Abstract: A method to assess a subject diagnosis is provided. The method includes receiving an image from an image-capturing device, the image comprising an area of interest in a test cartridge, and finding a border of the area of interest of the test cartridge and applying a geometrical transformation on an area delimited by the border of the test cartridge to bring the image of the area of interest in the test cartridge to a selected size and a selected shape. The method also includes identifying a target region within the area of interest of the test cartridge, evaluating a quality of the image based on a characteristic feature of the target region, and providing commands to adjust an optical coupling in the image-capturing device when the quality of the image is lower than a selected threshold.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for treating a biological fluid, e.g., to inactivate pathogens.

Abstract: A method to assess a subject diagnosis is provided. The method includes receiving an image from an image-capturing device, the image comprising an area of interest in a test cartridge, and finding a border of the area of interest of the test cartridge and applying a geometrical transformation on an area delimited by the border of the test cartridge to bring the image of the area of interest in the test cartridge to a selected size and a selected shape. The method also includes identifying a target region within the area of interest of the test cartridge, evaluating a quality of the image based on a characteristic feature of the target region, and providing commands to adjust an optical coupling in the image-capturing device when the quality of the image is lower than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A circuit in an image-capturing device is provided. The circuit includes a light source controller configured to provide a signal to a light source when a cartridge mount has received, inside a dark chamber, a test cartridge. The circuit also includes a sensor array controller configured to activate at least one pixel in a sensor array when the light source is activated, and to receive a signal from the at least one pixel, the signal indicative of an optical intensity of a light emitted from the test cartridge. The circuit also includes a processor, configured to form a transmittable file with the signal from the at least one pixel, and a radio-frequency antenna configured to transmit the transmittable file to an external processor.

Abstract: A method for capturing images of a liquid immunoassay to determine a target analyte concentration in a fluid sample includes collecting, with a camera, multiple images of a fluid flow over an assay, the assay including a substrate having a surface that is functionalized with Abs, and the fluid flow including multiple particles, which become bound to functionalized surface when a target analyte is present, combining the images of the fluid flow to obtain a processed image, identifying, in the processed image, one or more particles bound to the substrate, and determining a target analyte concentration in the fluid flow based on a number of particles bound to the substrate. A system including a memory with instructions and a processor to execute the instructions and cause the system to perform the above method is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a device comprising a synthetic polymeric substrate having a high quality finish upper surface, the upper surface having at least a bilayer coating comprising a first, reflective layer and a second, transparent layer. Also disclosed are kits containing embodiments of the disclosed device and detectable particles. Also disclosed are various embodiments of a method of using the disclosed device and various embodiments of a method of using the disclosed kit.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a device comprising a synthetic polymeric substrate having a high quality finish upper surface, the upper surface having at least a bilayer coating comprising a first, reflective layer and a second, transparent layer. Also disclosed are kits containing embodiments of the disclosed device and detectable particles. Also disclosed are various embodiments of a method of using the disclosed device and various embodiments of a method of using the disclosed kit.

Abstract: A method to assess a subject diagnosis is provided. The method includes receiving an image from an image-capturing device, the image comprising an area of interest in a test cartridge, and finding a border of the area of interest of the test cartridge and applying a geometrical transformation on an area delimited by the border of the test cartridge to bring the image of the area of interest in the test cartridge to a selected size and a selected shape. The method also includes identifying a target region within the area of interest of the test cartridge, evaluating a quality of the image based on a characteristic feature of the target region, and providing commands to adjust an optical coupling in the image-capturing device when the quality of the image is lower than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method to assess a subject diagnosis is provided. The method includes receiving an image from an image-capturing device, the image comprising an area of interest in a test cartridge, and finding a border of the area of interest of the test cartridge and applying a geometrical transformation on an area delimited by the border of the test cartridge to bring the image of the area of interest in the test cartridge to a selected size and a selected shape. The method also includes identifying a target region within the area of interest of the test cartridge, evaluating a quality of the image based on a characteristic feature of the target region, and providing commands to adjust an optical coupling in the image-capturing device when the quality of the image is lower than a selected threshold.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for treating a biological fluid, e.g., to inactivate pathogens.

Abstract: A method to assess a subject diagnosis is provided. The method includes receiving an image from an image-capturing device, the image comprising an area of interest in a test cartridge, and finding a border of the area of interest of the test cartridge and applying a geometrical transformation on an area delimited by the border of the test cartridge to bring the image of the area of interest in the test cartridge to a selected size and a selected shape. The method also includes identifying a target region within the area of interest of the test cartridge, evaluating a quality of the image based on a characteristic feature of the target region, and providing commands to adjust an optical coupling in the image-capturing device when the quality of the image is lower than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A circuit in an image-capturing device is provided. The circuit includes a light source controller configured to provide a signal to a light source when a cartridge mount has received, inside a dark chamber, a test cartridge. The circuit also includes a sensor array controller configured to activate at least one pixel in a sensor array when the light source is activated, and to receive a signal from the at least one pixel, the signal indicative of an optical intensity of a light emitted from the test cartridge. The circuit also includes a processor, configured to form a transmittable file with the signal from the at least one pixel, and a radio-frequency antenna configured to transmit the transmittable file to an external processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation and use in recipients of CAR-T cell-derived effector cells which are modified to limit their proliferation within the recipient. This is accomplished through the introduction of adducts into the nucleic acids of CAR-T cell-derived effector cells following expansion in vitro to provide expanded and activated CAR-T cell-derived effector cells that retain immunologic function, including the expression of one ore more cytokines.

