Abstract: A multi-well plate reader device includes an opto-mechanical attachment configured to attach/detach to a portable electronic device having a camera. The reader includes a plurality of excitation illumination sources and a slot that receives a well plate. Excitation and emission filters are incorporated into the housing. Optical fibers are located in the attachment and transmit fluorescent light emitted from the wells of the well plate through an optional lens and into the camera. The optical fibers have an input end adjacent to the wells and an output end formed in a header, wherein, in one embodiment, multiple optical fibers are positioned within a cross-sectional area projection defined by the wells and wherein the output ends of optical fibers are mounted in the header. The pattern of the optical fibers is mapped to individual wells in a calibration operation and stored in a fiber map.

Abstract: A fluorescent dye and quencher mixture for reporting on nucleic acid amplification from a sample includes a fluorescent intercalating dye, a dye sequestering or quenching agent such as hydroxynapthol blue (HNB) or caffeine, and primers, dNTPs, and a nucleic acid polymerizing enzyme or fragment thereof. The presence of the dye in combination with the dye sequestering or quenching agent improves the overall dynamic range of the fluorescent signal as well as shortens the time needed for visualization or image capture of amplified nucleic acid. The fluorescent dye and quencher mixture also enables the detection of nucleic acids in samples having low copy numbers.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target and quantifying the concentration of the same within a sample includes generating a plurality of fractionated volumes, wherein at least some of the fractionated volumes contain the target bound to a first detector molecule connected to a first reaction component (R1) and a second detector molecule connected to a second reaction component (R2). The fractionated volumes that contain the target, first detector molecule, second detector molecule, and a probe or other reporter molecule emit light and are imaged. Fractionated volumes emitting radiation can be used to detect the presence of the target within the sample. The number of fractionated volumes emitting a positive emission signal can be counted from the image and the concentration (or range of calculations) of the target can be calculated based at least in part on the number of fractionated volumes emitting a positive emission signal from the image.