The present disclosure relates to methods for determining a viral titer of a biological sample, suitably from a mammalian cell sample. The methods include the use of mechanical disruption of the cells, followed by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to determine the viral titer. Methods of mechanical disruption suitably include the use of glass beads.

The present disclosure relates to methods for determining a viral titer of a biological sample, suitably from a mammalian cell sample. The methods include the use of mechanical disruption of the cells, followed by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to determine the viral titer. Methods of mechanical disruption suitably include the use of glass beads.

The present invention relates to methods and kits for detecting in a sample the presence of a virus particle or a virus-like particle that has reverse transcriptase activity and methods for preparing a retroviral contaminant-free substance. An aspect of the present invention is a method for detecting the presence of a virus particle in a sample of a Virus-like Particle (VLP) drug substance comprising a step of performing PCR-based reverse transcriptase (PBRT) on a sample of the VLP drug substance that has been treated with a protease.

The present invention relates to methods and kits for detecting in a sample the presence of a virus particle or a virus-like particle that has reverse transcriptase activity and methods for preparing a retroviral contaminant-free substance. An aspect of the present invention is a method for detecting the presence of a virus particle in a sample of a Virus-like Particle (VLP) drug substance comprising a step of performing PCR-based reverse transcriptase (PBRT) on a sample of the VLP drug substance that has been treated with a protease.

The present invention is a new and non-obvious method for the improved and simplified purification of nucleic acids.

The present invention is a new and non-obvious method for the improved and simplified purification of nucleic acids.

An apparatus for sequencing a polynucleotide analyte is provided and comprises; •a first zone in which a stream of single nucleotides is generated by progressive digestion of a molecule of the analyte attached to a particle located therein and exposed to a flowing aqueous medium; •a second zone in which a corresponding stream of aqueous droplets is generated from the aqueous medium and the nucleotide stream and wherein at least some of the droplets contain a single nucleotide and •a third zone in which each droplet is stored and/or interrogated to reveal a property characteristic of the single nucleotide it may contain; characterised in that the first zone comprises a microfluidic channel through which the aqueous medium flows and the location comprises a hollow seating in a wall thereof to which suction can be applied and into which the particle can be close-fitted.

An apparatus for sequencing a polynucleotide analyte is provided and comprises; •a first zone in which a stream of single nucleotides is generated by progressive digestion of a molecule of the analyte attached to a particle located therein and exposed to a flowing aqueous medium; •a second zone in which a corresponding stream of aqueous droplets is generated from the aqueous medium and the nucleotide stream and wherein at least some of the droplets contain a single nucleotide and •a third zone in which each droplet is stored and/or interrogated to reveal a property characteristic of the single nucleotide it may contain; characterised in that the first zone comprises a microfluidic channel through which the aqueous medium flows and the location comprises a hollow seating in a wall thereof to which suction can be applied and into which the particle can be close-fitted.

Methods, devices and systems for analyzing precious samples of cells, including single cells are provided. The methods, devices, and systems in various embodiments of the invention are used to assess genomic heterogeneity, which has been recognized as a central feature of many cancers and plays a critical role in disease initiation, progression, and response to treatment. The methods devices and systems are also used to analyze embryonic biopsies for reimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). In one embodiment, the devices, systems and methods provided herein allow for the construction of genomic and RNA-seq libraries without a pre-amplification step.

Methods, devices and systems for analyzing precious samples of cells, including single cells are provided. The methods, devices, and systems in various embodiments of the invention are used to assess genomic heterogeneity, which has been recognized as a central feature of many cancers and plays a critical role in disease initiation, progression, and response to treatment. The methods devices and systems are also used to analyze embryonic biopsies for reimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). In one embodiment, the devices, systems and methods provided herein allow for the construction of genomic and RNA-seq libraries without a pre-amplification step.