Abstract: Methods are provided for improved quenching of undesired side reactions upon treating a red blood cell composition with a pathogen inactivating compound comprising a nucleic acid binding ligand and a functional group which is, or which is capable of forming, an electrophilic group. In some embodiments, the improved methods use a suitably high concentration of quencher that comprises a nucleophilic functional group that is capable of covalently reacting with the electrophilic group, wherein the treatment occurs within a desired pH range to provide sufficient quenching. Preferred quenchers for use in some of the methods include thiols, such as glutathione, which have been suitably neutralized such that addition to a red blood cell composition results in the desired concentration of quencher at a desirable pH range of 6.8 to 8.5.

Abstract: Methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of pathogen inactivating compounds in biological materials comprising red blood cells. In a particular embodiment, methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of a pathogen inactivating compound that includes a functional group which is, or which is capable of forming, an electrophilic group. In this embodiment, the material is treated with the pathogen inactivating compound and a quencher, wherein the quencher comprises a nucleophilic functional group that is capable of covalently reacting with the electrophilic group. The electrophilic group on the pathogen inactivating compound is preferably a non-radical cationic group. In one embodiment, the pathogen inactivating compound includes a nucleic acid binding ligand and a mustard group, wherein the mustard group is capable of reacting in situ to form the electrophilic group. Preferred quenchers are thiols, such as glutathione.

Abstract: Methods are provided for improved quenching of undesired side reactions upon treating a red blood cell composition with a pathogen inactivating compound comprising a nucleic acid binding ligand and a functional group which is, or which is capable of forming, an electrophilic group. In some embodiments, the improved methods use a suitably high concentration of quencher that comprises a nucleophilic functional group that is capable of covalently reacting with the electrophilic group, wherein the treatment occurs within a desired pH range to provide sufficient quenching. Preferred quenchers for use in some of the methods include thiols, such as glutathione, which have been suitably neutralized such that addition to a red blood cell composition results in the desired concentration of quencher at a desirable pH range of 6.8 to 8.5.

Abstract: Methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of pathogen inactivating compounds in biological materials comprising red blood cells. In a particular embodiment, methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of a pathogen inactivating compound that includes a functional group which is, or which is capable of forming, an electrophilic group. In this embodiment, the material is treated with the pathogen inactivating compound and a quencher, wherein the quencher comprises a nucleophilic functional group that is capable of covalently reacting with the electrophilic group. The electrophilic group on the pathogen inactivating compound is preferably a non-radical cationic group. In one embodiment, the pathogen inactivating compound includes a nucleic acid binding ligand and a mustard group, wherein the mustard group is capable of reacting in situ to form the electrophilic group. Preferred quenchers are thiols, such as glutathione.

Abstract: Methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of pathogen inactivating compounds in biological materials. In a particular embodiment, methods are provided for quenching undesired side reactions of a pathogen inactivating compound that includes a functional group which is, or which is capable of forming, an electrophilic group. In this embodiment, the material is treated with the pathogen inactivating compound and a quencher, wherein the quencher comprises a nucleophilic functional group that is capable of covalently reacting with the electrophilic group. The electrophilic group on the pathogen inactivating compound is preferably a non-radical cationic group. In one embodiment, the pathogen inactivating compound includes a nucleic acid binding ligand and a mustard group, wherein the mustard group is capable of reacting in situ to form the electrophilic group. Preferred quenchers are thiols, such as glutathione.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for inactivating pathogens in materials are described, including compositions and methods for inactivating pathogens in biological materials such as red blood cell preparations and plasma. The compounds and methods may be used to treat materials intended for in vitro or in vivo use, such as clinical testing or transfusion. The compounds are designed to specifically bind to and react with nucleic acid, and then to degrade to form breakdown products. The degradation reaction is preferably slower than the reaction with nucleic acid.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the preparation of an RBC composition which has significantly reduced antigenicity. The methods of preparation of the red cell compositions involve the optimization of reaction conditions, in particular buffering conditions, for attaching antigen masking compounds to the red cells without significantly affecting the function of the red cells. The RBC compositions are of particular use for introduction into an individual in cases where the potential for an immune reaction is high, for example in alloimmunized blood recipients or in trauma situations where the possibility of transfusion of a mismatched unit of blood is higher. The RBC compositions of this invention provide a much lower risk of a transfusion associated immune reaction.