Abstract: The present disclosure relates in general, to quality control compositions and whole organism control materials for use in assessing the functionality of Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) and to related methods, uses and kits. In some aspects the NAT is used to detect the presence of an organism and a target nucleic acid sequence in a test article, the quality control composition comprising: (i) a first protected nucleic acid sequence comprising a first nucleic acid sequence the presence of which is characteristic of the presence of the organism in the test article said first nucleic acid sequence being tested in the NAT; and (ii) a second protected nucleic acid sequence comprising a second nucleic acid sequence the presence of which is characteristic of the presence of the target nucleic acid sequence in the test article said second nucleic acid sequence being tested for in the NAT.

Abstract: A method of configuring an optical system to reduce variations in measured properties of an analyte includes selecting a number of beams into which radiation from a source of radiation is to be split, wherein, upon irradiating the analyte from a plurality of directions by the number of beams, a variation of a resulting measurement of the analyte is at or below a threshold. The method further includes aligning the source of radiation and a plurality of optical elements optically coupled to the source of radiation such that the selected number of beams irradiate the analyte upon emission of radiation by the source of radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying analytes of a first type in a fluid sample having a plurality of types includes a closed flow cell. The flow cell includes a sample inlet, a sample outlet. A flow path, between the inlet and outlet, passing through an interrogation region and at least a portion extending from immediately upstream to immediately downstream of the interrogation region is bounded by a flow cell well to form a continuous closed flow path. The apparatus also includes a spherical element having a center point coincident with the interrogation region. A hydrodynamic focusing element upstream of the interrogation region creates a core-in-sheath flow along a flow axis of the flow path as it passes through the interrogation region. Further, the apparatus includes a concave, ellipsoidal collector element having a first focal point disposed in the interrogation region of the flow path.

Abstract: A method of configuring an optical system to reduce variations in measured properties of an analyte includes selecting a number of beams into which radiation from a source of radiation is to be split, wherein, upon irradiating the analyte from a plurality of directions by the number of beams, a variation of a resulting measurement of the analyte is at or below a threshold. The method further includes aligning the source of radiation and a plurality of optical elements optically coupled to the source of radiation such that the selected number of beams irradiate the analyte upon emission of radiation by the source of radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying analytes of a first type in a fluid sample having a plurality of types includes a closed flow cell. The flow cell includes a sample inlet, a sample outlet. A flow path, between the inlet and outlet, passing through an interrogation region and at least a portion extending from immediately upstream to immediately downstream of the interrogation region is bounded by a flow cell well to form a continuous closed flow path. The apparatus also includes a spherical element having a center point coincident with the interrogation region. A hydrodynamic focusing element upstream of the interrogation region creates a core-in-sheath flow along a flow axis of the flow path as it passes through the interrogation region. Further, the apparatus includes a concave, ellipsoidal collector element having a first focal point disposed in the interrogation region of the flow path.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample includes an illumination source for generating electromagnetic energy to illuminate the sample at an interrogation region, a concave collector element having an optical axis, and a focal point, the interrogation region being coincident with the focal point of the concave collector element, a closed flow cell having a flow path defined between a sample inlet and a sample outlet, the flow path passing through the interrogation region and a sorting region disposed downstream of the interrogation region. The portion of the flow path passing through the interrogation region is coaxially aligned with the optical axis of the concave collector element. The apparatus further includes the sample comprising or suspected of comprising the analyte and flowing in the flow path, wherein the analyte generates a detectable signal in response to illumination. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting the detectable signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing cell cytometry mitigate or eliminate the effects of refraction that result from interfaces between materials having different refractive indices. Solid materials, such as the walls of a flow path, which materials are disposed between a nominal focal point and an objective lens, are formed of a material having a refractive index between 1.30 and 1.40 inclusive. The refractive index of a liquid material, such as an immersion fluid or a fluid carrying, suspending, or bathing an analyte, may be adjusted to have a refractive index closer to that of surrounding solid materials and, in particular, within 0.02 of the refractive index of the surrounding solid materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample includes an illumination source for generating electromagnetic energy to illuminate the sample at an interrogation region, a concave collector element having an optical axis, and a focal point, the interrogation region being coincident with the focal point of the concave collector element, a closed flow cell having a flow path defined between a sample inlet and a sample outlet, the flow path passing through the interrogation region and a sorting region disposed downstream of the interrogation region. The portion of the flow path passing through the interrogation region is coaxially aligned with the optical axis of the concave collector element. The apparatus further includes the sample comprising or suspected of comprising the analyte and flowing in the flow path, wherein the analyte generates a detectable signal in response to illumination. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting the detectable signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing cell cytometry mitigate or eliminate the effects of refraction that result from interfaces between materials having different refractive indices. Solid materials, such as the walls of a flow path, which materials are disposed between a nominal focal point and an objective lens, are formed of a material having a refractive index between 1.30 and 1.40 inclusive. The refractive index of a liquid material, such as an immersion fluid or a fluid carrying, suspending, or bathing an analyte, may be adjusted to have a refractive index closer to that of surrounding solid materials and, in particular, within 0.02 of the refractive index of the surrounding solid materials.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens.