Abstract: A method for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is provided with the steps of obtaining patients' blood with rare cell suspected CTCs; adding at least one fluorescent antibody binding to CTCs into the blood; staining the blood; injecting the stained blood with fluorescent dye into an ODEP device and then performing fluorescent image identification; trapping the CTCs with at least one fluorescent antibody in the ODEP device by creating an image pattern and then generating an ODEP force; Separating the trapped CTCs from other non-CTCs cells; absorbing the trapped CTCs; and obtaining a high purity of CTCs. An apparatus for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for excitable molecules positioned near metallic structures, wherein the metallic structures have a particles size from about 1 nm to 1000 nm and wherein the excitable molecules have fluorescence, phosphorescence or alpha-fluorescence emissions that are altered due to positioning near the metal structures. The emission spectra are distorted on either the blue or red edges in a range from 1 to 10 nm thereby changing the color of emissions. Further, the width of the emission spectrum is modified either by narrowing or broadening depending on the material of the metallic structures and type of excitable molecule.

Abstract: A multiplexed lateral flow device includes an impermeable internal reservoir having an opening to receive a sample deposition. A fluid distributor pad is arranged in fluid communication with a lower surface of the internal reservoir. The fluid distributor pad includes a paper based microfluidic element having a pattern of a hydrophobic material to distribute a portion of the sample deposition substantially equally among a plurality of flow paths. Lateral flow assays having a plurality of flow lines are aligned with flow paths of the distributor pad. An impermeable top cover has a first window arranged over the opening of the internal reservoir, and at least a second window arranged over the test results of the lateral flow assays. A housing element houses the reservoir, the distributor pad and lateral flow assays.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a fluid sample including a sample receiving member having an opening for receiving a fluid sample, wherein the sample receiving member comprises a sample collection chamber; a fluid collector to collect the fluid sample and transfer the fluid sample into the sample receiving member, the fluid collector comprising a lancet and an absorbent material to absorb the fluid sample; and a test cartridge member in fluid communication with the sample collection chamber.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods and test strips for detecting the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a biological sample with a lateral flow device which uses lectin conjugates, anti-antigen conjugates, an immobilized serum line, and an immobilized anti-antigen line.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, devices, kits, apparatus, and methods for rapid homogenous cell staining and imaging. Particularly, in some embodiments, the present invention can immunochemically stain a cell or a tissue in less than 60 seconds without washing. In some embodiments, the present invention stains and observers analyte (protein or nucleic acid) inside a cell in 60 seconds without wash.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method or an immunochromatographic test piece, which controls a speed or a direction of development of a specimen on the immunochromatographic test piece, so that a treatment with an acid reagent, nitrite, and a neutralizing reagent is properly controlled. The present invention provides an immunochromatographic test piece for extracting and measuring a sugar chain antigen in a specimen, the immunochromatographic test piece having a neutralizing region impregnated with a neutralizing reagent upstream of a label region, and further having a solid acid reagent or nitrite region impregnated with a solid acid reagent, or with nitrite, upstream of the neutralizing region, wherein a resin-made sheet is sandwiched between the solid acid reagent or nitrite region the neutralizing region so as to suppress the movement of a reagent or the movement of a specimen solution between the regions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of detecting or quantifying a detection target in a specimen includes: irradiating a reaction mixture containing composite particles and the specimen with light to promote binding between the composite particles and the detection target; and performing measurement on the reaction mixture irradiated with the light to detect or quantify the detection target. The composite particles each include a carrier particle including two or more regions having different physical properties on a surface, and an affinity substance carried on the carrier particle and having affinity to the detection target. The light can be absorbed by at least one of the two or more regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a release system for delaying application of chemical reagents in a lateral-flow immunoassay. A chemistry release fiber comprising a permeable membrane and a chemical release agent is used to delay chemical reagent delivery to the indicator of a lateral-flow immunoassay. Also disclosed is the related method of delaying application of chemical reagents in a lateral-flow immunoassay.

Abstract: A system includes an apparatus having at least one permanent magnet and at least one magnetic field sensor at a pole of the at least one permanent magnet and configured to be positioned relative to a surface of a membrane containing immobilized magnetic particles selectively bound to an analyte such that the magnetic particles are magnetized by the at least one permanent magnet. The system further includes a stage configured to move at least one of the apparatus and the membrane relative to one another with an oscillatory movement parallel to the surface of the membrane, at least one controller configured to control the oscillatory movement, and a data acquisition unit configured to receive signals from the at least one magnetic field sensor and the at least one controller method.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor substrate in which deterioration of a first specific-binding substance immobilized on a surface of the sensor substrate is suppressed even when the sensor substrate is washed or dried. The present sensor substrate includes a base material; a first specific-binding substance having a property of binding specifically to an analyte, the first specific-binding substance being immobilized on a surface of the base material; and a first sugar molecule. The first sugar molecule is immobilized on the surface of the base material by a chemical bond.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for detecting an analyte in a sample, including a step of contacting said analyte with a nanoparticle to facilitate binding thereto, wherein the nanoparticle comprises: (i) a core; (ii) pores extending radially from said core and being defined by spaces between an array of dendritic spikes radiating outwardly from a surface of the core, wherein the pores have an average pore size of between about 10 nm and about 20 nm; (iii) a binding agent for binding the analyte; and (iv) a detection agent immobilized within said pores; to thereby detect said analyte. This invention also provides kits, compositions and products comprising said nanoparticle.

