Abstract: Compositions and methods utilizing Raman Spectroscopy to detect and determine, directly or indirectly, the concentration of water treatment polymers in water or methods for measuring or quantifying the amount of water treatment polymer in a sample, such as an industrial, commercial, or municipal water sample, are provided. The compositions contain water treatment polymers that have been modified to include one or more Raman-active functional groups. The methods utilize Raman spectroscopy to detect the presence or amount of water treatment polymer either directly or indirectly. The method provides the ability to detect or measure the amount of active water treatment polymer remaining in the sample.

Abstract: Compositions containing bacteriophages and methods of using bacteriophages in microorganism detection assays and microbial growth and plating media are disclosed. The lytic ability of these phages to control the growth of non-target populations provides superior sensitivity and specificity to detection assays and reduces false negative and false positive results. The removal of contaminating bacteria reduces the microbial competition for nutrients in the growth media thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of the culture. The phage treatment of the sample increases the proportion of target microorganisms in the sample over contaminating bacteria thereby requiring less time for enrichment to obtain a significant signal improving overall signal to noise ratio in assays and providing for higher yield of end product in microbiological production systems.

Abstract: Compositions containing bacteriophages and methods of using bacteriophages in microorganism detection assays and microbial growth and plating media are disclosed. The lytic ability of these phages to control the growth of non-target populations provides superior sensitivity and specificity to detection assays and reduces false negative and false positive results. The removal of contaminating bacteria reduces the microbial competition for nutrients in the growth media thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of the culture. The phage treatment of the sample increases the proportion of target microorganisms in the sample over contaminating bacteria thereby requiring less time for enrichment to obtain a significant signal improving overall signal to noise ratio in assays and providing for higher yield of end product in microbiological production systems.

Abstract: Assays for detecting potentially toxicdanalytes utilize a preparation of eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells which have signal-generating metabolic activity. The sensitivity of such assays is significantly improved by the employment of a particulate solid-phase adsorbent e.g. silica gel, which can be preliminarily mixed either with the suspected toxic analyte or with the cellular reagent. It is found that the presence of either the adsorbent-analyte combination or the adsorbent-cellular reagent combination results in an amplification of the decrease of the intensity of the generated signal, thereby improving the detection capability of the assay, particularly with respect to low concentrations of toxicants.

Abstract: A method and kit for processing and testing powdered samples are provided herein. The powdered sample is combined with a fluid to produce a slurry or liquid suspension, and the slurry is contacted with an immunochromatographic test strip containing detectable reagents that are immunoreactive with an analyte to be detected in the sample. The method is particularly useful for the analysis of agricultural products or crops, such as the identification of recombinant grains.

Abstract: A method and kit for processing and testing powdered samples are provided herein. The powdered sample is combined with a fluid to produce a slurry or liquid suspension, and the slurry is contacted with an immunochromatographic test strip containing detectable reagents that are immunoreactive with an analyte to be detected in the sample. The method is particularly useful for the analysis of agricultural products or crops, such as the identification of recombinant grains.

Abstract: Compositions and methods utilizing Raman Spectroscopy to detect and determine, directly or indirectly, the concentration of water treatment polymers in water or methods for measuring or quantifying the amount of water treatment polymer in a sample, such as an industrial, commercial, or municipal water sample, are provided. The compositions contain water treatment polymers that have been modified to include one or more Raman-active functional groups. The methods utilize Raman spectroscopy to detect the presence or amount of water treatment polymer either directly or indirectly. The method provides the ability to detect or measure the amount of active water treatment polymer remaining in the sample.

Abstract: Methods, articles, and kits for obtaining elevated concentrations of a substance from a sample that has become bound, for example by providing a positive test result in an immunoassay or other binding assay. The concentrated substance is optionally subjected to further processing or analysis, for example to confirm the identity of the substance, such as a pathogenic organism in a food sample.

Abstract: Cell-based reagents and methods of using the reagents for detecting analytes are provided. The adsorbing of cells with signal-generating metabolic activity to solid supports has been found to improve the sensitivity of known cell based assays. Signal-generating cells adsorbed to a solid support are introduced to a test agent, and the measured decrease in metabolic signal provides a measure of the toxicity of the test agent.

