Abstract: A biometric device, comprising a solid support suitable for receiving biological material and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. A processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analysing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: A data storage medium is disclosed comprising a solid support matrix including an optional stabilising reagent or reagents in a dry form, for use as a support for artificially synthesised oligonucleotide sequences encoded with data. Preferably the matrix is fibrous (for example cellulose, or glass, fibres) formed into a support of sufficient strength to hold the oligonucleotide sequences. The stabilising reagents are preferably a combination of a weak base, and a chelating agent, optionally, uric acid or a urate salt, and optionally an anionic surfactant.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and kits for isothermal nucleic acid amplifications that use a target nucleic acid template; a reaction mixture comprising a DNA polymerase having a strand displacement activity, a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) mixture, a primer with a 3? end and a 5? end, a molecular crowding reagent, and a buffer solution for amplifying the target nucleic acid template. The buffer solution maintains a low salt concentration of the reaction mixture, and wherein the salt concentration results in a melting temperature (Tm) of the primer at least 10° C. below the reaction temperature. The amplification is effected under isothermal condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for capturing the spatial molecular profiling of a biological mass formed from biological material, comprising the steps of: a) providing a transected biological mass, for example a tumour, the transection exposing at least a portion of the mass; b) providing a solid support of an area at least equalling the area of said portion of the mass; c) transferring biological material from the portion of the mass to the support to provide on the support a two dimensional imprint of the biological material present at the portion of the mass; and d) performing a biological assay of the transferred biological material from different predetermined locations of the imprint in order to determine the spatial molecular profile of the portion of the mass.

Abstract: There is disclosed a biometric device (10), comprising a solid support (14) suitable for receiving biological material (S) and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit (16) including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. Also disclosed is a processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analyzing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: A microfluidic device 100 is disclosed comprising a body112 including a biological sample S and/or reagent R receiving slot 122. The sample and reagent are carried on a solid support 10. The device 100 includes two punch assemblies 130 for removing portions of the solid support 10 and delivering them, together with the sample and/or reagent(s), to a receiving chamber 126 for subsequent processing. The device can be used for various assays including those which require just the addition of water in the reaction chamber with no pre-treatment of sample prior delivery into the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microfluidic device including a reagent supply apparatus comprising: a solid support 12 formed preferably from cellulose fibrous material having a porosity which allows liquid flow through the material; at least one generally dry reagent 16 stored on a surface of the support at a regent location or locations; the support further being suitable for storing biological sample material 17 in a dry state at a sample location or locations, spaced from the reagent location or locations.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods and kits for capturing sperm nucleic acids from or in a biological sample. In one embodiment the method the method comprises, contacting the sample with a lysis solution, having a protamine-DNA complex, to lyse the cell and applying a protamine-specific antibody. This results in the protamine-specific antibody binding to the protamine-DNA to form a complex which may be captured, purified, or detected. Also provided are kits for carrying out the disclosed methods.

Abstract: There is disclosed a biometric device (10), comprising a solid support (14) suitable for receiving biological material (S) and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit (16) including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. Also disclosed is a processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analysing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solid supports that are used for the storage and further processing of biological materials. The invention is particularly concerned with solid supports which have at least one surface coated with a chemical that enhances the recovery of the biological material from the support. Methods of preparing and using the solid supports are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to paper supports for neonatal screening that are used for the storage and further processing of biological materials. The invention is particularly concerned with paper supports which have at least one surface coated with a chemical that enhances the recovery of the biological material from the support. Methods of preparing and using the paper supports are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solid supports that are used for the storage and further processing of biological materials. The invention is particularly concerned with solid supports which have at least one surface coated with a chemical mixture that enhances the recovery of the biological material from the support. Methods of preparing and using the solid supports are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for determining the toxicity of an agent on a population of eukaryotic cells, particularly human cells. The cells may comprise a nucleic acid construct comprising a DNA damage induced response element operably linked to a sequence encoding a reporter gene. The multiplex methods and kits provide means for distinguishing between genotoxic and cytotoxic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of detecting agents that cause or may potentiate DNA damage, and to assays that may be employed in such methods. In particular, the invention relates to methods of detecting DNA damage in in vitro cultures of human cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and cell based assays for testing for the binding of a ligand to a human Ether-a-go-go-related (hERG) voltage-gated potassium ion channel protein in an enzyme complementation assay. The invention is of particular use in toxicological and drug screening, particularly for high throughput screening.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and kits for predicting the effect of a chemical on a developmental pathway. In particular, the invention relates to methods and kits for predicting the toxicity of a chemical on human developmental pathways. The methods and kits of the invention can be used for predicting changes in a cellular biomap or a developmental pathway during human foetal development.

Abstract: This invention provides a simple and convenient, single stage, single vessel cell extraction and assay method which is suitable for the extraction and measurement of a range of different types of analyte which occur as cellular components. The invention also provides kits of reagents suitable for performing cellular extraction and measurement as a single stage, single vessel process.