Abstract: An immunochromatographic test piece is provided containing a control line detection reagent that is not affected by the concentration of an analyte to be detected. The immunochromatographic test piece is for quantifying an analyte in a biological sample, and includes (a) a conjugation pad impregnated with a detection reagent that specifically binds to the analyte, and a control line detection reagent; and (b) a porous membrane pad on which an antibody for capturing the analyte is immobilized upstream, and an antibody for capturing specifically the control line detection reagent is immobilized downstream.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices, kits, and methods for focusing/enriching and/or separating/sorting submicron size particles, including biological entities such as exosomes and other submicron size extracellular vesicles. Devices, kits, and methods of the present disclosure utilize ferrohydrodynamic manipulation to focus populations of submicron particles into a stream for enrichment and/or further sort various sub-populations of submicron particles based on size differences.

Abstract: In various embodiments methods and devices are provided for the detection and/or quantification of an analyte. In certain embodiments a device is provided comprising an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) comprising a mixed phase solution that separates into a first phase solution and a second phase where, in use, said first phase solution becomes a leading phase and said second phase solution becomes a lagging phase; a lateral-flow assay (LFA); and a probe and/or a development reagent, where in use, said probe associates with said first phase solution in said leading phase of said ATPS and/or said development reagent associates with said second phase solution in said lagging phase of said ATPS. In certain embodiments a “one-pot” system of purifying and amplifying a nucleic acid is provided utilizing, e.g., an ATPS and isothermal amplification reagents.

Abstract: A time-resolved fluorescence kit for synchronously detecting 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin. The kit includes an immunochromatography time-resolved fluorescence test strip and a sample reaction bottle containing freeze-dried products of europium-labeled monoclonal antibodies of toxins, where the immunochromatography time-resolved fluorescence test strip includes a liner, where a water absorption pad, a detection pad and a sample pad are sequentially attached to one side of the liner from top to bottom, adjacent pads are connected in an overlapping manner at a joint, the detection pad uses a nitrocellulose membrane as a base pad, a transverse quality control line and detection lines are arranged on the nitrocellulose membrane from top to bottom, the quality control line is coated with a rabbit antimouse polyclonal antibody, the three detection lines are located below the quality control line, and the detection lines each are coated with a toxin-protein conjugate.

Abstract: A method of making a plasmon-resonance biosensor includes conjugating precious metal nanorods with form factor at least 1.5 with a biological probe material. Microfluidic chambers of volume under 0.025 microliter are formed over a substrate, and an aqueous suspension of the conjugated nanorods is injected into the chambers. The nanorods are organized in rows and aligned in long dimension along the rows. The biosensor is configured to be read by obtaining an optical absorption spectrum upon exposure to the analyte. The biosensor includes precious metal nanorods organized in rows with long dimension approximately parallel to the rows. The nanorods are conjugated with biological probes capable of binding to an analyte, the probes may be an aptamer, an antibody, a protein-nucleic acid (PNA), a complimentary DNA, or an enzyme having a binding site.

Abstract: A method for providing variable function medical tests, comprising providing by a mobile device application a plurality of selectable medical test functions, receiving information from the mobile device application regarding test results from a test performed using a testing device, wherein the testing device includes an alignment target disposed on the testing device and a plurality of immunoassay test strips receiving at the server an image of the testing device from the mobile device application, determining by the server RGB values for a plurality of pixels of the image, normalizing by the server the RGB values into a single value, comparing by the server the single value to a control value stored on the server, and providing by the server a risk indicator, wherein the risk indicator indicates a likelihood of a presence of a medical condition.

Abstract: An immunofixation electrophoresis applicator system and method deposits antisera in spaced apart locations on a substrate where the antisera is deposited as an elongated bead in a first direction and retained against migration in a direction transverse to said first direction at least by surface tension.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a detection device capable of detecting a low concentration of an analyte with high sensitivity. The detection apparatus according to the present disclosure comprises a metal microstructure on which a first VHH antibody having a property of binding specifically to the analyte is immobilized and which generate surface plasmon by being irradiated with excitation light, an inlet through which a second VHH antibody and a sample that may contain an analyte are introduced, wherein the second VHH antibody has a property of binding specifically to the analyte and is labeled with a fluorescent substance, a light source for irradiating the metal microstructure to which the second VHH antibody and the sample have been introduced with the excitation light, and a detection unit for detecting the analyte on the basis of fluorescence generated from the fluorescent substance by the irradiation of the excitation light.