Abstract: The present disclosure provides an assay cartridge used in a PCR-based molecular diagnostic device. In one embodiment, the assay cartridge comprises (1) an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of compartments arranged between the proximal end and the distal end, said plurality of compartments include at least a first pipette tip holder near the proximal end, and a second pipette tip holder near the distal end; and (2) a seal assembly covering the elongated body comprising a rigid frame which matches the top periphery of the elongated body, and an elastic top mounted on the rigid frame, the elastic top comprising a first sub-portion near the proximal end comprising a first ring structure that matches the first pipette holder, and a second sub-portion near the distal end comprising a second ring structure that matches the second pipette holder.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices and methods associates with processing and analyzing samples for molecular diagnostics. The system may process samples using assay cartridges including sample preparation modules and PCR modules. The system may include thermal cycler modules and optics modules to detect the specific nucleic acid sequences in the samples.

Abstract: Nucleic acid detection probes that comprise a pair of complementary, fluorophore/quencher labeled oligonucleotides, one of which is shorter than the other, are able to detect single-stranded and double-stranded targets in hybridization reactions and amplification reactions with real-time detection. Double-stranded probes of equal length are useful in PCR amplification reactions with real-time detection.