Abstract: A specimen package includes a top, a first side, connected to the top, a bottom, connected to the first side, and a second side, connected to the bottom. The package also includes therein an internal separator. The internal separator forms a first compartment and a second compartment within the package. The top includes a window for viewing the first compartment. The bottom includes a second window for viewing the second compartment. The top, the first side, the bottom, the second side, and the internal separator can all be formed by folding a shaped planar sheet. The first compartment can contain a specimen, placeable within the first compartment. The second compartment can contain a label, placeable within the second compartment. The specimen is viewable through the first window, and the label is viewable through the second window.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclease resistant nucleic acids in general and ribonuclease resistant RNAs in particular. Methods of making and using such nucleic acids are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions that provide a positive control to identify inhibition during a signal amplification reaction. The methods and compositions of the present invention are designed to run in the same tube or assay environment as the experimental or target sample and contain a copy of the target sequence in an inverted form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclease resistant nucleic acids in general and ribonuclease resistant RNAs in particular. Methods of making and using such nucleic acids are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclease resistant nucleic acids in general and ribonuclease resistant RNAs in particular. Methods of making and using such nucleic acids are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions that provide a positive control to identify inhibition during a signal amplification reaction. The methods and compositions of the present invention are designed to run in the same tube or assay environment as the experimental or target sample and contain a copy of the target sequence in an inverted form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions that provide a positive control to identify inhibition during a signal amplification reaction. The methods and compositions of the present invention are designed to run in the same tube or assay environment as the experimental or target sample and contain a copy of the target sequence in an inverted form.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the process of creating a recombinant nucleic acid standard which is resistant to ribonuclease digestion and is non-infectious. A single strand of recombinant nucleic acid is encapsidated by bacteriophage proteins. The recombinant nucleic acid is a hybrid sequence encoding bacteriophage proteins and a specific non-bacteriophage sequence. A non-bacteriophage RNA sequence can be used as an RNA standard to help quantify the number of RNA molecules in an unknown sample. The recombinant RNA in its packaged form is highly resistant to ribonucleases, insuring that the RNA standard is not compromised by inadvertent ribonuclease contamination. These ARMORED RNA.TM. standards are ideal as RNA standards for the quantification of RNA viruses such as HIV and HCV from human body fluids such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the process of creating a recombinant nucleic acid standard which is resistant to ribonuclease digestion and is non-infectious. A single strand of recombinant nucleic acid is encapsidated by bacteriophage proteins. The recombinant nucleic acid is a hybrid sequence encoding bacteriophage proteins and a specific non-bacteriophage sequence. A non-bacteriophage RNA sequence can be used as an RNA standard to help quantify the number of RNA molecules in an unknown sample. The recombinant RNA in its packaged form is highly resistant to ribonucleases, insuring that the RNA standard is not compromised by inadvertent ribonuclease contamination. These "ARMORED RNA" standards are ideal as RNA standards for the quantification of RNA viruses such as HIV and HCV from human body fluids such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid.