Violet excitable tandem dyes are provided. Tandem dyes of embodiments of the invention include: a non-conjugated polymeric backbone; one or more violet excitable donor fluorophores linked to the non-conjugated polymeric backbone; and one or more acceptor fluorophores linked to the non-conjugated polymeric backbone; where the donor and acceptor fluorophores are in energy transfer relationship. Also provided are methods of making and using the tandem dyes, as well as kits that include the dyes and find use in embodiments of the methods.

The invention includes a method of assaying an analyte in a sample in a portable, handheld microfluidic reader. The method includes the steps of: inserting the sample in the reader; capturing the analyte with a first antibody having a DNA tag attached thereto; capturing the analyte in the sample with a second antibody attached to a surface or having a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) attached thereto; where a sandwich including the magnetic nanoparticle, first and second antibodies, the analyte and the DNA tag is formed; replicating the DNA tag using isothermal amplification to a predetermined amount of DNA tags detectable by a detector sufficient to overcome the minimal mass sensitivity limitations of the detector; and measuring the amount of replicated DNA tags using the detector. The invention also includes an apparatus or handheld portable field microfluidic reader in which the method is performed.

The invention includes a method of assaying an analyte in a sample in a portable, handheld microfluidic reader. The method includes the steps of: inserting the sample in the reader; capturing the analyte with a first antibody having a DNA tag attached thereto; capturing the analyte in the sample with a second antibody attached to a surface or having a magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) attached thereto; where a sandwich including the magnetic nanoparticle, first and second antibodies, the analyte and the DNA tag is formed; replicating the DNA tag using isothermal amplification to a predetermined amount of DNA tags detectable by a detector sufficient to overcome the minimal mass sensitivity limitations of the detector; and measuring the amount of replicated DNA tags using the detector. The invention also includes an apparatus or handheld portable field microfluidic reader in which the method is performed.

Immobilization and magnetic extraction of pathogens and pathogen components The application describes a method for reducing the concentration of pathogens and/or pathogen components in an aqueous or body fluid sample. Specifically, the method relates to incubating the sample with superparamagnetic iron-based particles attached to a target binding peptide and immobilising the superparamagnetic iron-based particles with a magnetic field and thereby separating the pathogen-bound and/or pathogen component-bound superparamagnetic iron-based particles from the sample. Furthermore, the application relates to a method for identifying pathogens in an aqueous or body fluid sample a use of superparamagnetic iron-based particles for reducing the concentration of pathogens and/or pathogen components in an aqueous or body fluid sample. In addition, a use of superparamagnetic iron-based particles for identifying pathogens in an aqueous or body fluid sample is disclosed. Finally, superparamagnetic ironoxide nanoparticles (SPION's) are disclosed, wherein the SPIONs are linked to a target binding peptide. wherein the target is a pathogen, and/or a pathogen component.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.

The invention generally relates to methods of using compositions that include sets of magnetic particles, members of each set being conjugated to an antibody specific for a pathogen, and magnets to isolate a pathogen from a body fluid sample.