Abstract: The disclosure provides a highly sensitive assay to detect the presence of a target analyte in a sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multiplex detection through measurement of localized fluorescence ratios are disclosed herein. This can include creating a plurality of capture structures that each include a detection portion that can couple with a target analyte and a stem that can include a capture structure code uniquely identifying a type of the capture structure. The capture structures can be attached to a sample surface and mixed with a sample containing a plurality of target analytes. A location and the capture structure code of each of the capture structures can be determined. A location at which a target analyte is bound to one of the capture structures can be identified, and the target analyte can be determined based on the capture structure code of the capture structure at the location at which the target analyte is bound to one of the capture structures.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection system, including apparatus and methods, suitable for qPCR and other fluorescence-based analyses. The system may comprise various components, including a stage, an illumination module, a detection module, and an optical relay structure. The stage may be configured to support a sample holder. The illumination module may include one or more discrete light sources configured to produce excitation light. The detection module may be configured to detect fluorescence emission light produced, in response to the excitation light, by a fluorescent sample positioned in the sample holder. The optical relay structure may include a beamsplitter assembly configured to direct the excitation light from the illumination module along an illumination path to the sample holder and to direct the fluorescence emission light from the sample holder along a response path to the imaging module. The system may enhance the quality of excitation light hitting samples in the sample holder.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, and methods are provided for the normalization of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Also provided are compositions, kits, and methods for multiplexing qPCR amplification of two or more target nucleic acids in the same well.

Abstract: Method of analysis for alleles of a target. In the method, a plurality of fluid volumes may be formed. Each fluid volume may contain a first primer pair to amplify a first allele of a target, a second primer pair to amplify a second allele of the target, a first reporter including a first photoluminophore and providing a primer of the first primer pair, and a second reporter including a second photoluminophore and providing a primer of the second primer pair. Each of the first and second reporters may include an oligomer having a quencher, and the oligomer may be configured to base-pair with the primer of the first primer pair and the primer of the second primer pair. The first and second alleles may be amplified using the first and second primer pairs. Photoluminescence may be detected. A level of each allele may be determined.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: Methods of, and compositions for, analysis using digital amplification assays with unconventional/inverse changes in photoluminescence to indicate the presence of one or more targets. In an exemplary method, isolated volumes may be formed, only a subset of which contain a target. Each volume may include a probe having a label, a sink having a quencher and configured to hybridize with the probe to quench the label, and a separator configured to hybridize with the probe and/or the sink to block hybridization of the sink with the probe. An amplification reaction may be performed in the volumes to generate an amplicon corresponding to the target. The separator may hybridize with the amplicon, and may be extended or degraded by the amplification reaction. Photoluminescence of the label may be detected from the volumes, and the photoluminescence of target-positive volumes may be less than that of target-negative volumes.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: Described are methods and compositions for sequential multiplex detection of target analytes in a sample. The method comprises contacting the sample comprising analytes immobilized on a solid support with binding agents that specifically bind an analyte in the sample, wherein each of the binding agents binds a different analyte and is attached to a single-stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising a unique sequence. The sample is then contacted with a labeled complementary nucleic acid molecule that binds the single-stranded nucleic acid molecule attached to one binding agent. The signal from the label is detected, and then reduced or eliminated. The sample can be simultaneously contacted with a second labeled complementary nucleic acid molecule that binds a different binding agent, and the signal from the second label is detected. The process is repeated for each additional analyte in the sample, thereby sequentially detecting the presence of the analytes in the sample.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, and methods are provided for the normalization of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Also provided are compositions, kits, and methods for multiplexing qPCR amplification of two or more target nucleic acids in the same well.

Abstract: Methods of, and compositions for, analysis using digital amplification assays with unconventional/inverse changes in photoluminescence to indicate the presence of one or more targets. In an exemplary method, isolated volumes may be formed, only a subset of which contain a target. Each volume may include a probe having a label, a sink having a quencher and configured to hybridize with the probe to quench the label, and a separator configured to hybridize with the probe and/or the sink to block hybridization of the sink with the probe. An amplification reaction may be performed in the volumes to generate an amplicon corresponding to the target. The separator may hybridize with the amplicon, and may be extended or degraded by the amplification reaction. Photoluminescence of the label may be detected from the volumes, and the photoluminescence of target-positive volumes may be less than that of target-negative volumes.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits are provided for quantifying a number or frequency of double stranded breaks in the genome of a cell or in the genomes of a population of cells.

Abstract: Biological cells in a liquid suspension are counted in an automated cell counter that focuses an image of the suspension on a digital imaging sensor that contains at least 4,000,000 pixels each having an area of 2×2 ?m or less and that images a field of view of at least 3 mm2. The sensor enables the counter to compress the optical components into an optical path of less than 20 cm in height when arranged vertically with no changes in direction of the optical path as a whole, and the entire instrument has a footprint of less than 300 cm2. Activation of the light source, automated focusing of the sensor image, and digital cell counting are all initiated by the simple insertion of the sample holder into the instrument. The suspension is placed in a sample chamber in the form of a slide that is shaped to ensure proper orientation of the slide in the cell counter.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and kits are provided for quantifying a number or frequency of double stranded breaks in the genome of a cell or in the genomes of a population of cells.

Abstract: An automated system captures multiple digital images of a sample, from different viewing areas of the sample. The images are analyzed and a test result may be reported based on the count of cells in all of the digital images. The system may be especially applicable to the testing of samples having low cell concentrations, as the variability between tests may be reduced as compared with a system that bases its test results on only a single image of the sample. The system may count the cells in a first digital image of the sample, and may capture or analyze one or more additional digital images only when it is recognized that additional measurements are needed to ensure adequate accuracy and repeatability of the test.

Abstract: System, including methods, apparatus, and compositions, for performing amplification assays with an amplification reporter including a first oligomer and a second oligomer capable of base-pairing with one another below a melting temperature of the reporter. The reporter may have a detectable photoluminescence that is affected, such as reduced, by base-pairing of the first and second oligomers with one another. A target, such as a nucleic acid target sequence, may be amplified in at least one volume, such as a plurality of partitions, above the melting temperature, and photoluminescence of the reporter may be detected from the at least one volume below the melting temperature. A property of the target, such as a concentration of the target, may be determined based on the photoluminescence detected.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods for measuring the copy number for highly amplified and/or abundant genomic loci. Recognized herein is a need for methods for determining nucleic acid copy number, particularly in instances where one locus to be quantified (i.e., the target) is relatively more abundant than a locus of known abundance (i.e., the reference). In some cases, the method involves combining a query nucleic acid sample with a diluting nucleic acid sample and measuring the relative copy number of a target sequence compared with a reference sequence in the combined sample.