Abstract: Nucleic acid amplification tests have been widely used in clinical laboratories. Nucleic acid extraction from biological materials is challenging because different unfavorable substances may co-extract and inhibit downstream applications. The present invention relates to a composition of and a method for treating the sample prior, during or post extraction of nucleic acid. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to a composition of and a method for using low concentrations of common organic solvents to remove inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification. The present invention can be used for extracting nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other biological materials or matrices, including but not limit to, stool samples, body fluids, plants and cultures. The method is rapid, low-cost, and easy to use in a laboratory setting. The nucleic acid extracted in accordance with the invention can be used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: Nucleic acid amplification tests have been widely used in clinical laboratories. Nucleic acid extraction from biological materials is challenging because different unfavorable substances may co-extract and inhibit downstream applications. The present invention relates to a composition of and a method for treating the sample prior, during or post extraction of nucleic acid. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to a composition of and a method for using low concentrations of common organic solvents to remove inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification. The present invention can be used for extracting nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other biological materials or matrices, including but not limit to, stool samples, body fluids, plants and cultures. The method is rapid, low-cost, and easy to use in a laboratory setting. The nucleic acid extracted in accordance with the invention can be used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: Nucleic acid amplification tests have been widely used in clinical laboratories. Nucleic acid extraction from biological materials is challenging because different unfavorable substances may co-extract and inhibit downstream applications. The present invention relates to a composition of and a method for treating the sample prior, during or post extraction of nucleic acid. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to a composition of and a method for using low concentrations of common organic solvents to remove inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification. The present invention can be used for extracting nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other biological materials or matrices, including but not limit to, stool samples, body fluids, plants and cultures. The method is rapid, low-cost, and easy to use in a laboratory setting. The nucleic acid extracted in accordance with the invention can be used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: Nucleic acid amplification tests have been widely used in clinical laboratories. Nucleic acid extraction from biological materials is challenging because different unfavorable substances may co-extract and inhibit downstream applications. The present invention relates to a composition of and a method for treating the sample prior, during or post extraction of nucleic acid. More specifically, the claimed invention relates to a composition of and a method for using low concentrations of common organic solvents to remove inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification. The present invention can be used for extracting nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) from bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other biological materials or matrices, including but not limit to, stool samples, body fluids, plants and cultures. The method is rapid, low-cost, and easy to use in a laboratory setting. The nucleic acid extracted in accordance with the invention can be used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays and devices for detection of substances in liquid samples. The assays and devices utilize passive diffusion between a porous material and a porous membrane containing a specific binding pair member to enable detection of the substance of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides for immunogenic compositions and their methods of use as vaccines and their method of preparation. These immunogenic compositions comprise a recombinant protein of toxin A or toxin B of Clostridium difficile conjugated to a polysaccharide of a microbial pathogen. The immunogenic compositions may include only a truncated portion of toxin A or toxin B, particularly the repeating units (rARU or rBRU), that is associated with a microbial pathogen polysaccharide. Such compositions are effective in eliciting T-cell dependent and antibody responses. These compositions are therefore effective as vaccines for humans, particularly children, and animals in affording protection against one or more microbial pathogens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the differentiation of Crohn's disease from other gastrointestinal illnesses, such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, using the presence of fecal anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) as a marker for Crohn's disease are provided. The apparatus includes an enzyme-linked immunoassay or other immunoassay that utilizes antibodies specific to human immunoglobins for the measurement of total endogenous ASCA in a human fecal sample. The method and apparatus may be used by healthcare providers to distinguish Crohn's disease from other gastrointestinal illnesses, such as ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring Fc?RII/CD23 IgE receptor in human feces or other biological specimens as an indicator of a TH2 immune response indicative of gastrointestinal illnesses such as ulcerative colitis and food allergy is described. The apparatus consists of either a qualitative or quantitative enzyme-linked immunoassay or other immunoassay that utilizes antibodies specific to human Fc?RII/CD23 IgE receptor for the measurement of endogenous Fc?RII/CD23 IgE receptor in human feces. The method and apparatus can be used by healthcare providers as an aid for determining gastrointestinal illnesses that are predominantly a TH2 predominant immune response such as ulcerative colitis, large bowel Crohn's disease (IC-like Crohn's disease), allergic colitis (food allergy) and parasitic infections.