Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to ferrofluid-based assay methods, systems and device for detecting one or more parasite oocyst or egg, and more specifically, to detecting parasite oocysts or eggs in fecal matter of livestock, so as to determine parasitic infections within such livestock. Such embodiments are configured to help in the ability to maintain healthy livestock for human consumption.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems, devices and methods for increasing the accuracy of an MPN, using assay instrumentation. For example, such embodiments can be accomplished by pre-loading the assays system with standard curves generated from measurements made with dilutions of known levels of pathogens. When such an approach is used, for each sample, the value from the last positive dilution and a calibrated assay count can both be used to provide a more accurate CFU per sample value than would be determined from just the last positive dilution alone.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: Reagents, kits and methods for detecting biological molecules by energy transfer from an activated chemiluminescent substrate to an energy acceptor dye such as a J-aggregated dye are described.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: In a luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples, luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, an infrared filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the camera. The use of an infrared filter suppresses stray IR radiation resulting from plate phosphorescence (which can result in abnormally high backgrounds and/or alteration of the image received by the camera).

Abstract: Reagents, kits and methods for detecting biological molecules by energy transfer from an activated chemiluminescent substrate to an energy acceptor dye such as a J-aggregated dye are described.

Abstract: Method and system providing calibration of light detected from biological samples with a correction factor including components for each of a plurality of spectrally distinguishable species and/or for each well and/or for each filter.

Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.

Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.

Abstract: Method and system providing calibration of light detected from biological samples with a correction factor including components for each of a plurality of spectrally distinguishable species and/or for each well and/or for each filter.

Abstract: Arrays modified with chemiluminescent enhancing materials and methods of detecting chemiluminescent emissions on solid supports in the presence of chemiluminescent enhancing materials are described. The arrays include a solid support having a surface layer, a plurality of probes disposed on the surface layer in discrete regions and a chemiluminescent enhancing material. The array may be a high density array. At least some of the probes can be bound either directly or indirectly to an enzyme conjugate comprising an enzyme capable of activating a chemiluminescent substrate. The surface layer can be contacted with a composition comprising the chemiluminescent substrate in the presence of the chemiluminescent enhancing material and the resulting chemiluminescent emissions can be detected. The probes can be polynucleotide or polypeptide probes.

Abstract: A competitive assay for the concentration of a cyclic nucleotide such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate combines, in a reaction chamber provided with a capture antibody, an antibody for the cAMP or other cyclic nucleotide, the sample to be assayed and a conjugate of cAMP and alkaline phosphatase. The mixture is incubated and washed, and after washing, a 1,2-dioxetane which is caused to decompose when contacted by the alkaline phosphatase of said conjugate is added. The light emission caused by decomposition is measured, with the strength of the signal being inversely related to the concentration of the cyclic nucleotide. Optionally, an enhancement agent in the form of a polymeric onium salt may be added, to further enhance the light emission.

Abstract: A method of measuring the activity of at least two reporter gene products in an aliquot of a sample extract is disclosed. The activities of a first and second reporter enzyme are quantified by measuring the light signal produced by degradation of a first substrate by the first reporter enzyme and the light signal produced by the degradation of a second substrate by a second reporter enzyme. Both quantifications are sequentially performed on the same aliquot of sample extract.

Abstract: A method of measuring the activity of at least two reporter gene products in an aliquot of a sample extract is disclosed. The activities of a first and second reporter enzyme are quantified by measuring the light signal produced by degradation of a first substrate by the first reporter enzyme and the light signal produced by the degradation of a second substrate by a second reporter enzyme. Both quantifications are sequentially performed on the same aliquot of sample extract.

Abstract: Solid supports for chemiluminescent assays are provided. The solid support includes a plurality of probes covalently or physically attached to the support surface and a chemiluminescent enhancing moiety incorporated onto the surface or into the bulk of the support. The solid support can be a multi-layered support including an upper probe binding layer (e.g., an azlactone polymer layer or porous functional polyamide layer) adjacent to a cationic microgel layer. The azlactone-functional polymer can be a copolymer of dimethylacrylamide and vinylazlactone crosslinked with ethylenediamine. The cationic microgel layer can be a cross-linked quaternary onium salt containing polymer. A method and a kit for conducting chemiluminescent assays using the solid supports is also provided. The kit comprises a dioxetane substrate, a biopolymer probe-enzyme complex, and a solid support.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: A luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples is disclosed. Luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. The samples may be injected in the wells, and the samples may be injected with buffers and reagents, by an injector. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, a filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The use of a Fresnel field lens, in combination with a collimator and filter, reduces crosstalk between samples below the level attainable by the prior art. Preferred embodiments of the luminescence detecting apparatus and method disclosed include central processing control of all operations, multiple wavelength filter wheel, and robot handling of samples and reagents.

Abstract: A competitive assay for the concentration of a cyclic nucleotide such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate combines, in a reaction chamber provided with a capture antibody, an antibody for the cAMP or other cyclic nucleotide, the sample to be assayed and a conjugate of cAMP and alkaline phosphatase. The mixture is incubated and washed, and after washing, a 1,2-dioxetane which is cause to decompose when contacted by the alkaline phosphatase of said conjugate is added. The light emission caused by decomposition is measured, with the strength of the signal being inversely related to the concentration of the cyclic nucleotide. Optionally, an enhancement agent in the form of a polymeric onium salt may be added, to further enhance the light emission.