Abstract: A system for accurately obtaining cervical cells from a patient and quickly screening the sample includes a collector for collecting a spatially arranged cell sample from a target tissue, and an analyzer that examines the cell sample for abnormal cells while the cell sample remains on a surface of the collector.

Abstract: Cellular samples such as cervical cells can be obtained from a cell suspension and then transferred to a microscope slide for analysis. The cells can be retrieved from the cell suspension using an inexpensive, easy to use device that requires no instruments or ancillary devices, minimal operator skill and training, and is potentially sufficiently low cost that it is suitable for use in mass screening programs.

Abstract: An effective and convenient means exists for registering and correlating two or more microscopic images without imposing unusually stringent requirements of accuracy, precision and resolution on the microscope system. Particular utility is found in examining cervical cell samples.

Abstract: A cervical cell collection device can easily and comfortably be used by a woman in the privacy and comfort of her own home. Once the woman obtains the cervical cell sample, she can be forward it to a physician's office or other lab location for analysis. The collection device includes an outer guide assembly and an inner sampling assembly bearing a collector.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences are disclosed that encode carcinoembryonic antigens (CEAs) as are replicable recombinant cloning vehicles containing DNA that encodes CEA proteins.

Abstract: A nucleic acid comprising a base sequence which codes for a CEA family member peptide sequence or nucleic acids having a base sequence hybridizable therewith, replicable recombinant cloning vehicles having an insert comprising such nucleic acid, cells transfected, infected or injected with such cloning vehicles, polypeptides expressed by such cells, synthetic peptides derived from the coding sequence of CEA family member nucleic acids, antibody preparations specific for such polypeptides, immunoassays for detecting CEA family members using such antibody preparations and nucleic acid hybridization methods for detecting CEA family member nucleic acid sequences using a nucleic acid probe comprising the above described nucleic acid.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies specific for the glycosylated lysine residue at position 525 in glycoalbumin and a method for producing such antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies are useful as reagents in immunoassays for the specific determination of glycoalbumin in human blood samples which is indicative of the severity of the diabetic condition. The monoclonal antibodies are secreted by hybridomas obtained by fusing a myeloma cell with a lymphocyte that has been taken from an animal, usually a mouse, immunized with a peptide immunogen and which produces antibody to the lysine 525 residue in glycoalbumin. The synthetic peptide immunogen comprises a peptide residue which includes an .epsilon.-amino glucosylated lysine and an adjacent amino acid sequence in which at least one of the amino acid units is in a position corresponding to the peptide sequence of human albumin adjacent to lysine 525, the glycosylated peptide residue being linked to an immunogenic carrier.

Abstract: This invention relates to a nucleic acid comprising a base sequence which codes for a CEA family member peptide sequence or nucleic acids having a base sequence hybridizable therewith, replicable recombinant cloning vehicles having an insert comprising such nucleic acid, cells transfected, infected or injected with such cloning vehicles, polypeptides expressed by such cells, synthetic peptides derived from the coding sequence of CEA family member nucleic acids, antibody preparations specific for such polypeptides, immunoassays for detecting CEA family members using such antibody preparations and nucleic acid hybridization methods for detecting CEA family member nucleic acid sequences using a nucleic acid probe comprising the above described nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method for conferring or increasing the antigenicity of a disulfide-crosslinked protein by treating the protein with an oxidizing agent, such as periodate, having an oxidation potential sufficient to cleave disulfide linkages. Excess oxidizing agent is then inactivated by addition of a reducing agent. The resulting protein exhibits an increase in its ability to be bound by select antibodies, particularly monoclonal antibodies directed to linear peptide epitopes in the protein.

Abstract: A photochemical nucleic acid-labeling reagent of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is a photoreactive residue of a nucleic acid-binding ligand; L is a detectable label residue; R is hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 -alkyl, aryl, hydroxy, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 -alkoxy; x is an integer from 2 through 7; and Y is an integer from 3 through 10; wherein R and x, respectively, can be the same or different each time they appear in the formula. The reagent is useful in the highly efficient labeling of nucleic acids for the purpose of detection in hybridization assays.

Abstract: A process for determining the presence of a particular nucleic acid sequence in a test sample comprising(a) chemically modifying nucleic acids in the test sample either to introduce a label or a reactive site in a manner that supports their hybridizability,(b) contacting under hybridization conditions the chemically modified sample nucleic acids with a hybridizable nucleic acid probe which either, when the sample nucleic acids have been modified to introduce a label, carrys a reactive site or, when the sample nucleic acids have been modified to introduce a reactive site, is labeled,(c) contacting the solution resulting from step (b) with a immobilized form of a reactive partner to the reactive site to form a stable bond with the reactive site on the sample nucleic acids or the probe, respectively,(d) separating the resulting immobilized fraction from the remaining solution, and(e) determining the presence of the label in the separated immobilized fraction or a decrease in the label in the remaining solution.

