Abstract: A method of single parameter and multiparameter characterizing of cells, particularly immunophenotyping of cells, is provided. The method preferably uses antibody coated microspheres which are adapted to bind to specific types of cells. One or more sets of coated microspheres are added simultaneously or sequentially to a suspension of cells and bind the cells they are adapted to bind. Cells may bind to one or more microspheres. The suspension is then filtered to trap bead-cell complexes. The complexes are preferably stained and then examined to characterize the cells, preferably the cells bound to the microspheres. A kit and apparatus for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Reagents and the use of the reagents in a microparticle light scattering agglutination assay are disclosed. The reagents comprise a mixture of particles having relatively stronger light scattering properties and particles having relatively weak light scattering properties with respect to one another. The particles having strong light scattering properties carry a binding partner of high reactivity with the analyte. The particles having weak light scattering properties carry a binding partner of low reactivity with the analyte.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: The present invention involves techniques for evaluating in vivo cytokine production through the in vivo capture of secreting cytokines by labeled cytokine-binding reagents, followed by in vitro measurement of serum levels of captured cytokine. The methods of the present invention make use of the ability of a neutralizing antibody to a cytokine, when injected into a person or expierimental animal, to bind that cytokine and prevent its catabolism, excretion, or binding to a cytokine receptor. This causes the cytokine, which may normally have a very short in vivo half life, to accumulate in vivo as a cytokine/anti-cytokine antibody complex. If the anti-cytokine antibody is either labeled with a molecule that can be bound by another molecule (e.g.; biotin, which is bound by avidin or streptavidin), or is itself capable of being bound by another molecule (e.g.

Abstract: A method of separating a cell-containing sample into a substantially cell-depleted portion, and a cell-containing portion comprising at least one of a stem cell, a lymphocyte, and a leukocyte comprises a step in which the sample is received in a vessel with at least one flexible wall. In another step, an additive and particles are added to the sample, wherein the additive substantially binds to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the particles and wherein the particles substantially bind to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the additive, thereby producing a cell-containing network. In a further step, the network is separated from the substantially cell-depleted portion by applying a magnetic force.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening an array of test compounds for bioactivity by contacting an array of test compounds with a detector layer capable of detecting bioactivity, and detecting a detector layer response. The detector layer is comprised of physiologically viable cells. The method and apparatus allow a large number of test compounds to be simultaneously assayed in parallel without the need for complex fluidic devices.

Abstract: A sample separation apparatus including a porous, or rough, capillary column. The porous capillary column includes a matrix which defines pores, and may be formed from a material such as porous silicon. Alternatively, the capillary column may have a rough surface of hemispherical grain silicon. The capillary column is defined in a surface of a substrate, such as silicon. The sample separation apparatus may include a stationary phase or a capture substrate disposed on the surfaces thereof. The sample separation apparatus may also include a detector positioned proximate the capillary column. A variation of the sample separation apparatus includes an electrode proximate each end of the capillary column. The sample separation apparatus may be employed to effect various types of chromatographic separation, electrophoretic separation, and analyte identification.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery that toxicity to mustard may be evaluated by diagnostic test means disclosed herein. Upon electrophoretic separation (sodium dodocyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)) of buffered extract of human skin cells (normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK)) which had been exposed to mustard-type chemical compounds a band at approximately 50,000 to 80,000 daltons molecular weight was found. The protein band constitutes a biomarker.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a kit for the diagnosis of endometriosis using blood and endometrial leukocyte markers or a combination thereof. The marker is a surface antigen from endometrial or blood leukocytes.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the micro juxtaposition is set forth where a selectively activatable surface is maintained spaced apart from the tissue sample and juxtaposed to the tissue sample by activation. In the typical case, activation occurs by laser radiation with the material of the activatable surface thermally expanding and bringing about the desired micro juxtaposition. The disclosed micro juxtapositioning can cause locally and microscopically pressure on tissue sample, insertion to the tissue sample, or contact of an activated or prepared surface to the tissue sample.

