Abstract: A system and method for performing an assay for target analytes includes a sampling-device holder interface and a quantifier. The sampling device has a sampling portion and a reading portion containing a chemiluminescent reagent. The interface has a sampling-device holder and a light detector. The holder has a housing having an enclosure with a channel and a base plate with an opening. The base plate and the enclosure houses a slidable tray. The tray has a compartment adapted to seat the sampling device and an opening extending through the compartment. The reading portion is aligned with the tray opening. When the tray is closed, the tray opening is also aligned with the base plate opening, exposing the reading portion. Once the sampling portion is exposed to a sample suspected of containing the target analyte, at least one carrier liquid is introduced, if needed, to the sampling portion to transport any target analyte to the reading portion by dispersion.

Abstract: A test strip, a device incorporating the test strip and a method for use of the test strip within the device detecting an analyte in a solution or bodily fluid are disclosed. The test strip was three zones, a reaction zone coated with a substance that binds the analyte, a sample zone with a region for addition of the sample of solution or fluid, and a detection region zone with a region coated with detection reagent. An absorbent pad underlies the reaction zone. The reaction zone is a small membrane and is physically in contact on its upper surface with both the sample zone and the detection zone. The test strip is incorporated into a device which includes a sample collection/transferring device, a housing for holding the test strip, and a container for holding solvent solutions at both outer ends of the test strip such that the solvent solutions can come into contact with the outer ends of the test strip when pressure is applied to the ends.

Abstract: A method which utilize chemiluminescence for analyte detection and the detection of bacteria on surfaces. The method uses a device comprising a sampling portion made of a first adsorbent material, a container, and a second adsorbent material located within the container. The sampling portion collects analytes from a test sample which includes a surface or volume of a liquid. The second adsorbent material holds one or more chemiluminescent components including luciferase enzyme and cofactors in a dry state. In a preferred embodiment, the sampling portion is swabbed over a suspected contaminated surface. A bacteriolytic solution is then added to the adsorbent and releases ATP from any bacteria present. The ATP diffuses into the second adsorbent and mixes with the reagents therein to produce detectable light.

Abstract: Improved devices for collecting and analyzing samples of aqueous solutions, body fluids, sewage or fecal matter to be used in detecting microbes and microbial byproducts. A device in accordance with the invention comprises a body including an internal channel having an entryway, a solute chamber connected to the entryway, a solute-adding mechanism operatively connected to the solute chamber, a window in the body that allows viewing of a portion of the channel, and an aperture in the body that opens to the channel; a bendable tang connected to the body; and a sample collection unit attached to the tang.

Abstract: This invention provides a device and method for preparing a plasma enriched sample for use in an immunoassay strip. All parts that contact blood or a blood fraction remain in a container and prevent contamination from used blood. In one embodiment a sampling device collects blood and enters the container. A plasma enriched sample fills a plasma receptor which in turn is transferred to an immunoassay strip. Plasma is washed out of the strip by an aqueous solution. In another embodiment the sampling device doubles as a plasma separator. The invention allows sensitive and safe immunoassays to be performed on whole blood samples outside of the normal clinical laboratory setting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the rapid detection of Group A streptococci in clinical specimens, through the enzymatic digestion by a semi-purified Group C streptococcal phage associated lysin enzyme and the identification of the released antigens, through the reaction of a labelled ligand and its respective antigen or receptor. The labelled ligand can be included during the digestion of the bacteria, enabling the total assay time to be less than five minutes. The lysin enzyme is stabilized and can be lyophilized for in situ reconstitution.

Abstract: A cache control system and method for operating a computer system which is capable of executing cached and non-cached memory accesses. The cache control system includes a frequency value store for each of a number of memory lines for storing a frequency value indicative of the number of accesses made thereto; an instruction store for storing the index of the last memory line accessed by each of a number of instructions; and control logic which, each time the processor attempts to access a memory location not in the cache memory, tests the frequency value for the last memory line accessed by the current instruction and, if the number of accesses for the memory line exceeds a predetermined threshold, (a) fetches the memory line of the memory location from the main memory into the cache memory and executes a cached memory access, and if not (b) executes a non-cached memory access.

Abstract: An instruction scheduler for a computer, capable of speculatively scheduling load instructions by moving certain categories of load instructions in an input instruction sequence from a source block of instructions to a target block of instructions to form an output instruction sequence, the instruction scheduler comprising: logic for selecting a data-independent load instruction as a candidate for rescheduling; logic for determining whether the base register that the load instruction makes use of and/or the contents thereof meets any one of a number of conditions; logic for moving the selected load instruction from the source block to the target block in response to determination that any one of the conditions is met.

