Abstract: A microfabricated device for fragmenting nucleic acids present in a fluid sample, the device comprising an inlet port (20), a fragmentation cell (1), and an outlet port (10) downstream from said inlet port (20), said cell (1) being in fluid communication with said ports, and wherein said outlet port is dimensioned to impede the flow of a fluid sample out of said cell (1) so as to effect shearing of nucleic acids molecules therein.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide molecule for use in the detection of mRNA transcribed from the E6 gene of a human papillomavirus, the oligonucleotide comprising any one of sequence numbers 1-133.

Abstract: An in vitro method is provided for screening human female subjects to assess their risk of developing cervical carcinoma which comprises screening the subject for expression of mRNA transcripts from the E6 and optionally the L1 gene of human papillomavirus, wherein subjects positive for expression of L1 and/or E6 mRNA are scored as being at risk of developing cervical carcinoma. Kits for carrying out such methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfabricated reaction chamber system and a method of fluid transport. The system may be used, for example, in a method of carrying out a nucleic acid sequence amplification and detection process on a nucleic acid sample. The microfabricated chamber system comprises an inlet port and/or an outlet port and a variable volume chamber in fluid communication with said port(s), wherein altering the volume of the variable volume chamber effects and/or restricts flow of a fluid sample to and/or from said port(s).

Abstract: There is disclosed a sensitive method for specific detection of ligands comprising the steps of (a) contacting the sample with reagents capable of forming a reagent complex, which reagent complex comprises a receptor capable of specifically binding to said ligand and a nucleic acid molecule; and (b) detecting any complexes formed by binding of the receptor part of said reagent complex to ligand present in the sample by specifically detecting the presence of the nucleic acid molecule by amplifying a region of the nucleic acid and simultaneously detecting products of the amplification reaction in real-time.

Abstract: A method for the identification of the presence of E. coli, and Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium in liquid or liquified samples. The method employs novel oligonucleotide primers based on sequences of the E. coli LamB gene and the Enterococcus faecalis/faecium transposase gene Tn1546. The method involves enrichment of the liquid or liquified sample, preferably using a selective medium, obtaining DNA from bacteria in the sample, and PCR amplification of the DNA using the novel oligonucleotide primers. Kits with the primers are also contemplated.

Abstract: A microfabricated reaction chamber system for carrying out a nucleic acid sequence amplifiation and detection process on a nucleic acid sample, the process comprising at least first and second process steps using first and second reagents, the device cmprising: an inlet port; a first reaction chamber in communication with the inlet port, for carrying out the first process step; a second reaction chamber in communication with the first reaction chamber, for carrying out the second process step; and an outlet port in communication with the second reaction chamber.