Abstract: A method for counting leukocytes which comprises liberating elastase from granulocytes contained in a specimen, adding an anti-granulocyte elastase antibody to the thus liberated elastase, measuring the antibody bonded to the elastase to thereby determine the concentration of the elastase, and then calculating therefrom the number of leukocytes contained in the specimen with the use of the ratio of the leukocyte count to the elastase concentration. This method makes it possible to conveniently and less expensively count leukocytes at a high accuracy comparable to the one established by using a conventional automatic blood cell counter, as the figure shows.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and screens for an optical system analysis of cells to rapidly determine the distribution, environment, or activity of fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in cells for the purpose of screening large numbers of compounds for those that specifically affect particular biological functions. The invention involves providing cells containing fluorescent reporter molecules in an array of locations and scanning numerous cells in each location with a high magnification fluorescence optical system, converting the optical information into digital data, and utilizing the digital data to determine the distribution, environment or activity of the fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in the cells. The array of locations may be an industry standard 96 well or 384 well microtiter plate or a microplate which is microplate having cells in a micropaterned array of locations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of non-, anti-, or pro-apoptotic and necrotic conditions of cells, newly designed vectors coding for marker proteins, cell lines transfected with such vector, and a method to assay the non-, pro- or anti-apoptotic or necrotic activity of test compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides automated systems, methods, screens, and software for the analysis of cell spreading. The invention involves providing cells containing fluorescent reporter molecules in an array of locations, contacting the cells with a test stimulus, acquiring images from the cells, and automatically calculating one or more morphological features that provide a measure of cell spreading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the substantial elimination of errors attributable to carryover microspheres, doublets, or misclassification of microsphere subsets. The present invention is based upon passing a sufficient minimum number microspheres through the flow analyzer during an assay run.

Abstract: A method of single parameter and multiparameter characterizing of cells, particularly immunophenotyping of cells, is provided. The method preferably uses antibody-coated microspheres which are adapted to bind to specific types of cells. One or more sets of coated microspheres are contacted simultaneously or sequentially with a suspension of cells and bind the cells they are adapted to bind to form bead-cell complexes. Cells may bind to one or more microspheres. The bead-cell complexes are then separated from the suspension The complexes are preferably stained and then examined to characterize the cells, preferably the cells bound to the microspheres. A method of quantitating a specific cell type is provided. A kit and apparatus for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Analytical reagents and mass spectrometry-based methods using these reagents for the rapid, and quantitative analysis of proteins or protein function in mixtures of proteins. The methods employ affinity labeled protein reactive reagents having three portions: an affinity label (A) covalently linked to a protein reactive group (PRG) through a linker group (L). The linker may be differentially isotopically labeled, e.g., by substitution of one or more atoms in the linker with a stable isotope thereof. These reagents allow for the selective isolation of peptide fragments or the products of reaction with a given protein (e.g., products of enzymatic reaction) from complex mixtures. The isolated peptide fragments or reaction products are characteristic of the presence of a protein or the presence of a protein function in those mixtures. Isolated peptides or reaction products are characterized by mass spectrometric (MS) techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting binding or unbinding of a molecule to a substrate. The molecule comprises a luminophore and the substrate comprises a semiconductor which acts as a luminescence quencher to provide distance-dependent quenching of the luminophore. Binding or unbinding of the molecule, which may be covalent or noncovalent, is detected as a decrease or increase, respectively, of the detectable luminescence of the luminophore.

Abstract: The excitation of label molecules usable in chemical and biochemical analysis by electrical pulses at electrodes covered with a thin insulating film, and the use of such electrodes in chemical, clinical and biochemical analysis. The electrodes include a conducting base material that has been coated with an organic or inorganic insulating film or multiple layers of such films, so that either one or several label compounds can be excited to an excited state which is deexcited by emission of ultraviolet, visible or infrared light, in aqueous solution providing the basis for reproducible analytical applications in bioaffinity assays such as immunoassays and DNA-probing assays.

Abstract: A novel reagent system for use with automated and semi-automated hematology analyzers including an essentially isotonic blood diluting reagent, a blood cell lysing and hemoglobin conversion reagent, and a second lysing reagent for differentiating white blood cells into classes by size and functional characteristics. The diluent reagent enhances properties for counting and sizing blood specimens, while stabilizing cellular volume and cellular integrity for many hours. The blood cell lysing reagent removes red blood cells and enables subsequent enumeration of white blood cells and simultaneous determination of hemoglobin without use of the toxic cyanide anion. The third lysing reagent and a companion quenching differentiates blood cells into classes by size and functional characteristics, based on d.c. impedance volume, conductivity/opacity and light scatter measurements. The companion quenching reagent adjusts pH and conductivity of the final measurement solution to match the analyzer system requirements.