Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro method for determining the resistance or sensitivity of a cell line or patient sample to a deoxyribonucleoside kinase-dependent drug, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (i) treating a patient sample or cell line, or a portion thereof, with a deoxyribonucleoside kinase-dependent drug; (ii) lysing the cells of the patient sample or cell line from step (i); (iii) optionally, mixing a portion of the cell lysate from step (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for deoxyribonucleoside kinase; (iv) mixing a portion of the cell lysate from (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for a deoxyribonucleoside kinase and a deoxyribonucleoside kinase transcription promoter; (v) mixing a portion of the cell lysate from step (ii) with a bioluminescent reporter bacteria incorporating a gene coding for a deoxyribonucleoside kinase, a deoxyribonucleoside kinase transcription promoter and a dephosphorylating agent

Abstract: A valve for a reagent bottle is provided, the valve including a resilient membrane configured to extend across an opening in the reagent bottle, the resilient membrane having at least one slit extending therethrough. Also disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a probe assembly having a probe adapted for insertion into the reagent bottle through the valve and an extraction mechanism for drawing reagent out of the reagent bottle through the probe. A valve opening assembly is provided, which is adapted to open the valve of the reagent bottle such that the probe can pass through the valve without contacting the valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay method for detecting or determining the amount of salvinorin A, salvinorin B and/or analogues thereof in an in vitro sample, an antibody for salvinorin A, salvinorin B and/or analogues thereof and a kit for detecting the presence of or determining the amount of salvinorin A, salvinorin B and its analogues thereof in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides biomarker-based methods for diagnosing stroke in a patient suspected of having suffered a stroke, and also for discriminating between ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. Substrates comprising probes for specific combinations of biomarkers useful in the methods of the invention are also described.

Abstract: The invention describes epistatic interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms on genes associated with blood pressure and provides an application for their use in a method to determine an individual's susceptibility to hypertension and hence whether anti-hypertensive treatment will be beneficial for said individual. In addition gene expression levels are also linked to blood pressure and may also be used to determine susceptibility to hypertension.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel immunogens, antibodies, methods and kits for use in immunoassays to detect and quantify zaleplon, metabolites of zaleplon and indiplon. These are the first described immunoassays for these compounds and have greater sensitivity than alternative analytical techniques.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of detecting bladder cancer including assaying a patient sample for the levels of certain combinations of biomarkers. The disclosure also relates to methods for determining the efficacy of a drug for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Abstract: A capacitive liquid level sensor is provided comprising a capacitive probe having a capacitance and comprising a sensing tip wherein the capacitive probe is configured such that the capacitance of the probe changes when the sensing tip is exposed to liquid. A signal generator operates to supply an electrical signal alternating between a high and low state to the capacitive probe, the electrical signal being configured such that the probe is alternately charged and discharged when the signal is high or low respectively. A comparator operates to detect the magnitude of an electrical signal across the capacitive probe and provides a first output signal value when the detected signal magnitude is greater than a predetermined threshold value and a second output signal value when the signal magnitude is less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A biochip well is disclosed, including a vessel containing a well therewithin, the vessel forming at least base and side walls of the well and defining at least one aperture giving access to the well, and further including retaining means for holding a biochip at a predetermined position within the well, the well including a laterally offset region into which the biochip does not protrude when held at the predetermined position by the retaining means. Also disclosed are sealed well assemblies and apparatus and methods for opening sealed wells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for identifying whether a subject is more or less likely to be responsive to VEGF-based therapy, comprising screening a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject to provide output information which identifies the presence or absence of an allelic variant, wherein the presence or absence of an allelic variant indicates whether the subject is more or less likely to be responsive to VEGF-based therapy.

Abstract: A valve for a reagent bottle is provided, the valve including a resilient membrane configured to extend across an opening in the reagent bottle, the resilient membrane having at least one slit extending therethrough. Also disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a probe assembly having a probe adapted for insertion into the reagent bottle through the valve and an extraction mechanism for drawing reagent out of the reagent bottle through the probe. A valve opening assembly is provided, which is adapted to open the valve of the reagent bottle such that the probe can pass through the valve without contacting the valve.

Abstract: Assay device processing apparatus includes a rotatably mounted assay device vessel support; and a drive for rotating the support. The support is rotatable about a substantially horizontal first axis so that, upon rotation, an assay device vessel attached to the support can be inverted.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel immunogens, antibodies, methods and kits for use in immunoassays to detect and quantify zaleplon, metabolites of zaleplon and indiplon. These are the first described immunoassays for these compounds and have greater sensitivity than alternative analytical techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a subject and methods of determining the prognosis in patients with AD. The adhesion molecules P-selectin and L-selectin are described for the first time for use as biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of AD. The invention further describes the use of one or more of L-selectin, MCP-1, IL-1?, IL-8 and IFN-? to aid in the prognosis of either accelerated cognitive decline (ACD) or slow cognitive decline (SCD) in patients with AD.

Abstract: The invention describes a practical and robust multi-antibody approach to the sensitive immunodetection and determination of the drug of abuse m-chlorophenyl piperazine (mCPP). The invention also describes methods and kits for mCPP detection in an in vitro sample.

Abstract: An assay for measuring the amount of a first analyte in a sample, comprises the steps of: (i) contacting the sample with a device that comprises one or more first reaction sites which comprise a first ligand having affinity for the first analyte, and a series of second reaction sites each comprising different known concentrations of an immobilized second analyte; (ii) removing any unbound first analyte; (iii) contacting the device with a second ligand that is detectably labelled and which has affinity for the first analyte, and a third ligand that is detectably labelled and which has affinity for the second analyte; (iv) removing any unbound second and third ligands; and (v) measuring the amount of second and third ligands, wherein measurement of the third ligand is used to establish a calibration curve, used to determine the amount of first analyte present in sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immunoassay method for detecting or determining the amount of salvinorin A, salvinorin B and/or analogues thereof in an in vitro sample, an antibody for salvinorin A, salvinorin B and/or analogues thereof and a kit for detecting the presence of or determining the amount of salvinorin A, salvinorin B and its analogues thereof in a sample.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the presence or risk of cancer in a patient, comprises the steps of: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome; and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene characterized by any of the nucleotide sequences identified as SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No. 10 and SEQ ID No. 13 wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.