A fluorescent probe includes one or more metal binding functional group, such as phosphonic acid group and an arsonic acid group, in which the functional group is covalently linked to a fluorescent core via a sp.sup.2-carbon atom of the fluorescent core. In embodiments, the fluorescent core is an organic fluorescent compound/moiety, that can be a tetrapyrrole derivative, such as porphyrin or phthalocyanine, acridine, BODIPY, cyanine or cyanine derivatives, carbazole, coumarine or coumarine derivatives, xanthene or xanthene derivatives such as fluorescein or rhodamine. The fluorescent probe can bind to calcium and/or a calcification, such as hydroxyapatite (HAP). In a further aspect, a fluorescent probe is used in a method of detecting calcium, such as a calcification or HAP, in a bodily tissue. The use of the fluorescent probe is also provided for detecting calcium, a calcification and/or HAP, such as calcium depositions in a bodily tissue.

An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

The present invention relates to a fluorescence immunochromatographic assay kit and an application method thereof, belonging to the technical field of in vitro diagnostic products for animal diseases. The kit comprises a plastic case, a test reagent card and a sample diluent. The case comprises a bottom case and an upper cover, wherein a test strip slot is formed in the bottom case, and a scan window and a sample loading hole are arranged on the upper cover; wherein the test reagent card consists of a sample pad, a binding pad, a nitrocellulose membrane and an absorbent paper which are sequentially adhered on a bottom board; the position of the scan window is matched with the position of the nitrocellulose membrane, and the position of the sample loading hole is matched with the position of the sample pad.

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for bacteria identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing for the treatment of, for example, acute and chronic infections including infectious disease. The present invention is particularly useful in the identification of bacteria causing mastitis, and to antibiotic susceptibility testing to facilitate in the identification of an appropriate treatment for mastitis.

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for bacteria identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing for the treatment of, for example, acute and chronic infections including infectious disease. The present invention is particularly useful in the identification of bacteria causing mastitis, and to antibiotic susceptibility testing to facilitate in the identification of an appropriate treatment for mastitis.

An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for the prognosis of the survival time of a patient suffering from a solid cancer, comprising the quantification of the cell density of follicular B cells present in tumor-induced lymphoid structures from said patient, wherein a high density of follicular B cells indicates that the patient has a favorable prognosis and a low density of follicular B cells indicates that the patient has a poor prognosis.

The present invention provides a lateral flow device for detecting lipoteichoic acid (LT A) as a Gram-positive bacteria identifier in a milk sample of an animal. The device comprises: a) a strip formed of a material enabling capillary flow of fluid along a portion of the strip; b) a sample pad located proximal to one end of the strip for receiving the milk sample, c) a conjugate pad located in the strip so that in operation the sample flows under capillary action through the strip from the sample pad to the conjugate pad and mobilizes a conjugate contained in the conjugate pad, the conjugate comprising an anti-LTA antibody that has been conjugated to a detection agent, d) a test line Test Die comprising an anti-LTA antibody immobilized within the strip along a band located substantially perpendicular to the direction of the sample flow along the strip so that when a formed complex comprised of the mobilized anti-LTA antibody conjugate and the LT A in the sample contacts the immobilized anti-LTA antibody in the test line the presence of LT A in the sample is indicated by a visible color change.

A dry stick being a competitive lateral flow stick configured to measure haptoglobin in a raw milk sample, the dry stick having a base pad that allows lateral flow of fluid therethrough, with a labelled-control conjugate and a labelled-conjugate diffusibly arranged herein, the labelled-conjugate binding haptoglobin, a complex forming between the labelled-conjugate and the haptoglobin. The base pad also includes a test line with immobilised target analyte, the immobilised target analyte binding to the labelled-conjugate when not in the complex; and a control line, which is spaced from the test line, and which includes control analyte that binds to the labelled-control conjugate.

A detection system for determining lysyl oxidase-like 2 protein (LOXL2) levels in a bodily sample, includes at least one reaction solution for generating H.sub.2O.sub.2 upon combination with LOXL2 in the bodily sample, the reaction solution including lysine that can be oxidatively deaminated by LOXL2 to generate -aminoadipic--semialdehyde (allysine) and hydrogen peroxide (H.sub.2O.sub.2).