Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, reagent kits, and compositions for performing a bisulfite conversion of DNA directly from a biological sample including a patient's urine sample or a slide-mounted FFPE tissue sample. For example, a method of performing a bisulfite conversion of DNA can comprise certain preliminary steps for processing the biological sample and transferring a portion of the processed sample into a reaction vessel containing a bisulfite mixture. The method can further comprise heating the reaction vessel containing the biological sample and the bisulfite mixture at several heating temperatures and subsequently holding the reaction vessel at a holding temperature for a holding period. The method can also comprise certain bisulfite removal steps, desulfonation steps, and removal of the desulfonation solution. A final elution step can yield the converted DNA for further downstream sequencing and analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, reagent kits, and compositions for performing a bisulfite conversion of DNA directly from a biological sample including a patient's urine sample or a slide-mounted FFPE tissue sample. For example, a method of performing a bisulfite conversion of DNA can comprise certain preliminary steps for processing the biological sample and transferring a portion of the processed sample into a reaction vessel containing a bisulfite mixture. The method can further comprise heating the reaction vessel containing the biological sample and the bisulfite mixture at several heating temperatures and subsequently holding the reaction vessel at a holding temperature for a holding period. The method can also comprise certain bisulfite removal steps, desulfonation steps, and removal of the desulfonation solution. A final elution step can yield the converted DNA for further downstream sequencing and analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing a DNA library directly from a stool sample. The method comprises applying the stool sample directly to a buffer, heating and cooling the buffer, separating a supernatant within the buffer from a precipitate using centrifugation, and transferring the supernatant into a first reaction vessel containing a first reagent mixture to yield a first reaction mixture. The method also comprises subjecting the first reaction mixture to a first PCR protocol, purifying amplicons within the first reaction vessel through a first purification procedure to yield a purified target amplicon solution, transferring the purified target amplicon solution to a second reaction vessel comprising a second reagent mixture to yield a second reaction mixture, and subjecting the second reaction mixture to a second PCR protocol. The method further comprises purifying index-tagged amplicons within the second reaction vessel through a second purification procedure to yield the DNA library.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for preparing a DNA library from slide-mounted FFPE tissue samples for downstream next-generation sequencing. In one embodiment, a method of preparing the DNA library is disclosed. The method can comprise applying a droplet of a reagent mixture onto a slide-mounted FFPE tissue sample. The reagent mixture can comprise one or more buffer solutions, a cofactor, a nonionic surfactant, a glycerol solution, a gelatin solution, dNTPs, a DNA polymerase, and a primer pool comprising a plurality of forward primers and reverse primers. The method can also comprise stirring the droplet in a circular motion on the slide while scraping portions of the FFPE tissue sample mounted on the slide to yield a reaction mixture. The method can further comprise aspirating the reaction mixture from the slide directly into a pipette tip and dispensing the reaction mixture into a reaction vessel for further amplification.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and diagnostic kits for the rapid detection of certain types of ?-thalassemia and ?-thalassemia. In some embodiments, a diagnostic kit, reagents, and methods are disclosed for the rapid detection of various ?-thalassemia and ?-thalassemia genotypes in multiple patient samples using real-time PCR. More specifically, in certain embodiments, diagnostic kits, reagents, and methods are disclosed for the rapid detection of up to seven different ?-thalassemia genotypes and twenty different ?-thalassemia genotypes in one single multiplex real-time PCR reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions, and diagnostic kits for the rapid detection of certain types of ?-thalassemia and ?-thalassemia. In some embodiments, a diagnostic kit, reagents, and methods are disclosed for the rapid detection of various ?-thalassemia and ?-thalassemia genotypes in multiple patient samples using real-time PCR. More specifically, in certain embodiments, diagnostic kits, reagents, and methods are disclosed for the rapid detection of up to seven different ?-thalassemia genotypes and twenty different ?-thalassemia genotypes in one single multiplex real-time PCR reaction.

Abstract: A fast acting sensor designed to accommodate an aqueous analyte-containing sample having a volume of less than one microliter and that can be used to quantify the amount and concentration of such analyte in the sample through light reflectance or fiber-optic light reflectance. The sensor includes a storage chamber, a capillary passage, and a reaction membrane. The storage chamber acts to collect the sample and to secure such sample while it undergoes detection. The capillary passage acts to direct the sample over the reaction membrane and controls the diffusion of the sample in the storage chamber. The reaction membrane contains all of the chemicals and enzymes needed to cause a color-change reaction when contacted with the sample. The amount of analyte can be determined by light reflectance intensity with an optical measurement instrument.

Abstract: A fast acting sensor designed to accommodate an aqueous analyte-containing sample having a volume of less than one microliter and that can be used to quantify the amount and concentration of such analyte in the sample through light reflectance or fiber-optic light reflectance. The sensor includes a storage chamber, a capillary passage, and a reaction membrane. The storage chamber acts to collect the sample and to secure such sample while it undergoes detection. The capillary passage acts to direct the sample over the reaction membrane and controls the diffusion of the sample in the storage chamber. The reaction membrane contains all of the chemicals and enzymes needed to cause a color-change reaction when contacted with the sample. The amount of analyte can be determined by light reflectance intensity with an optical measurement instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry fluorescence biosensor strip for rapid detection of a target analyte present in bodily fluids. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip comprises a sample receptacle and a dry detection membrane. The sample receptacle receives a sample of one of the bodily fluids. The dry detection membrane detects presence of the target analyte in the received sample based on fluorescence induced on the dry detection membrane. Fluorescent signals are emitted from the dry detection membrane on induction of fluorescence. A fluorometer quantifies measurable properties of the target analyte based on the emitted fluorescent signals. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip may further comprise a filtration membrane for filtering the received sample. The filtered sample migrates from the filtration membrane to the dry detection membrane. The dry detection membrane may then detect presence of the target analyte in the filtered sample.

Abstract: A sensor designed to accommodate an aqueous analyte sample having a volume of less than 1 ?L and can be used to quantify the amount and concentration of such analyte through light reflectance or fiber-optic light reflectance. The sensor includes a reaction membrane and a fixed-volume sample chamber. The fixed-volume sample chamber acts to collect the sample and to secure such sample while it undergoes detection. The reaction membrane contains all of the chemicals and enzymes needed to cause a color reaction when contacted with the sample. The amount of analyte can be determined by light reflectance intensity. The sensor can be used with a meter for in-vitro clinical diagnosis and for patient self-monitoring of a physical condition, such as blood glucose levels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dry fluorescence biosensor strip for rapid detection of a target analyte present in bodily fluids. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip comprises a sample receptacle and a dry detection membrane. The sample receptacle receives a sample of one of the bodily fluids. The dry detection membrane detects presence of the target analyte in the received sample based on fluorescence induced on the dry detection membrane. Fluorescent signals are emitted from the dry detection membrane on induction of fluorescence. A fluorometer quantifies measurable properties of the target analyte based on the emitted fluorescent signals. The dry fluorescence biosensor strip may further comprise a filtration membrane for filtering the received sample. The filtered sample migrates from the filtration membrane to the dry detection membrane. The dry detection membrane may then detect presence of the target analyte in the filtered sample.