Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to collecting samples of soft matter compositions, and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices and methods for collecting stool samples.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to processing samples. In particular, the technology provides articles of manufacture, apparatuses, and methods related to purifying an analyte from a sample matrix using magnetic particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for determination of and uses of specific methylation patterns indicative of adenoma and carcinoma. In particular, the invention relates to analysis of defined CpG loci that are coordinately methylated in DNAs from cancer and adenoma samples, methods for identifying coordinately methylated loci, and methods of using analysis of coordinately methylated loci in one or more marker regions in the design of assays for adenoma and cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for detecting supracolonic aerodigestive premalignant and malignant neoplasms. Specifically, the invention provides methods and materials for determining whether a stool sample from a mammal contains a neoplasm-specific marker from a neoplasm located in the supracolonic aerodigestive tissue of a mammal.

Abstract: Improved methods for the separation, isolation, enrichment, or detection of target molecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, within dilute or heterogeneous samples, such as bodily fluids, excreta or tissue samples, are disclosed. The methods include repetitively and rapidly passing a sample across at least one region of a conduit in which at least one region includes a binding partner specific for the target molecule. In certain methods, at least one other region includes binding partners specific for non-target molecules. The sample may be passed over the binding partner in the same direction if the conduit is a loop or in an antiparallel direction (i.e., back and forth over the binding partner). In an embodiment, the sample is electrophoresed through or over an electrophoretic medium, in which at least one region includes a binding partner for the target molecule. The invention also provides apparatus and sample preparation systems adapted for use in the methods.

Abstract: Methods for capturing and characterizing low frequency nucleic acid molecules indicative of diseases such as cancer (e.g. adenomas or early stage cancers) are provided. In some aspects, a low complexity capture technique is combined with a high complexity analytical technique. In some aspects, samples may be analyzed using a digital analysis and/or a single molecule sequencing technique.

Abstract: Methods of detecting target molecules using electrophoresis and media containing immobilized capture are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for detection of genomic variation. The invention may be used to analyze nucleic acid sequences to detect low frequency mutations in a sample and/or screen for the presence of a disease.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for detecting and monitoring diseases associated with genetic abnormalities in a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing nucleic acid containing biological samples for a nucleic acid integrity assay and/or multiple mutation analysis by incubating the biological sample with a stabilization solution that includes a buffer, a chelating agent and a salt.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for detecting supracolonic aerodigestive premalignant and malignant neoplasms. Specifically, the invention provides methods and materials for determining whether a stool sample from a mammal contains a neoplasm-specific marker from a neoplsm located in the supracolonic aerodigestive tissue of a mammal.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to clinical triage protocols for screening a patient population using virtual imaging techniques, for example, virtual colonoscopy. Methods for increasing the specificity of a virtual imaging procedure are provided. In aspects of the invention, colonic effluents are analyzed using one or more molecular detection assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting disease by analysis of a patient sample to determine the integrity of nucleic acids in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the status of an H. pylori infection by detecting a high-integrity H. pylori nucleic acid in a patient sample.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for screening tissue or body fluid samples for nucleic acid indicia of cancer or precancer.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for screening tissue or body fluid samples for nucleic acid indicia of cancer or precancer. Method are provided for screening a patient for cancer or precancer by detecting the presence of nucleic acid fragments that are longer than nucleic acid fragments expected to be present in a sample obtained from a healthy individual. In one embodiment, a positive screen for cancer or precancer is identified when a patient tissue or body fluid sample comprising exfoliated cells or cellular debris contains an amount of nucleic acid of a length greater than about 200 base pairs that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting disease by analysis of a patient sample to determine the integrity of nucleic acids in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the status of an H. pylori infection by detecting a high-integrity H. pylori nucleic acid in a patient sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits and methods for screening drugs and drug candidates for activity by determining the presence or absence of high integrity nucleic acid in a sample.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for detecting contamination in a PCR reaction. Methods of the invention are especially useful for detection of contamination in heterogeneous samples containing a rare nucleic acid to be detected.