Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosis which identifies one or more individual cells and comprises determining at least one of a cell dimension and a cell area, and determining at least one of dark/light cell contrast characteristics, cell area characteristics, cell colour characteristics, cell roughness characteristics, distances between cell nuclei and cell convexity. A computer readable medium, a computer apparatus and a diagnostic system is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a diagnostic/prognostic assay for prostate cancer and including kits used in said assay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosis which identifies one or more individual cells and comprises determining at least one of a cell dimension and a cell area, and determining at least one of dark/light cell contrast characteristics, cell area characteristics, cell colour characteristics, cell roughness characteristics, distances between cell nuclei and cell convexity. A computer readable medium, a computer apparatus and a diagnostic system is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a diagnostic/prognostic assay for prostate cancer and including kits used in said assay.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting a subject suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, bladder cancer the method comprising i) providing a body fluid sample isolated from a subject; ii) isolating cells from said sample to provide a cell sample; iii) contacting the sample with a specific binding member capable of binding to a minichromosome maintenance (MCM) polypeptide(s); iv) determining the binding of said specific binding member to the cell sample; v) counting those cells in said cell sample which bound to said specific binding member to provide a cell count; vi) determining, based on the cell count, whether the subject has, or is at risk of having, bladder cancer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of detecting or determining the presence of prostate cancer cells in a sample of body fluid from a subject comprising: (i) isolating cells from said sample to provide a cell sample; (ii) contacting said cell sample with a specific binding member capable of binding a prostate antigen; and/or (iii) contacting said cell sample with a specific binding member capable of binding a minichromosome maintenance (MCM) polypeptide(s); and (iv) determining the binding of said specific binding member(s) to the cell sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting cells from a fluid so as to preserve the integrity of the cells when used in the diagnosis of cancer. The apparatus comprises a filter adapted to collect cells of a predetermined size, a fluid pathway arranged to transmit fluid to and from the filter, a pump which provide a positive pressure which urges the fluid to the filter along the fluid pathway and a negative pressure which draws the fluid from the filter along the fluid pathway and which operates to pass the sample through the filter in a first direction to collect cells on the filter. A second pump operates to pass a cell preservative fluid through the filter in a second direction to remove cells from the filter for collection. A controller is provided to regulate the flow of fluid along the fluid pathway. The method and apparatus provides a gentle pressure gradient which minimises damage to the cells during the process of filtration and collection.