Abstract: A method of determining risk of preterm labor in an asymptomatic pregnant woman can include: obtaining a vaginal fluid sample from an asymptomatic pregnant woman; contacting the vaginal fluid sample with a PAMG-1 antibody that binds with PAMG-1; detecting whether the PAMG-1 antibody binds with PAMG-1 in the vaginal fluid sample to form a PAMG-1-antibody complex; and providing the determined risk to the pregnant woman. When the PAMG-1-antibody complex forms, the asymptomatic pregnant woman is determined to be susceptible to preterm labor because PAMG-1 is detected in the vaginal sample. When the PAMG-1-antibody complex does not form, the asymptomatic pregnant woman is determined to be not susceptible to preterm labor because the PAMG-1 is not detected in the vaginal sample.

Abstract: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) lateral flow immunoassay test strips, devices, and methods, useful for testing for alcohol ingestion for alcohol abuse or related diseases and treatment monitoring.

Abstract: A label-free method for the spatio-temporal mapping of protein secretions from individual cells in real time by using a chip for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) imaging. The chip is a glass coverslip compatible for use in a standard microscope having at least one array of functionalized plasmonic nanostructures patterned onto it. After placing a cell on the chip, the secretions from the cell are spatially and temporally mapped using LSPR imaging. Transmitted light imaging and/or fluorescence imaging may be done simultaneously with the LSPR imaging.

Abstract: A device is provided. The device comprises a casing comprising an interior, a first opening, and a second opening; and a porous carrier comprising a sample-receiving zone and a target cell-binding zone. The porous carrier defines a first fluid pathway that extends from the sample-receiving zone to the target cell-binding zone. At least portion of the porous carrier is disposed in the interior of the casing. A second fluid pathway comprising a central axis extends through the casing from the first opening and the second opening, the second fluid pathway intersecting the porous carrier at the target cell-binding zone. The central axis is oriented orthogonally with respect to the porous carrier. Methods of using the device to detect a target microorganism are also provided.

Abstract: The present application discloses a magnetic microchip having a graph code as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The magnetic microchip comprises: a graph code comprising more than one opaque microstructure mainly consisting of colloid aggregates formed by aggregating magnetic solid particles, wherein adjacent magnetic solid particles are isolated at least by an organic molecule and/or an inorganic molecule; and a transparent encapsulating structure at least used for wrapping the opaque microstructure. The magnetic microchip of the present application is prepared by adopting a micromachining process and has high in machining precision and repeatability, the size difference between different batches or between different individuals at the same batch can be ignored, use is convenient, and accuracy of a detection result can be effectively ensured, thereby greatly improving analysis quality.

Abstract: A sensing sensor includes a wiring board, a piezoelectric resonator, and a gel-like protective agent. The piezoelectric resonator has one surface side on which an adsorbing film is formed. The adsorbing film is constituted of biomolecules. The protective agent is disposed so as to cover a surface of the adsorbing film. The protective agent is configured to suppress an inactivation of the biomolecules. The channel forming member is disposed so as to cover a region of the one surface side of the wiring board including the piezoelectric resonator. The channel forming member includes an injection port of the sample solution. The flow passage is disposed between the wiring board and the channel forming member. The flow passage is configured to allow the sample solution supplied to the injection port to flow from one end side to another end side on the one surface side of the piezoelectric resonator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an immunoassay method for detecting the detection target antigen in an analyte through extraction with an extraction agent. The method is characterized in that the detection is performed in the presence of a cyclic oligosaccharide. The method is also characterized in the use of an immunochromatography kit for detecting gram-positive bacteria in an analyte, and that is configured from an analyte dilution solution, a sample dropping part, an antigen extracting part, a labeling substance retaining part, an immunochromatography medium having a detection part, and an absorption part, and in which an organic acid is retained in the antigen extracting part. The immunochromatography kit contains a cyclic oligosaccharide and a nitrite compound by containing at least one of a cyclic oligosaccharide, a nitrite compound, and a mixture thereof in the analyte dilution solution and/or the sample dropping part.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for determining a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid segment present in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: a) generating a fluorescent image of the sample by a protocol comprising immunofluorescence detection of at least five different target proteins in the sample; b) selecting a region of interest of the sample by comparing the image to a predetermined criterion; c) removing a subsample from the region of interest, and; d) determining a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid segment present in the subsample.

