Abstract: A region of the Trichomonas vaginalis AP65-1 gene has been identified which is useful for performing amplification assays to determine specifically whether T. vaginalis is present in the sample being tested. Oligonucleotides useful for performing thermal Strand Displacement Assay (tSDA) reactions on this gene are disclosed. The disclosed oligonucleotides can be used in an assay which is specific for multiple strains of T. vaginalis and which does not show cross reactivity with the genomes of other microorganisms or with human DNA.

Abstract: A method includes providing a sample containing at least one whole, intact particle or organism in a container; creating a mixture comprising the sample, at least one magnetically-responsive particle, and a remainder; and providing the mixture with a pH of less than about 7.0. By providing the mixture with a pH of less than about 7.0, alteration of the surface charge properties of at least the one magnetic particle occurs, thereby causing the at least one whole, intact particle or organism to become non-specifically bound to the at least one magnetically-responsive particle to form a complex.

Abstract: A method includes providing a sample containing at least one whole, intact particle or organism in a container; creating a mixture comprising the sample, at least one magnetically-responsive particle, and a remainder; and providing the mixture with a pH of less than about 7.0. By providing the mixture with a pH of less than about 7.0, alteration of the surface charge properties of at least the one magnetic particle occurs, thereby causing the at least one whole, intact particle or organism to become non-specifically bound to the at least one magnetically-responsive particle to form a complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of ensuring the effectiveness of the extraction workup from a biological sample of nucleic acid. The inventive method is able to distinguish between possible defects in the extraction of nucleic acid from a sample and possible defects in a subsequent amplification step. The present invention also relates to a packaged array for extracting nucleic acid from a biological sample.

Abstract: A container (10) adapted for use in the detection of aerobic microorganisms in a sample includes a non-toxic insert (22) disposed within the container (10) for supporting microorganisms adhered thereto and for increasing microbial exposure to oxygenated growth media to enhance microbial metabolism. A method for making the container (10) includes the steps of inserting a non-toxic insert (22) into the container (10) and adding growth media (14). Also, a method of detecting aerobic microbiological growth in a sealed sample container (10) having a headspace (16) and which contains a sample which may contain an unknown microorganism includes the steps of providing a sealed sample container (10) having a headspace (16) and non-toxic insert (22) saturated with microbiological growth media (24), inoculating the insert (22) within the sealed sample container (10), and monitoring metabolism in the container (10) as an indicator of the presence of microorganisms to detect microorganisms in the sample.