A method of detecting a biological sample includes the following steps. A magnetic sensor chip is provided, wherein the magnetic sensor chip includes a substrate and a magnetic sensing layer located on the substrate. Probes are connected to the magnetic sensor chip. A sample solution containing biological samples labeled with a first marker is provided on the magnetic sensor chip, so that the biological samples labeled with the first marker are hybridized with the probes. Magnetic beads labeled with a second marker are provided on the magnetic sensor chip, so that the magnetic beads labeled with the second marker are bound onto the biological samples labeled with the first marker. A signal sensed by the magnetic sensing layer is detected by a magnetic sensor.

A device configured to collect a blood sample comprising a capillary means, wherein the capillary means is configured to collect and dry the blood sample and comprises an effective amount of a distributed inhibitor of phospholipase D. The device may be configured to receive, transport and collect a blood sample comprising a compartment in fluid connection with the capillary means, wherein the capillary means is configured to collect and dry the blood sample and comprises an effective amount of a distributed PLD inhibitor. The device may be a microfluidic device comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion comprising a capillary means configured to collect and dry the blood sample, and optionally a metering function, wherein the microfluidic device comprises an effective amount of a distributed PLD inhibitor. The PLD inhibitor is distributed in a water soluble film, preferably a PVA film, or in an absorbent paper or polymer or in the capillary means. The PLD inhibitor may be selected from a salt of a transition metal belonging to column 5 or 6 of the periodic table, a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten, a salt comprising a vanadium oxyanion and a salt comprising a tungsten oxyanion, and/or at least one of NaVO3 (sodium metavanadate) and Na2WO4 (sodium tungstate). A method of preparing a sample for analysis of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) comprises providing a blood sample with a volume of less than 10 ml to the device; contacting the blood sample with at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D selected from at least one of a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten; and admitting inhibition of phospholipase D so formation of PEth is blocked.

A device configured for collection and subsequent testing of a blood sample of less than 10 ml, characterized in that the container includes at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D selected from at least one of a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten. A method of preparing a sample for analysis of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) comprises providing a blood sample for a patient with a volume of less than 10 ml; contacting the blood sample at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D selected from at least one of a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten; and admitting inhibition of phospholipase D so formation of PEth is blocked. A method of applying a coating of at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D to a test tube and the test tube obtained by this method, wherein the method comprises stabilizing the test in a substantially vertical position; inserting a spray nozzle inside the test tube, the spray nozzle being in fluid connection to a container holding a solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D; spraying the solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D inside the test tube; and allowing the solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D to dry.

A device configured for collection and subsequent testing of a blood sample of less than 10 ml, characterized in that the container includes at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D selected from at least one of a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten. A method of preparing a sample for analysis of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) comprises providing a blood sample for a patient with a volume of less than 10 ml; contacting the blood sample at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D selected from at least one of a salt of vanadium and a salt of tungsten; and admitting inhibition of phospholipase D so formation of PEth is blocked. A method of applying a coating of at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D to a test tube and the test tube obtained by this method, wherein the method comprises stabilizing the test in a substantially vertical position; inserting a spray nozzle inside the test tube, the spray nozzle being in fluid connection to a container holding a solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D; spraying the solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D inside the test tube; and allowing the solution comprising at least one inhibitor of the enzyme phospholipase D to dry.

A method and system for monitoring a user's intoxication including receiving a set of signals, derived from a set of samples collected from the user at a set of time points; providing a sobriety task to the user proximal to a time point of the set of time points; generating a performance dataset characterizing performance of the sobriety task by the user; receiving a supplementary dataset characterizing a demographic profile of the user and/or a physiological state of the user; determining a set of values of an intoxication metric, derived from the set of signals; generating a predicted temporal profile of the intoxication metric for the user based upon the set of values, the set of time points, and the supplementary dataset; generating an analysis of the user's sobriety based upon the performance dataset and the predicted temporal profile; and providing a notification to the user based upon the analysis.

A method and system for monitoring a user's intoxication including receiving a set of signals, derived from a set of samples collected from the user at a set of time points; providing a sobriety task to the user proximal to a time point of the set of time points; generating a performance dataset characterizing performance of the sobriety task by the user; receiving a supplementary dataset characterizing a demographic profile of the user and/or a physiological state of the user; determining a set of values of an intoxication metric, derived from the set of signals; generating a predicted temporal profile of the intoxication metric for the user based upon the set of values, the set of time points, and the supplementary dataset; generating an analysis of the user's sobriety based upon the performance dataset and the predicted temporal profile; and providing a notification to the user based upon the analysis.

A fixed bed (10) is provided for a fixed-bed reactor (100). The fixed bed (10) contains a particulate carrier and at least one reactive substance. The carrier is a silicate compound and the reactive substance is an organometallic pyridine compound. A method for preparing such a fixed bed is provided. The method includes the steps of preparing the carrier, preparing an impregnation and treating the carrier with the impregnation. In addition, a gas-measuring tube is provided with a correspondingly prepared fixed bed as well. A method uses organometallic pyridinium compounds, especially pyridinium dichromate, in a fixed-bed reactor for detecting alcohol compounds and for preparing formaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.

A fixed bed (10) is provided for a fixed-bed reactor (100). The fixed bed (10) contains a particulate carrier and at least one reactive substance. The carrier is a silicate compound and the reactive substance is an organometallic pyridine compound. A method for preparing such a fixed bed is provided. The method includes the steps of preparing the carrier, preparing an impregnation and treating the carrier with the impregnation. In addition, a gas-measuring tube is provided with a correspondingly prepared fixed bed as well. A method uses organometallic pyridinium compounds, especially pyridinium dichromate, in a fixed-bed reactor for detecting alcohol compounds and for preparing formaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.

Embodiments of a method and/or system, such as for characterizing at least one microorganism-related condition, can include: determining a set of associations (e.g., positive associations such as positive correlations, negative associations such as negative correlations, non-associations such as no correlation or minimal correlation, etc.) between a set of microorganism taxa and at least one microorganism-related condition; determining a set of reference features (e.g., reference abundance ranges, etc.) for the set of microorganism taxa; and determining one or more significance index metrics based on the set of associations and the set of reference features.

A device (10), a substance measuring device (100), a process, a computer program, a camera (200) and a cell phone are provided for the unique and individual identification of a substance measuring device (100) of a test subject (300). The device (10) includes an optical identifier (12).