Abstract: The invention relates to a method and kits for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids, in particular, short-chain nucleic acids, from a nucleic acid containing starting material, characterised by the following method steps: (a) bonding the nucleic acids to a nucleic acid bonding support material, wherein the starting material is brought into contact with the nucleic acid bonding support material in the presence of at least one chaotropic compound and preferably isopropanol, wherein the isopropanol is present in a concentration of ?15% (v/v) and ?35% (v/v), (b) optional elution of the bonded nucleic acids from the nucleic acid bonding support material. Said method is particularly suitable for the purification of foetal DNA from maternal blood.

Abstract: System, method and computer program product for background compensation of a digital image containing at least one first object, the at least one first object having received at least one molecule comprising genetic information, and at least one second object, the at least one second object not having received a molecule comprising genetic information, the at least one molecule being configured to receive a fluorescent compound, the digital image being determined by an optical imaging system during emission of electromagnetic radiation by the fluorescent compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the positions of a plurality of objects in a digital image by discriminating true positive positions of the plurality of objects from false positive candidate positions of the plurality of objects. In particular, the invention relates to a method for determining the positions of a plurality of objects in a digital image by discriminating true positive positions of the plurality of objects from false positive candidate positions of the plurality of objects, the plurality of objects being configured to receive molecules comprising genetic information.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions and devices for stabilizing the extracellular nucleic acid population in a cell-containing biological sample and for stabilizing the transcriptome of contained cells.

Abstract: Provided is inter alia to an electrophoresis assisted method for purifying a target nucleic acid from a nucleic acid containing sample, comprising (a) binding the target nucleic acid to a solid phase; (b) placing the solid phase with the bound target nucleic acid into a loading chamber of a device, wherein the device comprises a passage which comprises the loading chamber, optionally a liquid permeable separation matrix adjacent to the loading chamber, and a liquid permeable collection matrix and wherein the solid phase with the bound target nucleic acid is present in the loading chamber in a liquid medium comprising at least one water-miscible organic solvent and wherein the target nucleic acid remains bound to the solid phase in said liquid medium; (c) generating an electric field between a cathode and an anode and using a running solution that conducts the electric current, wherein the running solution dilutes the liquid medium comprised in the loading chamber resulting in elution of the bound target nu

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions and devices for stabilizing the extracellular nucleic acid population in a cell-containing biological sample using an apoptosis inhibitor, preferably a caspase inhibitor, a hypertonic agent and/or a compound according to formula (1) as defined in the claims.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for aiding in the interpretation of variants observed in clinical sequencing data. An embodiment operates by receiving clinical trial enrollment criteria from a user, including but not limited to genetic targeting criteria; searching a knowledge base of patient test information received from a plurality of independent entities for patients that match the clinical trial enrollment criteria; and providing to the user search results for consented patients that match the clinical trial enrollment criteria.

Abstract: Modular flow cells, devices with modular flow cells, and methods of sequencing using modular flow cells, as well as systems and kits including modular flow cells, are described, permitting sequencing wherein less than the full capacity for sequencing is desired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selectively depleting animal nucleic acids from non-animal nucleic acids in a sample, which comprises animal cells and at least one further type of cells, selected from microbial cells and plant cells or a combination thereof, to a lysis solution A to be used in and to a kit to carry out said method as well as to the use of a particular silica membrane as both, a filtration matrix for separating essentially intact microbial and/or plant cells from lysed animal cells and an adsorption matrix for nucleic acids, in particular in a method according to the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for building a community database of allele counts. An embodiment operates by receiving human variant datasets derived from samples generated by distinct users, wherein the users consented to share pooled variant observations with other users; determining that a plurality of variant observations meet the inclusion criteria for a pool; and calculating one or more anonymized allele statistics from the pool.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel methods and kits to be employed for preparing adapter-ligated amplicons or a sequencing library of a target DNA, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reagent for the disruption of cell material, containing an internal standard that is completely integrated into the reagent for control and evaluation of the completeness of disruption of the cell material and subsequent steps, comprising a step selected from sample preparation, extraction, enrichment, isolation, purification, reverse transcription, amplification and detection of the cell components obtained from the disrupted cells, or a combination of a plurality or all of these steps.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of regulation of enzymatic activity in nucleic acid modifying reactions. It describes a method of regulating enzymatic activity by adding chelating agents to the reaction composition and exploits the fact that both the binding of divalent cations to these chelating agents and the pH of commonly used buffers is temperature dependent. PCR experiments that are hampered by non-specific side products can be regulated such that the target sequence is amplified in a more specific manner.

Abstract: System and method for distinguishing at least one first object from at least one second object in a plurality of digital images is provided. The at least one first object having received at least one molecule comprising genetic information, the at least one second object not having received a molecule comprising genetic information. The at least one molecule is configured to receive one of a plurality of fluorescent compounds in each of a plurality of cycles. The digital images being determined by an optical imaging system during emission of electromagnetic radiation by the fluorescent compounds, wherein the plurality of digital images comprises a plurality of series of images, each image of a series referring to the emission spectrum of a respective fluorescent compound and wherein the series of images is repeatedly taken for each of the plurality of cycles.

Abstract: Short tandem repeat (STR) markers are genetic elements that are frequently used in the fields of forensic analysis, paternity determination and detection of genetic diseases and cancers. Such analysis involves the amplification of STR loci. Technically, this can be challenging due to sequence variations in the flanking regions of the locus. In the case of SE33, previous amplification efforts have failed. The present invention describes a set of primers for the amplification of SE33 and a method for the analysis of the presence and/or level of SE33, also in combination with other STRs.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a device, comprising a hollow body having at least one open end comprising at least one solid matrix binding, adsorbing, absorbing, chelating or retaining compounds which are not desired in a sample and preferably at least one barrier which is non-permeable for liquids and solids under ambience conditions, however, becomes liquid-permeable by applying an external force to the barrier, the use of such a device for isolating or purifying a biomolecule from a sample, a method for preparation of the device and a method for isolation or purification of any biomolecule using said device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for the detection or quantification of newly-synthesized double-stranded target nucleic acid molecules in a sample during quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification. According to the invention, an intercalating dye recognizing double-stranded DNA molecules with higher affinity than single-stranded DNA molecules and a fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotide-probe being sequence specific for a target nucleic acid molecule are simultaneously employed, thus enabling quantification a specific target and total amount of a mixed nucleic acid population, and enabling assessing the cause of suboptimal PCR performance.

Abstract: Device for sample processing, particularly sample conditioning as well as for the preparation and/or optionally for implementing a sequential process for an analyte from a biological sample, said device comprising a module for receiving and/or outputting at least one sample vessel or process vessel, a module for transporting a process vessel, a module for sample conditioning and a module for initiating a sequential process for an analyte. The modules are divided into at least two units that each possesses a control system, and which are connected through a first data bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a special reagent for the pretreatment of sample materials. The pretreatment with the reagent according to the invention enables the isolation of nucleic acids by a uniform method from very diverse sample materials, in particular different bioprocess samples, even if the nucleic acids are only present in small amounts in the sample materials. The reagent used for the pretreatment comprises, as key component, at least one compound comprising an amino group. The invention further relates to methods of purification of nucleic acids, in which the sample material is pretreated correspondingly, and suitable kits.

Abstract: The present application concerns a new in vitro method for assessing the risk that a subject suffers from prostate cancer.