The invention provides an apparatus and methods for the electrochemical detection and/or quantitation of an analyte in a sample, wherein the device comprises a substrate and a detector, wherein the substrate comprises a labeled binding agent, wherein the label is an enteric material particle that encapsulates a ferrocene methanol redox species.

The present invention is directed to methods and devices for amending undiluted and partially diluted urine samples in a manner suitable for performing immunoassays for target analytes, for example NGAL. Generally, the urine sample is treated with reagents including at least one of buffer materials, water soluble proteins, urease, and other interferent mitigants. These reagents control the pH of the urine sample in a manner suitable for immuno-binding reactions and ameliorate interferences, particularly during the detection step.

The present invention is directed to methods and devices for amending undiluted and partially diluted urine samples in a manner suitable for performing immunoassays for target analytes, for example NGAL. Generally, the urine sample is treated with reagents including at least one of buffer materials, water soluble proteins, urease, and other interferent mitigants. These reagents control the pH of the urine sample in a manner suitable for immuno-binding reactions and ameliorate interferences, particularly during the detection step.

Identification and use of compounds which inhibit the expression or activity of micro-RNAs for preventing and/or attenuating ageing. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin including (a) bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of fibroblasts, (b) measuring the expression or the activity of at least one microRNA chosen from miR-134 and miR-152 in said fibroblasts, and (c) selecting the compounds for which an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the expression or an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the activity of at least one microRNA is measured in the fibroblasts treated in (a) compared with the untreated fibroblasts.

Identification and use of compounds which inhibit the expression or activity of micro-RNAs for preventing and/or attenuating ageing. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin including (a) bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of fibroblasts, (b) measuring the expression or the activity of at least one microRNA chosen from miR-134 and miR-152 in said fibroblasts, and (c) selecting the compounds for which an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the expression or an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the activity of at least one microRNA is measured in the fibroblasts treated in (a) compared with the untreated fibroblasts.

The present invention is directed to methods and devices for amending undiluted and partially diluted urine samples in a manner suitable for performing immunoassays for target analytes, for example NGAL. Generally, the urine sample is treated with reagents including at least one of buffer materials, water soluble proteins, urease, and other interferent mitigants. These reagents control the pH of the urine sample in a manner suitable for immuno-binding reactions and ameliorate interferences, particularly during the detection step.

Techniques includes measuring, using a creatine sensor, a creatine sensor current signal (I2) of a first calibration solution (CS2). A creatine sensor sensitivity (Slope) for the creatine sensor is based on the creatine sensor current signal (I2). The first calibration solution (CS2) has a known concentration of creatine (CR_CS2), a known concentration of creatinine (CREA_CS2), and a stable ratio of creatine to creatinine over a range of temperatures for a predefined shelf-life of the first calibration solution (CS2). The Techniques include measuring, using the creatine sensor, a measured creatine concentration (MCR_CS3) of a second calibration solution (CS3). The second calibration solution (CS3) has an initial known creatine concentration (CR_CS3), an initial known creatinine concentration (CREA_CS3), and an unstable ratio of creatine to creatinine that changes over the predefined shelf-life. Concentrations of creatine and creatinine in a sample are thereafter estimated.

Techniques includes measuring, using a creatine sensor, a creatine sensor current signal (I2) of a first calibration solution (CS2). A creatine sensor sensitivity (Slope) for the creatine sensor is based on the creatine sensor current signal (I2). The first calibration solution (CS2) has a known concentration of creatine (CR_CS2), a known concentration of creatinine (CREA_CS2), and a stable ratio of creatine to creatinine over a range of temperatures for a predefined shelf-life of the first calibration solution (CS2). The Techniques include measuring, using the creatine sensor, a measured creatine concentration (MCR_CS3) of a second calibration solution (CS3). The second calibration solution (CS3) has an initial known creatine concentration (CR_CS3), an initial known creatinine concentration (CREA_CS3), and an unstable ratio of creatine to creatinine that changes over the predefined shelf-life. Concentrations of creatine and creatinine in a sample are thereafter estimated.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can replace the conventional culture method that takes a long time of four to eight weeks to detect active tuberculosis, and which is a method for detecting active Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using isotopes on a sample of a patient's sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

The present invention relates to a method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can replace the conventional culture method that takes a long time of four to eight weeks to detect active tuberculosis, and which is a method for detecting active Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using isotopes on a sample of a patient's sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.