Abstract: A cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with an open-ended vessel capable of receiving and holding fluid specimens or other materials for analysis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between a fluid sample present in the vessel and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap having a frangible seal which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device. The cap further includes a filter for limiting dissemination of an aerosol or bubbles once the frangible seal has been pierced. The filter is positioned between the frangible seal and a retaining structure. The retaining structure is positioned on the cap above the filter and may be used to contain the filter within the cap. The material of the retaining structure may be penetrable by a fluid transfer device.

Abstract: A sheath liquid for a particle analyzer used to analyze particles contained in a sample is described. The sheath liquid includes water and a refractive-index adjustment agent with glycerols and/or sulfate. A method for producing the sheath liquid and a method for analyzing particles using the sheath liquid are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting a nucleic acid which is not restricted by the design of the base sequence of a nucleic acid probe. By repeating washing and detection in multiple stages, the present invention can improve the precision of sequence-specific hybridization stepwise and also can ease restrictions in designing the nucleic acid probes, in particular, restrictions on the Tm value (the temperature at which the nucleic acid double strand is dissociated into single strands) or the sequence length of the nucleic acid probes.

Abstract: A urine sample is taken by providing to the person a container having a removable cap with an initially unbroken elastomeric septum puncturable by a blunt tipped pipette and self-resealing following withdrawal of the pipette from the septum. The urine specimen is deposited in the container and the cap replaced. The container with the specimen is conveyed to a laboratory location for analysis where the septum is punctured by manually pressing the blunt tip of a plastic pipette against the septum with sufficient force to puncture through the septum and into the container with the tip. A sample of the urine specimen is drawn into the pipette and the pipette tip withdrawn to allow the septum to self-reseal, such that the urine specimen is sampled for analysis without reopening the container cap following replacement of the cap at the specimen collection site.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing mixtures of polysaccharides, for example heparin such as unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin are described. In some instances, the mixtures are analyzed using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC), e.g., strong anion exchange HPLC.

Abstract: A method for confirming the active intake of marijuana and its active component ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (“?9-THC”) by detecting the amount of 11-nor-?9-THC carboxylic acid (“THCA”) in oral fluid at the picogram per milliliter (pg/ml) level using chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (“GC/MS/MS”).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast and simple method for fractional measurement of small particle low density lipoprotein (LDL). The method for quantifying small particle LDL in a test sample entails a first step of separating the small particle LDL from other low density lipoproteins, and a second step of measuring cholesterol, triglycerides or proteins in the separated small particle LDL.

Abstract: A method of determining whether an animal has ingested a plant of interest is provided. The method includes screening the animal for the presence of at least one indicator of a plant of interest.

Abstract: In a device for measuring the pressure of a medium, in particular a liquid medium, the device including a measuring chamber through which the medium can flow and which has at least one elastically deformable wall, at least one wall that is more rigid by comparison to the elastically deformable wall, and an inlet and outlet for the medium, at least one excitation electrode is provided in or on the at least one more rigid wall of the measuring chamber, and at least one signal electrode is provided on the elastically deformable wall, for impedance measurement.

Abstract: A calibration method for a flow cytometer with a multichannel detector module. During calibration, the fluorescence intensity data values for the different detector channels are used to calculate normalization factors needed to adjust subsequent data collected by each of the channels. By using a multichannel detector module, the results from the different flow cells can be reliably compared, so that multiple stages of flow cells can be arranged in series along a common flow path, for example to measure the same sample at defined time intervals.

Abstract: A multi-channel apparatus for classifying particles according to one or more particle characteristics may have a plurality of flow cytometry units, each of which is operable to classify particles in a mixture of particles by interrogating a stream of fluid containing the particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The flow cytometry units may share an integrated platform with: (1) a common supply of particles; (2) a common housing; (3) a common processor for controlling operation of the units; (4) a common processor for receiving and processing information from the units; and (5) a common fluid delivery system. The integrated platform can include a common source of electromagnetic radiation. A method uses a plurality of flow cytometry units sharing the integrated platform to perform a flow cytometric operation, such as analyzing or sorting particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining the outcome of treatment with an antidepressant medication in a patient. In particular, the invention provides a method of screening patients to identify those patients with a decreased risk of non-response to treatment with antidepressant medication by obtaining a sample of genetic material from the patients, and then assaying the sample for the presence of a genotype which is associated with a decreased risk of non-response to treatment with antidepressant medication. The genotype is characterized by a polymorphism in the genes HTR2A, GRIK4, BCL2, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing mixtures of polysaccharides, for example heparin such as unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin are described. In some instances, the mixtures are analyzed using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC), e.g., strong anion exchange HPLC.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the concentration of hemoglobin derivatives in bodily fluids include devices for measuring and comparing the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by cellular and cell-free hemoglobin at two or more wavelengths in the Soret region. Systems and methods for determining erythrocyte membrane fragility include devices for measuring the concentration of at least one cell-free hemoglobin derivative, and using the absorption properties of cellular and cell-free hemoglobin derivatives in the Soret region.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and apparatus determine a subject's risk of having or developing CHD using a calculated LDL particle risk number and/or a mathematical model of risk associated with LDL particles that adjusts concentrations of at least one of small and large LDL particle measurements to reflect predicted CHD risk.

Abstract: A method and device for analysis of reaction media containing one or more cells. This method and device can be used to perform an automated high-throughput analysis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of measuring iron concentration in a sample. The method includes bringing iron contained in the sample into contact with a metallochromic indicator for iron in the presence of lithium ion and determining the iron concentration based on the degree of resultant coloring. The present disclosure further includes a reagent and a kit using therefor.

Abstract: A biosensor system determines analyte concentration from an output signal generated by an oxidation/reduction reaction of the analyte. The biosensor system adjusts a correlation for determining analyte concentrations from output signals at one temperature to determining analyte concentrations from output signals at other temperatures. The temperature-adjusted correlation between analyte concentrations and output signals at a reference temperature may be used to determine analyte concentrations from output signals at a sample temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of identifying and/or comparing humans. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods of collecting human scent compounds from a subject, extracting the compounds, analyzing the compounds, and correlating the compounds to a unique compound profile for the subject. These unique compound profiles can be used to distinguish one subject from another, or to identify a specific subject based upon a sample.

Abstract: A method of assessing retinal disease in an eye of a patient by rapid, point of care, quantitative detection of cytokine levels is provided.