According to various embodiments, a method is provided that comprises washing an array of DNA-coated beads on a substrate, with a wash solution to remove stacked beads from the substrate. The wash solution can include inert solid beads in a carrier. The DNA-coated beads can have an average diameter and the solid beads in the wash solution can have an average diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the DNA-coated beads. The washing can form dislodged DNA-coated beads and a monolayer of DNA-coated beads. In some embodiments, first beads for forming an array are contacted with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution comprising a PEG having a molecular weight of about 350 Da or less. In some embodiments, slides for forming bead arrays are provided as are systems for imaging the same.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

The invention relates to methods of detecting a genetic variation in a genetic sample from a subject using labeled probes and counting the number of labels in the probes. The invention also relates to manufacturing and using arrays and analytical approaches based on single molecule detection techniques.

A lateral flow assay is capable of detecting and differentiating viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In some preferred embodiments, bimodal methods and devices determine if an infection is bacterial and/or viral. A dual use two strip sample analysis device includes a first lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect MxA and a low level of C-reactive protein and a second lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect high levels of C-reactive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the sample is a fingerstick blood sample.

Silanation compositions containing a mixture of two or more silanation reagents, where at least one silanation reagent includes a functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis and at least one silanation reagent includes no functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis are useful in modulating the active site density and hydrolytic stability of a surface. These compositions are particularly useful in silanating a surface prior to preparation of a polymer array and provide for increased hybridization results.

A lateral flow assay is capable of detecting and differentiating viral and bacterial infections. A combined point of care diagnostic device tests markers for viral infection and markers for bacterial infection, to effectively assist in the rapid differentiation of viral and bacterial infections. In some preferred embodiments, bimodal methods and devices determine if an infection is bacterial and/or viral. A dual use two strip sample analysis device includes a first lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect MxA and a low level of C-reactive protein and a second lateral flow chromatographic test strip to detect high levels of C-reactive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the sample is a fingerstick blood sample.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalizing the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

Disclosed is a method of identifying the contents of individual droplets in a droplet stream each droplet containing fluorophores in an initial non-fluorescing state characterized by the steps of introducing the droplets one-by-one into at least one open-ended tube to create a stack of droplets therein; activating the fluorophores within the droplets to cause them to fluoresce; releasing each droplet in the droplet stack in turn from the tube and detecting along the major axis of the tube fluorescence associated with each droplet as it emerges. Also disclosed is a method suitable for sequencing a biopolymer characterized by the steps of (1) progressively digesting the biopolymer into an ordered stream of its constituent monomers; (2) converting the stream of monomers into a corresponding stream of monomer-containing aqueous droplets each droplet additionally containing a probe capable of (a) capturing the monomer and (b) thereafter being digested to release an unqueched fluorophore characteristic of the captured monomer; (3) introducing the stream of droplets created in step (2) into an inlet end of at least one open-ended tube to create a stack of droplets therein and (4) releasing each droplet in turn from an outlet end of the tube(s) and detecting fluorophores in each droplet as each droplet emerges. The method may be used in a corresponding apparatus for sequencing a biopolymer such as a nucleic acid or protein.

Various embodiments of a low-volume sequencing system are provided herein. The system can include a low-volume flowcell having at least one reaction chamber of a defined volume (e.g., less than about 100 l). The system can also include an automated reagent delivery mechanism configured to reversibly couple with the inlet port corresponding to a target reaction chamber thereby placing allowing for reagent to be accurately moved from a storage container to the reaction chamber with minimal reagent waste. The flowcells can include a plurality of reaction chambers (e.g., 6) thereby allowing for parallel analysis of multiple samples. Various methods of analyzing a biomolecule are also provided herein.

According to various embodiments, a method is provided that comprises washing an array of DNA-coated beads on a substrate, with a wash solution to remove stacked beads from the substrate. The wash solution can include inert solid beads in a carrier. The DNA-coated beads can have an average diameter and the solid beads in the wash solution can have an average diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the DNA-coated beads. The washing can form dislodged DNA-coated beads and a monolayer of DNA-coated beads. In some embodiments, first beads for forming an array are contacted with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution comprising a PEG having a molecular weight of about 350 Da or less. In some embodiments, slides for forming bead arrays are provided as are systems for imaging the same.