Abstract: An integrated testing device is described, for example for testing bodily fluids. The device has a test component, a reservoir containing a test fluid, and a control vessel. The reservoir discharges test fluid into the control vessel, which discharges the test fluid in a controlled way to the test component.

Abstract: Lateral flow devices and methods of use for a molecular diagnostic assay are provided. The method is suitable for detection or monitoring of targets, including biological, chemical, and material targets that exist in very low concentrations in biological samples. The methods and devices of the present application are amenable to power source-free point of care testing.

Abstract: Lateral flow devices, methods and kits for performing lateral flow western blot assays are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rapid and efficient screening of monoclonal antibodies and antibody-secreting cells, and particularly of single antibody-secreting cells, for both primary and functional characteristics, and particularly cell to cell interactions, in a microfluidic system, in particular an inverted open microwell system, where the particle(s) is not bound to a substrate.

Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a substrate; a first dielectric layer extending thereon; a plurality of pairs of opposite antennas patterned on the first layer; and a second dielectric layer that covers all of the antennas. Opposite antennas are, in each of the pairs, separated by a gap g, which, on average, is between 1 nm and 50 nm, as measured in a direction x parallel to a main plane of the substrate. The pairs of antennas have different geometries. The second layer covers all the antennas and defines an electro-magnetic field enhancement volume between the opposite antennas of each of the pairs, thanks to the gap. Electro-magnetic radiation can be concentrated in each volume, making it possible to optically sense an analyte via opposite antennas of each of the pairs. Such a device allows analytes to be funneled and guided into the field-enhanced volumes for deterministic sensing.

Abstract: Capacitance spectroscopic method and electrode The application relates to methods and electrodes for electrochemical detection of target species by capacitance spectroscopy. The method is simple, frequency optimised and extremely sensitive to low concentrations of target species. The electrodes of the invention can easily be reused and are ideally suited for use in point-of-care diagnostics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing dispersion gradients and an SPR injection method for determining full kinetics and affinity analysis in the presence of a competitor molecule. The SPR injection provides a dispersion gradient of two or more samples to a SPR flow cell and detector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for exosome detection with high sensitivity by using a nano-plasmonic sensor. The nano-plasmonic sensor comprises a plurality of nanoapertures suitable for transmission measurements. The detection sensitivity is on the order of 104-fold higher than western blotting and 102-fold higher than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A portable imaging system is also disclosed, enabling rapid and high-throughput detection of exosomes. The nano-plasmonic sensor and imaging system can be useful in diagnostics.

Abstract: A scanning sensor system, methods of use and kits for detecting a biologically active analyte are provided. The scanning senor system includes a light source, a detector, a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical sensing sites in optical communication with one or more waveguide of the substrate, and at least one adapter configured to couple with the substrate and provide optical communication between the light source, the waveguides of the substrate, and the detector.

Abstract: A method of determining one or more interaction parameters for the interaction between an analyte and a ligand using a biosensor, which comprises the steps of: A: providing a sensor surface having the ligand immobilized thereto, B: contacting the sensor surface with a control analyte, C: registering the sensor response from binding of the control analyte to binding sites of the ligand, D: determining the control saturation response (RmaxC) for the interaction between the control analyte and the ligand, E: transforming the control saturation response (RmaxC) to an analyte saturation response (RmaxA) using the relative molar response contribution of the analyte and the control analyte.

Abstract: An immunoassay method in which, by using a sensor chip on which a plurality of capture regions which capture a material to be detected by a first capturing body are arranged separated from each other, the material to be detected captured by the first capturing body is individually detected, wherein the plurality of capture regions are formed by using a different type of first capturing body depending on the type of a material to be detected to be captured, the method having: a detection processing order determination step of determining a detection processing order between the capture regions based on information about a detection processing order between the plurality of the capture regions; and a detection processing step of performing a detection processing for each of the capture regions according to the detection processing order between the plurality of the capture regions, and an immunoassay system using the method.

Abstract: One or more aqueous, near infrared emitting, high yield, highly photoluminescent, stable quantum dots conjugated to one or more biomarkers specific moieties. The conjugated quantum dots have an enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity and may be formed using a novel and efficient method for conjugating one or more biomarker specific moieties to the quantum dots. The invention is further directed to a method for using the conjugated quantum dots for cancer detection in the margin of excised tissue.