge sensors in the array respectively comprise a channel and a polymerase and are located at different addressable locations on the solid-phase substrate; and a liquid comprising a plurality of different nucleic acids, each of the different nucleic acids including a unique label to be detected by a charge sensor of the array.

A method of synthesizing an oligonucleotide using a nanofluidic device including a plurality of nanopore channels, a plurality of electrodes, and an electrolyte solution, includes coupling a primer to an inner wall of a nanopore channel of the plurality of nanopore channels, the primer having a protecting group. The method also includes applying a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes that corresponds to the nanopore channel to produce an acid from the electrolyte solution at the electrode. The electrode includes an anode and a cathode disposed at opposite sides of the nanopore channel. The method further includes the acid removing the protecting group from the primer. Moreover, the method includes coupling a nucleotide to the primer with the protecting group removed to form an intermediate product. In addition, the method includes repeating the steps on the intermediate product until the oligonucleotide is synthesized.

The invention described herein relates generally to methods, sensors, devices and kits for electrochemical detection of a target analyte in a sample. In certain aspects, the methods, sensors, devices and kits described herein can be used to detect low concentrations of at least one target analyte using small sample volumes. In some embodiments, methods, sensors and kits for detecting a microbe, microbe fragment or released endotoxin in a test sample, including bodily fluids such as blood and tissues of a subject, food, water, and environmental surfaces, are also provided herein.

The present disclosure provides methods of activating an enzyme, such as error prone or template independent polymerase, using electricity to alter pH of a reaction zone and reaction site from an inactivating pH at which the enzyme is inactive to an activating pH at which the enzyme is active to add a nucleotide to an initiator or growing polymer chain. The activating pH can then be changed back to an inactivating pH and the process repeated as many times as desired to produce a target nucleic acid sequence.

A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis may comprise positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting. The positioning may comprise aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations. The method may further comprise dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations. The dispensing may be via electrowetting.

There is disclosed an electrochemical deblocking solution for use on an electrode microarray. There is further disclosed a method for electrochemical synthesis on an electrode array using the electrochemical deblocking solution. The solution and method are for removing acid-labile protecting groups for synthesis of oligonucleotides, peptides, small molecules, or polymers on a microarray of electrodes while substantially improving isolation of deblocking to active electrodes. The method comprises applying a voltage or a current to at least one electrode of an array of electrodes. The array of electrodes is covered by the electrochemical deblocking solution.

A method for sequencing a polynucleotide sample having a barcode sequence, includes: introducing a series of nucleotides to the polynucleotide sample according to a predetermined flow ordering; obtaining a series of signals resulting from the introducing of nucleotides to the polynucleotide sample; and resolving the series of signals over the barcode sequence to render a flowspace string, wherein the flowspace string is a codeword of an error-tolerant code capable of distinguishing the barcode sequence from other barcode sequences in the presence of one or more errors.

DNA synthesis devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus can include a synthesizer chip having an array of reaction units in a predetermined pattern, each reaction unit including a reaction surface and a reaction electrode of an IC array of reaction electrodes, and a synthesizer chip controller coupled to the IC array of reaction electrodes configured to address each reaction electrode individually. The apparatus can also include a reagent delivery chip positionable above the synthesizer chip, comprising an array of reagent delivery units arranged in the predetermined pattern, each reagent delivery unit including a reagent electrode of an IC array of reagent electrodes and each reagent delivery unit configured to receive and deliver a droplet of reagent fluid having a volume of 1 picoliter or less, and a reagent delivery chip controller coupled to the IC array of reagent electrodes configured to address each reagent electrode individually.

The invention relates to a microarray structure that may include a substrate material layer, a continuous three-dimensional (3D) surface layer on the substrate material layer that is capable of functionalisation for use as an array, and an inert material. The structure may include accurately defined and functionalisable isolated areas which are millimeter to nanometer in size. The functionalisable areas may be part of the continuous 3D surface layer and may be isolated by the inert material but interconnected within the structure by the continuous 3D surface layer.