Abstract: Methods for detecting the presence and/or volume and/or identity of liquid in a transparent carrier include directing a light source towards the carrier; recording an image of light refracted by the carrier with a camera; and deriving information regarding the presence and/or volume of the liquid in the carrier from the recorded image of the light refracted by the carrier. Devices for detecting the presence and/or volume and/or identity of liquid in a transparent carrier include a camera directed towards the carrier; a light source directed towards the carrier; and means for recording an image of light from the light source as refracted by the carrier and captured by the camera.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of nucleic acid amplification, and in particular in transcription-based amplification, providing improvements thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides primers, and methods for using them, that improve transcription-based amplification reactions, in particular multiplex reactions.

Abstract: The present invention is related to nucleic acid sequences that can be used in the field of virus diagnostics, more specifically the diagnosis of infections with the AIDS causing Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV). With the present invention nucleotide sequences are provided that can be used as primers and probes in the amplification and detection of HIV-1 nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences provided with the present invention are located in the LTR part of the HIV viral genome. It has been found that, by using the sequences of the present invention in methods for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid a sensitive and specific detection of HIV-1 can be obtained. The benefit of the sequences of the present invention primarily resides in the fact that, with the aid of primers and probes comprising the sequences according to the invention the nucleic acid of all presently known subtypes of HIV-1 can be detected with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the detection of an analyte in a droplet of fluid comprising the steps of providing a solid phase with a hydrophobic surface comprising at least one capture zone on which at least one binding agent with affinity for the analyte is immobilized, applying said droplet to the surface of said solid phase, applying a force that makes the droplet travel along the surface of said solid phase along a predetermined path thereby allowing the droplet to repeatedly contact said binding agent on the capture zone, applying conditions wherein said analyte is allowed to bind to said binding agent and detecting a complex of analyte and binding reagent at the position of the capture zone. The effect of a moving droplet is that the reactants in the droplet are well mixed which eliminates the risk of diffusion limitation. Such advantageous mixing is not obtained with conventional assays in which the surface is continuously exposed to the liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a pair of oligonucleotide primers for the amplification of HSV nucleic acid comprising: a) an oligonucleotide, 10-50 nucleotides in length, preferably 10-35 nucleotides in length, comprising at least a fragment of 10 nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 5?-ACGTTCACCAAGCTGCTGCT-3?, or its complementary sequence and b) an oligonucleotide, 10-50 nucleotides in length, preferably 10-35 nucleotides in length, comprising at least a fragment of 10 nucleotides of a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 5?CCAGGGCCCTGGAGGTGCGG-3?, or its complementary sequence. The invention also relates to probes, method for amplifying an HSV DNA target, method of specific ou aspecific detection of HSV type 1 and 2 and test kit to do possible the detection of HSV. The present invention is especially useful in methods for practicing nucleic acid test.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use in a diagnostic hybridization assay of a molecular beacon probe for lowering: the effect of sequence variations in a nucleic acid analyte, and/or the IBL effect due to the possible opening of the stem-loop structure of a molecular beacon by way of (contaminants in the amplification) enzymes, which assay comprises the steps of contacting a set of primers and a sample containing the nucleic acid analyte to amplify the analyte and detecting the amplified analyte or its complement using a molecular beacon probe, wherein the molecular beacon probe comprises one or more nucleotides and/or nucleotide analogues that have an affinity increasing modification. The invention also relates to such molecular beacon probe and to a kit for performing a diagnostic assay using such molecular beacon probe.

Abstract: The present invention is related to devices for manipulating magnetic particles that are suspended in a fluid, possibly containing a biological entity of interest, the magnetic particles being able to bind the entity of interest, the fluid being contained in a reaction vessel constituted by a large upper compartment with a funnel shape, an elongate lower compartment with a substantially constant cross-section and a closed base. The devices are especially useful in methods for the extraction of nucleic acid to enable them for further processing.

Abstract: The present invention is related to nucleic acid sequences that can be used in the field of virus diagnostics, more specifically the diagnosis of infections with a novel human coronavirus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). With the present invention nucleotide sequences are provided that can be used as primers and probes in the amplification and detection of SARS nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences provided with the present invention are located in the replicase gene, the nucleocapsid gene and the 3? end non-coding region of the SARS Coronavirus genome. It has been found that, by using the sequences of the present invention in methods for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid a sensitive and specific detection of SARS Coronavirus can be obtained. The oligonucleotide sequences according to the present invention are especially useful in methods for the amplification of nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening an individual for the presence in his/her genome of a genetic marker that is indicative of an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis, wherein the genetic marker is haplotype 2 of the fibrinogen ? gene (FGG-H2) as given in FIG. 5A. The genetic marker comprises a set of one, two, three or four mutations in the nucleic acid material encoding fibrinogen ?, the mutations being selected from the group consisting of 129A/T (rs2066854), 7874G/A (rs20668?1), 9615?C/T (rs2066864) and 10034C/T (rs2066865).

