Abstract: A method and system for analyzing a sample potentially comprising a target, comprising: (i) activating one or more components of the sample analysis system in preparation for a sample, wherein the sample analysis system comprises a heating element, a centrifuge, a thermocycler, an imager, a user interface, and a processor; (ii) obtaining a sample potentially comprising a target; (iii) adding the obtained sample to a sample preparation receptacle, the sample preparation receptacle comprising one or more reagents configured to maximize success of the sample analysis; (iv) heating the sample preparation receptacle, with the added sample, in the heating element of the sample analysis system at a first temperature for a first heating period of time; (v) centrifuging the sample preparation receptacle, after heating, for a first period of time using the centrifuge of the sample analysis system; (vi) transferring at least a portion of the sample, after centrifugation, from the sample preparation receptacle to a sampl

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing a sample potentially comprising a target, comprising: (i) activating one or more components of the sample analysis system in preparation for a sample, wherein the sample analysis system comprises a heating element, a centrifuge, a thermocycler, an imager, a user interface, and a processor; (ii) obtaining a sample potentially comprising a target; (iii) adding the obtained sample to a sample preparation receptacle, the sample preparation receptacle comprising one or more reagents configured to maximize success of the sample analysis; (iv) heating the sample preparation receptacle, with the added sample, in the heating element of the sample analysis system at a first temperature for a first heating period of time; (v) centrifuging the sample preparation receptacle, after heating, for a first period of time using the centrifuge of the sample analysis system; (vi) transferring at least a portion of the sample, after centrifugation, from the sample preparation receptacle to a sampl

Abstract: A method for identifying mastitis in a dairy animal, the method including the steps of: (i) identifying a dairy animal suspected of being affected by mastitis; (ii) collecting a sample of milk from the identified dairy animal; (iii) analyzing the sample for the presence of one or more mastitic bacteria; (iv) analyzing the sample for the presence of one or more mastitic pathogens; (v) identifying, if the presence of one or more mastitic bacteria is indicated, the mastitic bacteria in the sample; and (vi) determining, based on the identified mastitic bacteria in the sample, a management decision for the dairy animal.

Abstract: A real-time portable and rapid detection assay to identify the presence of biologically active toxins such as botulinum toxins. The proteolytic activity of BoNT/A is measured using a peptide cleavage assay, where a fluorescent substrate is cleaved by BoNT/A, resulting in increased fluorescence. This fluorescence can be monitored in real-time using a fluorescence detection instrument, such as a real-time PCR system that has been modified to implement a detection algorithm specific to the identification of the target toxin.

Abstract: A real-time portable and rapid detection assay to identify the presence of biologically active toxins such as botulinum toxins. The proteolytic activity of BoNT/A is measured using a peptide cleavage assay, where a fluorescent substrate is cleaved by BoNT/A, resulting in increased fluorescence. This fluorescence can be monitored in real-time using a fluorescence detection instrument, such as a real-time PCR system that has been modified to implement a detection algorithm specific to the identification of the target toxin.