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.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which can he used to predict the risk of cancer, in particular breast cancer. The method comprises: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome: and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene comprised within the sequence identified herein as SEQ ID No. 1, wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an array chip, comprising the steps of: i) depositing at least one ligand onto the active surface of a wafer substrate, having at least one scribe line, the active surface being the reverse of the surface comprising the at least one scribe line; ii) detecting the ligand in relation to the at least one scribe line; and iii) breaking the wafer substrate along the at least one scribe line, to produce at least one array chip.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the presence of or the risk of cancer in a patient, comprising, with reference to a normal control, the step of: (i) detecting the expression level of a gene characterised by any of the nucleotide sequences identified herein as SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 10, in a sample isolated from a patient, wherein an increased expression level of the gene characterised by any of SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 6 and 10, or a decreased expression level of the gene characterised by any of SEQ ID Nos. 7 to 9, indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer in the patient from whom the sample was isolated.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing chronic stress in patients by first determining the level of one or more analytes in a patient sample and establishing the significance of the one or more analyte levels.

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: A method for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or Parkinson's Disease (PD), comprises measuring the level of expression of one or more AD markers (Table 1) or PD markers (Table 2) in a sample of platelets isolated from a person suspected of having AD or PD, and determining whether the levels of expression are altered compared to a control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a plurality of antibody fragments, each comprising a framework region having a murine VH14 heavy chain and a murine VK2 light chain, or homologues thereof, each antibody fragment further comprising at least one different CDR.