Abstract: A device and method for a self contained solid phase immunodiffusion assay. The device is comprised of a sample collector, and a pre-fabricated laminate which can be used in many different forms. For example, the same collector and laminate can be used with a tube having compartmentalized reagents. The seals can be broken through pressure on the sample collector. The sample collector is pushed through the seals, mixed with reagent, and then pushed into a ligand receptor reaction area which is part of the laminate. The tip of the sample collector contacts diffusable or porous membranes or filters and transfers the reactants to a capture membrane wherein a ligand receptor reaction can be examined by the naked eye or otherwise.

Abstract: A serializatin debugging facility operates by assisting the computer programmer in the selection of parallel sections of the parallel program for single processor execution in order to locate errors in the program. Information is collected regarding parallel constructs in the source program. This information is used to establish program structure and to locate sections of the program in which parallel constructs are contained. Program structure and the locations of parallel constructs within a program are then displayed as a tree graph. Viewing this display, a programmer selects parallel sections for serialization. Object code for the program is then generated in accordance with the serialization instructions entered by the programmer. Once executed, the programmer can compare the results of execution of parallel sections of the program in a single processor and a multiprocessor environment.

Abstract: A sandwich immunoassay method is disclosed that is useful for the identification of an antigen in biological specimens. The method is comprised of a colloidal gold labeled binder specific for epitopes or receptors of a ligand, nonporous particulate solid phase which have antiligand covalently attached, and which said reagents are combined with the biological specimen or an extract of the biological specimen, and after an appropriate incubation, the said reactant mixture is contacted to a porous film having an exposed surface area of contact no greater than 30 mm.sup.2 to separate and concentrate the particle bound colloidal gold labeled binder from the unbound. The identification of an antigen is determined by the presence of color on the surface of the solid phase particles captured on the surface of the film. A competitive inhibition assay can be also used to identify the presence of a hapten or antigen, in which case the presence of the analyte is determined by the absence of color.

Abstract: A device for a self contained solid phase immunodiffusion assay. The device is comprised of a sample collector, a tube with compartmentalized reagents and a ligand receptor capture membrane filter area. The seals can be broken through pressure on the sample collector. The sample collector is pushed through the seals, mixed with reagent, and then pushed into a ligand receptor reaction area wherein the tip of the sample collector contacts diffusable membranes or filters and transfers the reactants to a capture membrane wherein a ligand receptor reaction can be visualized by the naked eye.

Abstract: An assay utilizing receptor or antibody sensitized liposome particles which have ATP encapsulated therein. The ATP is released by lysing the liposomes, and detected by means of luciferin-luciferase reagent and a luminometer. The assay provides a very sensitive process for detecting the presence of analytes such as antigens and DNA probes.

Abstract: An analyte is determined quantitatively by an agglutination assay by use of a method which includes the use of at least two analyte standards having different analyte concentrations; an analyte supported on a particulate support; specific binder for the analyte and buffered diluent for making serial dilutions of an analyte sample. The assay is preferably conducted on a test card which includes a sample portion and a standard portion, with the sample portion having a series of separated marked dilution areas for receiving dilutions of an analyte sample and the standard portion including separated marked standard areas for receiving analyte standard of different analyte concentration. By addition of binder and particles sensitized with analyte to the serial dilutions and standards, analyte can be determined quantitatively by multiplying the lowest standard concentration at which there is no visible agglutination by the highest reciprocal dilution of test sample which similarly shows no visible agglutination.

Abstract: A gentamicin protein conjugate adsorbed on a solid support, in particular, polystyrene particles, is crosslinked by a crosslinking agent to increase the stability of the supported conjugate. The particles also generally include an adsorbed protein to increase the strength of the crosslinking network. An improved conjugate is provided by the use of orosomucoid as the protein. The sensitized particles can be employed in an agglutination inhibition card test.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in which a plurality of tubes are supported by tube sheets within a shell having inlet and outlet heads connected to its ends. One of the heads and tube sheets are secured directly to one end of the shell while the other tube sheet and head form a floating head assembly which is connected to the other end of the shell by an expansion joint to permit relative movement between the head assembly and the shell. A first heat exchange fluid is passed into the inlet head and through the tubes before discharging from the outlet head, and a second heat exchange fluid is passed through the shell in a heat exchange relation to the first heat exchange fluid. A load is applied to the head assembly in the direction of the shell to preload the tubes in compression, and movements of the head assembly relative to the shell in excess of a predetermined amount are prevented.