The present invention provides a method for detecting and assaying Clostridium neurotoxins and identification of serotypes of botulinum neurotoxins in various food matrices and clinical samples. This method is also used for detection of BoNT inside the neuronal and epithelial cells. The method comprises detecting and assaying the presence of a Clostridium neurotoxin in a sample by: exposing the sample containing a Clostridium neurotoxin to a sample comprising a novel SNAMPXIN/SNAMP universal recombinant substrate fusion protein capable of producing a detectable FRET, following cleavage; detecting and assaying the presence of the Clostridium neurotoxin by measuring a change in the energy transfer or the luminescence signal; and detecting and assaying an electrophoretic mobility pattern of one or more cleaved protein bands or a degraded protein, using a high throughput automated system to identify the different serotypes of the Clostridium neurotoxin. SNAMPXIN/SNAMP is formed from parts of BoNT substrates SNAP-25 and VAMP.

Provided is a quick and accurate way of assessing harshness of a surfactant towards a protein, which can be easily carried out under non-laboratory conditions and which facilitates recommendations for making suitable products. Particularly, provided are methods of measuring the harshness of a surfactant, which includes (a) providing an aqueous solution of surfactant and taking a first colour measurement; (b) adding a solid protein-dye complex to the aqueous solution of surfactant; (c) taking a second colour measurement and measuring the change in colour between the first colour measurement and the second colour measurement; and (d) matching the change in colour with a reference scale. The solid protein-dye complex can be prepared by dissolving a non-denatured corn protein and a protein binding dye in aqueous alcohol, and removing the aqueous alcohol.

Methods of minimizing hook effect interference in an immunoassay are disclosed. Also disclosed are reagents, kits, and immunoassay devices that may be utilized in accordance with the method.

Peptide and/or protein quantitation methods, kits, and compositions, particularly useful for mass spectrometry, are provided herein based on a bathocuproine-based composition complex such as bathocuproinedisulfonic acid disodium salt hydrate complex. The methods are one-step rapid absorbance methods using small sample volumes. They produce a robust signal with high signal to background ratio and accurately quantitate even complex peptide mixtures with low variability and high sensitivity.

Provided herein is the use of measurements of cell-free DNA, protein, and/or metabolite found in biofluid (e.g., urine) for identifying and treating organ injury. Provided herein are methods and compositions for monitoring, detecting, quantifying, and treating kidney injury in subjects suffering from or suspected of having an altered renal status by measuring amounts of cfDNA and one or more other markers, such as inflammation markers, apoptosis markers, protein, and DNA methylation.

The present invention concerns an assay for testing the presence of a fluorophore, a method for testing the precence of a fluorophore and an item comprising a flurophore.

A method for preparing a ninhydrin reagent for use in the analysis of nitrogen-containing compounds is provided, the method comprising irradiating a ninhydrin-containing composition with UV light. An apparatus for preparing a ninhydrin reagent for use in the analysis of nitrogen-containing compounds is also provided, the apparatus comprising a conduit having an inlet for receiving a ninhydrin-containing composition and an outlet for discharging a ninhydrin reagent; and a light source for irradiating the ninhydrin-containing composition within the conduit with UV light. A method for analysing one or more nitrogen-containing compounds comprises irradiating a ninhydrin-containing composition with UV light in an activation zone to produce a ninhydrin reagent; and contacting the ninhydrin reagent with the nitrogen-containing compounds in a reaction zone.

Provided herein is the use of measurements of cell-free DNA, protein, and/or metabolite found in biofluid (e.g., urine) for identifying and treating organ injury. Provided herein are methods and compositions for monitoring, detecting, quantifying, and treating kidney injury in subjects suffering from or suspected of having an altered renal status by measuring amounts of cfDNA and one or more other markers, such as inflammation markers, apoptosis markers, protein, and DNA methylation.

Various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions (e.g., kits) for the identification of subjects with misfolded proteins in their urine. For example, methods and compositions for determining that a urine sample from a pregnant woman contains or does not contain misfolded are provided. In some embodiments, the presence of misfolded proteins in a urine sample from a pregnant woman is an indication of preeclampsia.

A dry test piece for albumin measurement is based on the improved BCP method as a principle, and enables the measurement of albumin at a high sensitivity. The test piece includes a support; and a reagent holding layer provided on the support and on which a sample is spotted. The reagent holding layer contains a protein denaturation agent (component A), an SH reagent (component B), bromcresol purple (component C), and a nonionic surfactant (component D). In the reagent holding layer, a weight ratio (D/C) of the component D to the component C is 0.3 to 13, a content of the component C relative to an amount of the spotted sample is 0.4 μg/μL to 5.4 μg/μL, a content of the component D relative to the amount of the spotted sample is 25 μg/μL or less.