Abstract: The immunoassay method and kit are provided for the detection and/or the determination of zolpidem. The disclosure provides novel antibodies, derived from a novel immunogen, that are highly sensitive and bind to zolpidem and its main urinary metabolite [3-(2-N,N-dimethylamino-2-oxoethyl)-6-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl]benzoic acid, enabling an extension of the detection window of zolpidem in individuals who have abused the drug, or have been victim of its side-effects or its criminal misuse.

Abstract: A method for determining the size of tubular pipe to be inserted into an interval of cased or uncased borehole is disclosed. The position of the borehole wall or innermost casing surface in the interval is determined and a window length that is less than the length of the interval is defined. A series of windows along the interval is defined and for each window, the determined position of the borehole wall in that window is used to define a polygon, the edges of which are defined by the parts of the borehole wall closest to the borehole axis in that window. The maximum size of pipe diameter that will fit inside the polygon in each window without intersecting the edges is determined and the size of pipe to be inserted into the interval selected based on the maximum size of diameter pipe determined for each window.

Abstract: An assembly for positioning a well access line in a well. The assembly is located between a supply of well access line and a well, with the line running through the assembly and to the well. Multiple pulleys are incorporated into the assembly about which a well access line such as a conventional wireline may be wrapped. The pulleys are biased to one another such that slack in the line may be stored at the assembly and drawn on in the event of line tension spiking up to a predetermined amount. As such, tension in the line may be kept to a minimum so as to avoid damage to the line during a well access operation. Furthermore, should the tension in the line fail to come back down to below the predetermined amount, the well access operation may be halted in an automated manner. Halting may proceed while continuing to allow take-up of the slack in the line until completed halting of the operation is achieved.

Abstract: An assembly for monitoring load on a drum during an operation in a well with a well access line deployed from the drum. The assembly may include multiple line detection mechanisms for acquiring real-time information relative to dynamic characteristics of the lone over the course of the operation. The assembly also includes a processor for computing the real-time information in light of pre-stored information relative to physical characteristics of the line and the drum. As a result, real-time monitoring of a load on the drum may be achieved. Thus, the operation may be adjusted in real-time as necessary to avoid over-loading of the drum. Additionally, a drum load history may be recorded so as to better account for the true condition of the drum following successive operations.

Abstract: An assay for measuring the amount of a first analyte in a sample, comprises the steps of: (i) contacting the sample with a device that comprises one or more first reaction sites which comprise a first ligand having affinity for the first analyte, and a series of second reaction sites each comprising different known concentrations of an immobilized second analyte; (ii) removing any unbound first analyte; (iii) contacting the device with a second ligand that is detectably labelled and which has affinity for the first analyte, and a third ligand that is detectably labelled and which has affinity for the second analyte; (iv) removing any unbound second and third ligands; and (v) measuring the amount of second and third ligands, wherein measurement of the third ligand is used to establish a calibration curve, used to determine the amount of first analyte present in sample.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the properties of a biological or chemical sample. The method includes carrying out a plurality of different tests on the sample to generate corresponding test data; optionally carrying out a preliminary processing of the test data to generate partially processed data; storing the test data and/or partially processed data; causing a processing system to analyze a user-defined selection of the test data or partially processed data to generate result data relating to one or more properties of the sample; and subsequent to the previous step, receiving a second user defined selection of the test data or partially processed data, different from the first selection, and causing the processing system to analyze the second user-defined selection of the test data or partially processed data to generate second result data relating to one or more properties of the sample different from the properties corresponding to the first user-defined selection.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the presence or risk of cancer in a patient, comprises the steps of: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome; and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene characterized by any of the nucleotide sequences identified as SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No. 10 and SEQ ID No. 13 wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which can he used to predict the risk of cancer, in particular breast cancer. The method comprises: (i) isolating a sample of the patient's genome: and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene comprised within the sequence identified herein as SEQ ID No. 1, wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a hapten, an immunogen comprising the hapten coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, a conjugate comprising the hapten coupled to a labelling agent, as well as, antibodies raised against the aforementioned immunogen and capable of binding with MDMA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an array chip, comprising the steps of: i) depositing at least one ligand onto the active surface of a wafer substrate, having at least one scribe line, the active surface being the reverse of the surface comprising the at least one scribe line; ii) detecting the ligand in relation to the at least one scribe line; and iii) breaking the wafer substrate along the at least one scribe line, to produce at least one array chip.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the presence of or the risk of cancer in a patient, comprising, with reference to a normal control, the step of: (i) detecting the expression level of a gene characterised by any of the nucleotide sequences identified herein as SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 10, in a sample isolated from a patient, wherein an increased expression level of the gene characterised by any of SEQ ID Nos. 1 to 6 and 10, or a decreased expression level of the gene characterised by any of SEQ ID Nos. 7 to 9, indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer in the patient from whom the sample was isolated.