Abstract: A labeled nucleic acid probe comprising (a) a nucleic acid component, (b) a nucleic acid-binding ligand photochemically linked to the nucleic acid component, and (c) a label chemically linked to the nucleic acid-binding ligand. The label can be a specifically bindable ligand such as a hapten or biotin, an enzyme such as a .beta.-galactosidase or horse radish peroxidase, a fluorescent radical, a phycobiliprotein, a luminescent radical, or a radioisotope. The probe can be used in assays of nucleic acids, taking advantage of the ability of the nucleic acid component to hydridize.

Abstract: A chemiluminescence process comprising the contacting of a chemiluminescence precursor, an oxidant, an enzyme, a chemiluminescence enhancer and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia and water-soluble organic amines. The reaction of such process can be used in detection of nucleic acid hybrids, antibodies, antigens and peroxidase enzymes and in producing light.

Abstract: A photochemical nucleic acid-labeling reagent of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is a photoreactive residue of a nucleic acid-binding ligand; L is a detectable label residue; R is hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 -alkyl, aryl, hydroxy, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 -alkoxy; x is an integer from 2 through 7; and y is an integer from 3 through 10; wherein R and x, respectively, can be the same or different each time they appear in the formula. The reagent is useful in the highly efficient labeling of nucleic acids for the purpose of detection in hybridization assays.

Abstract: A chemiluminescence process comprising the contacting of a chemiluminescence precursor, an oxidant, an enzyme and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia and a water-soluble organic amine. The reaction of such process can be used in detection of nucleic acid hybrids, antibodies, antigens and peroxidase enzymes and in producing light.

Abstract: In passing labeled cells through a cell sorter, the improvement which comprises employing a labeled cell comprising a cell, an antibody specific to and bound to such cell, a nucleic acid fragment joined to said antibody, and a plurality of labels on said nucleic acid fragment. Because of the presence of multiple labels, the sensitivity of the separation of labeled cells is increased.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing an oligonucleotide comprising linking a nucleoside phosphate to a solid support, through the heterocyclic moiety of the nucleoside, coupling a mono- or oligonucleotide to the nucleoside phosphate through its phosphate moiety, in at least one step enzymatically lengthening the mono- or oligonucleotide, cleaving the resultant oligonucleotide from the solid support-nucleoside phosphate at the phosphate moiety of the nucleoside, and separating the oligonucleotide. After cleaving and separating the solid support-nucleoside phosphate is recycled for further coupling. Advantageously the solid support-nucleoside phosphate is phosphorylated between separation and recycling.

Abstract: A method is provided of making an oligonucleotide which comprises hybridizing (a) a shorter fragment of the desired oligonucleotide with (b) a nucleic acid fragment longer than (a) and complementary to the desired oligonucleotide, one of (a) and (b) is linked to an organic radical which differentiates its physical properties relative to the other of (a) and (b), contacting the hybridized material with an enzyme and nucleoside triphosphates whereby the shorter fragment is extended in one direction until it is substantially coterminal with the complementary nucleic acid fragment, denaturing the hybridized material and separating lengthened (a) from (b).

Abstract: A nucleic acid probe capable of participating in a chemiluminescent reaction comprising a defined nucleic acid sequence, the sequence being linked to any one ofa. a chemiluminescence precursor,b. a chemiluminescence enhancer, andc. an enzyme the remaining two of (a), (b) and (c) not linked to the sequence being in a mixture of the linked sequence. A method for determining a particular single stranded polynucleotide sequence in a test medium, comprising the steps of:(a) combining the test medium with a polynucleotide probe having a base sequence substantially complementary to the sequence to be determined,(b) labeling either the resulting hybrids or probe which has not hybridized with the sequence to be determined with one of the participants in an enhanced chamiluminescent reaction involving a chemiluminescent precursor, an enzyme, an oxidant, and a chemiluminescence enhancer,(c) initiating such chemiluminent reaction with the labeled hybrid or probe, and(d) detecting the resulting light emission.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detection probe comprising a hybridizable single stranded portion of nucleic acid connected with a non-hybridizable, single or double stranded nucleic acid portion, the non-hybridizable portion preferably including a recognition site for binding by a particular protein. Such recognition site can be a region of singly or doubly stranded nucleic acid specific for a particular nucleic acid binding protein such as lac repressor protein or can be a modified nucleic acid region such as a unique antigenic determinant introduced by interaction of the region with a modifier compound such as an intercalating agent or a platinum-containing ligand. The probe-binding protein can be labeled for ease of detection and in the case of an antigenic determinant binding site can be labeled antibody.