Abstract: A process for manipulating magnetic particles suspended in a fluid that are able to bind to an entity of interest, the fluid being contained in a reaction vessel having a large funnel shaped upper compartment, an elongate lower compartment of substantially constant cross-section and a closed base. The process consists of: a) subjecting the magnetic particles to two simultaneously applied magnetic fields to separate all said magnetic particles present in at least the upper compartment of the vessel from the fluid, b) transferring the separated magnetic particles from the upper compartment to the lower compartment, c) removing the fluid from the vessel, d) adding a washing liquid to the lower compartment, e) subjecting the magnetic particles to at least two magnetic fields applied successively with changing directions to wash all the magnetic particles present in the lower compartment, and concentrating said magnetic particles in said lower compartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for amplification of a target RNA sequence, wherein the first primer comprises a hybridizing sequence of 7 to 14 nucleotides, which is capable of binding to a first segment of the target RNA sequence, a transcription enhancing sequence, and an anchor which is capable of binding to a second segment of the target RNA sequence, and/or wherein the second primer comprises a hybridizing sequence of 7 to 14 nucleotides, an amplification enhancing sequence and an anchor which is capable of binding to a second segment of the first single stranded cDNA. The invention further relates to primers for the amplification of target RNA sequences and to a kit comprising one or more of the primers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the transcription based amplification of a target HBV nucleic acid sequence starting from HBV DNA optionally present in a sample, comprising the steps of, —incubating the sample, suspected to contain HBV, in an amplification buffer with one or more restriction enzymes capable of cleaving the HBV DNA at a selected restriction site, said restriction enzyme creating a defined 3? end of said HBV DNA stand(s), a promoter-primer, said promoter-primer having a 5? region comprising the sequence of a promoter recognized by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a 3? region complementary to the define 3? end of the DNA strand, a second or reverse primer, having the opposite polarity of the promoter-primer and comprising the 5? end of the said target sequence, and in case of HBV ssDNA as the target sequence, a restriction primer, maintaining the thus created reaction mixture under the appropriate conditions for a sufficient amount of time for a digestion by the restriction enzyme

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for amplification of a target RNA sequence, wherein the first primer comprises a hybridizing sequence of 7 to 14 nucleotides, which is capable of binding to a first segment of the target RNA sequence, a transcription enhancing sequence, and an anchor which is capable of binding to a second segment of the target RNA sequence, and/or wherein the second primer comprises a hybridizing sequence of 7 to 14 nucleotides, an amplification enhancing sequence and an anchor which is capable of binding to a second segment of the first single stranded cDNA. The invention further relates to primers for the amplification of target RNA sequences and to a kit comprising one or more of the primers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide reagent comprising peptides immunochemically reactive with antibodies to the human cytomegalovirus (CMV). New antibodies directed to said peptides or fragments thereof are also part of the invention. Also cell lines capable of producing monoclonal antibodies are part of the invention. The invention also relates to a method for the detection of CMV or antibodies directed against CMV in a test fluid and a test kit to be used when applying the said detection methods. Detection of CMV in a test fluid or tissue specimen using antibodies, monoclonal and polyclonal, directed to said peptide, which have the characteristics of detecting both native and denatured DMV proteins are also part of said invention.

Abstract: The present invention is related to nucleic acid sequences that can be used in the field of virus diagnostics, more specifically the diagnosis of infections with the AIDS causing Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV). With the present invention nucleotide sequences are provided that can be used as primers and probes in the amplification and detection of HIV-1 nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences provided with the present invention are located in the LTR part of the HIV viral genome. It has been found that, by using the sequences of the present invention in methods for the amplification and detection of nucleic acid a sensitive and specific detection of HIV-1 can be obtained. The benefit of the sequences of the present invention primarily resides in the fact that, with the aid of primers and probes comprising the sequences according to the invention the nucleic acid of all presently known subtypes of HIV-1 can be detected with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of magnetic or magnetizable particles, and, in particular, to methods of mixing magnetic or (super)paramagnetic particles efficiently with a fluid and the separation of the magnetic particles from a fluid, optionally followed by resuspension of the particles in another fluid. The present invention provides a method of mixing, in one or more container(s), magnetic or (super)paramagnetic particles with a fluid, using more than one magnets, whereby the containers are subjected to magnetic fields with different and changing directions by moving the magnets with respect to the position of the container(s) and/or by moving the containers with respect to the positions of the magnets. The invention further provided a device for doing the same.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the detection of bacteria, such as Mycobacteria, in human or animal body fluids such as blood, sputum and urine. The present invention provides a method for assessing the viability of bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis without the need for propagation of the bacteria. The method of the present invention is in particular useful for assessing the viability of Mycobacteria species such as are M. tuberculosis or M. leprae. With the present invention oligonucleotides are provided that can be used as primers and probes for the amplification of bacterial EF-Tu mRNA. The use of the oligonucleotides according to the invention is not limited to any particular amplification technique or any particular modification thereof. It is evident that the oligonucleotides according to the invention find their use in many different nucleic aid amplification techniques and various methods for detecting the presence of (amplified) bacterial EF-Tu mRNA.