Abstract: A production logging apparatus 1 comprises: a coupling module 2 providing a mechanical support for the production logging apparatus 1 below a pumping arrangement PA disposed in a wellbore WB, and allowing flow to enter the pumping arrangement PA, an electronic module 3 comprising a winch controller 31, a powering module 32 and a telemetry module 33, a micro-winch 4, a docking station 5 comprising a latching mechanism for ensuring positive engagement of a micro-production logging tool 6, and a micro-production logging tool 6 comprising at least one sensor 63 and coupled to the micro-winch 4 by a cable 7.

Abstract: Assay device processing apparatus includes a rotatably mounted assay device vessel support; and a drive for rotating the support. The support is rotatable about a substantially horizontal first axis so that, upon rotation, an assay device vessel attached to the support can be inverted.

Abstract: An assembly for positioning a well access line in a well. The assembly is located between a supply of well access line and a well, with the line running through the assembly and to the well. Multiple pulleys are incorporated into the assembly about which a well access line such as a conventional wireline may be wrapped. The pulleys are biased to one another such that slack in the line may be stored at the assembly and drawn on in the event of line tension spiking up to a predetermined amount. As such, tension in the line may be kept to a minimum so as to avoid damage to the line during a well access operation. Furthermore, should the tension in the line fail to come back down to below the predetermined amount, the well access operation may be halted in an automated manner. Halting may proceed while continuing to allow take-up of the slack in the line until completed halting of the operation is achieved.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of creep for a tool on a cable and positioned in a well at an oilfield. The method includes moving a winch at a surface of the oilfield to effect movement of the tool below the surface in the well. The winch may then be stopped with the tool still in the well, but frequently the tool will continue to move, or “creep”, for some time after the winch is stopped. After the winch is stopped, data may be recorded indicative of movement of the tool. This data may then be used for the determining of the amount of creep.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a plurality of antibody fragments, each comprising a framework region having a murine VH14 heavy chain and a murine VK2 light chain, or homologues thereof, each antibody fragment further comprising at least one different CDR.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for determining the size of tubular pipe to be inserted into an interval of cased or uncased borehole, comprising: determining the position of the borehole wall or innermost casing surface in the interval; defining a window length that is less than the length of the interval and defining a series of windows along the interval; for each window, using the determined position of the borehole wall in that window to define a polygon, the circumference of which is defined by the parts of the borehole wall closest to the borehole axis in that window; determining the maximum size of pipe diameter that will fit inside the polygon in each window without intersecting the circumference; selecting the size of pipe to be inserted into the interval based on the maximum size of diameter pipe determined for each window.

Abstract: The invention provides haptens, immunogens comprising such haptens coupled to an antigenicity-conferring carrier material, conjugates comprising such haptens bonded to a labelling agent as well as, antibodies raised against such immunogens and capable of binding with ketamine and its primary metabolite, norketamine.

Abstract: Methods and devices for selectively removing an agent from a physiological efferent fluid collection site are provided. A feature of the invention is that a non-occlusive aspiration device is employed to selectively remove the target agent from the site only when the target agent is present in the site. Also provided are systems and kits for performing the subject methods. The subject invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including the selective removal of both therapeutic and diagnostic agents from a variety of different physiological sites.

Abstract: An assay device processing instrument comprises a plurality of processing modules. A transport system transports an assay device to each processing module, the transport system being adapted to transfer the assay device from the transport system to the module to enable the transport system to transport another assay device while the first is processed by the processing module. A control system controls operation of the transport system such that each assay device is transferred between the modules in a predetermined sequence, and such that a number of assay devices can be processed in different modules simultaneously.