Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the method comprising determining the concentration of at least one IBD-specific biomarker in a sample of the colonic mucocellular layer obtained from a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for collecting a sample of colorectal mucocellular layer excreted immediately following the natural act of defaecation from the surface of the anal area of a human subject, and preservation and analysis of the collected sample for detecting diagnostically informative disease biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the method comprising determining the concentration of at least one IBD-specific biomarker in a sample of the colonic mucocellular layer obtained from a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for collecting a sample of exfoliated cells from a colorectal mucosal surface of a human subject which comprises a colorectal insertion member (1) having a distal, insertion end (2), a proximal end (34) and a closable interior cavity (3), a flexible membrane having an outer, cell sampling surface (5) and an inner surface, wherein said membrane is sealingly attached to the distal, insertion end of the insertion member and held within the interior cavity, such that, in use, pressurization of the interior cavity to at least a first elevated pressure causes the membrane to emit from the distal end of the insertion member to make contact with the colorectal mucosal surface and pressurization of the interior cavity to a second reduced pressure causes the membrane to invert and return to the interior cavity of the insertion member. A kit comprising the device and methods of colorectal cell sampling using the device are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for collecting a sample of exfoliated cells from a colorectal mucosal surface of a human subject which comprises a colorectal insertion member (1) having a distal, insertion end (2), a proximal end (34) and a closable interior cavity (3), a flexible membrane having an outer, cell sampling surface (5) and an inner surface, wherein said membrane is sealingly attached to the distal, insertion end of said insertion member and held within the interior cavity, such that, in use, pressurization of the interior cavity to at least a first elevated pressure causes the membrane to emit from the distal end of said insertion member to make contact with the colorectal mucosal surface and pressurization of the interior cavity to a second reduced pressure causes the membrane to invert and return to the interior cavity of said insertion member. A kit comprising said device and methods of colorectal cell sampling using said device are also described.

Abstract: A device for collection of exfoliated cells from the rectal mucosa comprises a hollow, cylindrical body having an inflatable and invertible flexible membrane attached to one end thereof. Applying positive pressure to inflate the membrane after the device is inserted, preferably through a rectal access tube, into the rectum causes exfoliated cells to be collected on the surface of the membrane. Before removal of the device, negative pressure is applied and the membrane, along with the collected sample of exfoliated cells, is deflated, inverted and withdrawn into the body of the device, thereby avoiding contact of the collected sample with body surfaces or the rectal access tube as the device is removed from the rectum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for collecting a sample of colorectal mucocellular layer excreted immediately following the natural act of defaecation from the surface of the anal area of a human subject, and preservation and analysis of the collected sample for detecting diagnostically informative disease biomarkers.

Abstract: A method for detection of a quantitative difference between the amount of a first target region of nucleic acid and a second target region of nucleic acid in a sample, comprising the steps of: providing the sample comprising the nucleic acid; amplifying the first and second target regions of the nucleic acid to obtain multiple copies of a first and a second sequence of nucleic acid; associating the amplified first sequence with the amplified second sequence to form associated nucleic acid complexes which comprise the first sequence and the second sequence in a 1:1 ratio, wherein any excess of either the first sequence or the second sequence remain un-associated; detecting any un-associated sequences, wherein detection of any un-associated sequences is indicative of a quantitative difference between the amount of the first and second target regions of nucleic acid in the sample.

Abstract: A method for predicting the presence of colorectal cancer based on the concentration of DNA in a sample of exfoliated cells collected directly from the surface of the rectal mucosa of a subject. The method consists of quantifying the concentration of DNA in a lysate containing exfoliated cells and correlating the concentration with a range within a statistical model which indicated the likelihood of the presence of colorectal cancer as well as the likely location of the cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for collecting a sample of exfoliated cells from a colorectal mucosal surface of a human subject which comprises a colorectal insertion member (1) having a distal, insertion end (2), a proximal end (34) and a closable interior cavity (3), a flexible membrane having an outer, cell sampling surface (5) and an inner surface, wherein said membrane is sealingly attached to the distal, insertion end of said insertion member and held within the interior cavity, such that, in use, pressurisation of the interior cavity to at least a first elevated pressure causes the membrane to emit from the distal end of said insertion member to make contact with the colorectal mucosal surface and pressurisation of the interior cavity to a second reduced pressure causes the membrane to invert and return to the interior cavity of said insertion member A kit comprising said device and methods of colorectal cell sampling using said device are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of isolating cells from a faecal stool, the method comprising the steps of a) cooling the stool to a temperature below its gel freezing point, and b) removing cells from the stool whilst maintaining the stool at a temperature below its gel freezing point such that the stool remains substantially intact. The invention further provides methods of purifying cells comprising use of immunomagnetic beads and/or boric acid. Cells isolated according to the invention may be used in diagnostic tests and assay procedures for monitoring a biological or biochemical property of tissue.