Abstract: Analytes and ligands for detecting animal byproduct in agricultural samples such as animal feed to minimize the transmission of prion pathogens into food products consumed by humans. The analyte is a component of rendered animal byproduct such as meat and bone meal (MBM). An antibody specific for the analyte is produced by immunizing an animal with MBM or an immunogenic component of MBM that is found in rendered animal product.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence and/or concentration of a water treatment polymer in an aqueous sample, comprising producing a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody to the water treatment polymer;, and using the antibody so produced as a reagent in an immunoassay, conducted on the aqueous sample.

Abstract: The invention provides an antibody having an affinity to water treatment polymers. The antibodies of the invention are used in assays to determine the presence or concentration of a water treatment polymer in a fluid or aqueous system.

Abstract: An assay device for the detection of analyte in a sample, methods and immunoassay formats for performing an assay with or without the device, and methods for manufacturing the device are provided. The device is a continuous liquid flow channel having a proximal and a distal end, with a detection membrane in fluid communication with the distal end of the flow channel. Interspersed between the assay buffer and detection membrane, and continuous with the liquid flow channel, are a sample delivery means, one or more reservoirs containing the reagents necessary for conducting the assay, and, optionally, mixing or incubation reservoirs for combining the sample and reagents. The geometry of the liquid flow channel regulates the flow rate of the liquids through the channel, thereby controlling incubation, mixing and reaction time. The preferred detection membrane is an immunochromatographic test strip containing immobilized reagents.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence and/or concentration of a water treatment polymer in an aqueous sample, comprising producing a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody to the water treatment polymer, and using the antibody so produced as a reagent in an immunoassay, conducted on the aqueous sample.

Abstract: A chromatographic strip positive readout binding assay device and method suitable for quick, sensitive and reliable field testing for small molecules such as environmental contaminants, drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs and hormones. The detectable label is not attached to either the analyte or to the analyte receptor. Low affinity binding pairs can be used in the positive readout binding assay.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for the extraction of organic liquid contaminates from a sample. This invention is directed to the ability of hydrophobic extraction material or ribbon tape made of a hydrophobic polymer to facilitate the extraction of liquid organic contaminates from an aqueous sample in contact with an organic non-polar solvent.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence and/or concentration of a water treatment polymer in an aqueous sample, comprising producing a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody to the water treatment polymer, and using the antibody so produced as a reagent in an immunoassay, conducted on the aqueous sample.

Abstract: A dual particle immunoassay method and kit for detecting analyte in a sample in which the sample to be analyzed, a binding molecule specific for the analyte, and a particle coated with the analyte to be detected or coated with a second binding molecule are reacted and applied to a porous membrane. The competitive immunoassay utilizes an analyte-coated particle, whereas the sandwich immunoassay employs a second binding molecule-coated particle. All of the reagents except for the coated particle are able to pass through the porous membrane. Detectable particles coated with a binding substance that binds to the binding molecule, such as protein A protein G, second antibody reactive to the binding molecule, or a small synthetic affinity ligand, are reacted with coated particles retained on the membrane surface. The detectable particles will pass through the membrane if not complexed with the coated particle.

Abstract: Reagents, immunoassay methods, and kits for detecting the presence or amount of trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene in a sample. Reagents include antibodies, immunogens for preparing antibodies, and assay conjugates. The immunogens elicit high affinity antibodies to trichloroethylene. The antibodies have minimal crossreactivity to other halogenated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The assay conjugates provide for sufficient binding of the antibody to the conjugate with maximum inhibition of that binding by free trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene in the sample. The reagents are useful in immunoassays to detect trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, especially in environmental samples. Kits contain antibodies specific for trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene and assay conjugates.

Abstract: An immunoassay directed at certain analytes that have benzene rings, such that the immunoreactive standard used is less volatile than the analyte, and kits for performing the assay.