Abstract: A method and apparatus that serve as a control and calibrator for assays performed on cells and tissues mounted on a microscope slide is described. The apparatus comprises a quality control moiety, such as a peptide epitope, linked to a particulate object, such as a clear spherical bead and the bead is preferably approximately the size of a cell. The quality control moiety is designed to behave in a similar manner in the assay as an analyte, yielding a positive assay reaction an the bead is retained on a microscope slide during the steps of staining by a novel liquid matrix, which solidifies upon drying and causes adherence of the beads to the microscope slide.

Abstract: An antigen-dependent negative selection blood cell separation method is described. Rare circulating epithelial cells can be separated from blood by depleting erythrocytes from a blood sample. Erythrocytes are depleted by agglutination. The new method comprises the use of an agglutinating agent, such as an anti-glycophorin A or glycophorin B antibody, as glycophorin A or B are present on erythrocytes and not on the desired epithelial cells. With regular mixing, desired rare circulating epithelial cells do not become entrapped in the red cell agglutinate.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.

Abstract: There are many clinical instances in which, during the course of a disease, a patient may produce an antibody directed to unknown protein target(s). The targeted antigen(s) may be autoantigens (e.g., autoimmune diseases), microbial antigens (e.g., infectious diseases), allergens or, as in the case of B lymphoproliferative disorders and monoclonal gammopathies, antigens of unknown identity. When the antigen source is known or suspected, it may be feasible to construct a cDNA expression library and identify it. However, with no clues as to the antigen's origin, expression screening is impossible. We describe a new search strategy to overcome this limitation. We term the approach Epitope-Mediated Antigen Prediction (E-MAP). The technology enables one to link antibodies of unknown specificity to their cognate/target antigens in the protein database without requiring prior knowledge of their cellular source. We also describe a clinical application of the E-MAP technology to the study of multiple myeloma.

Abstract: This invention describes a cartridge pump and dispensing assembly for applications where cartridges containing liquid reagents are interchanged often. The cartridge pump has a reagent reservoir which directly empties into a metering chamber. A valve is at each end of the metering chamber. The two valves are aligned in the same direction so as to allow unidirectional liquid flow. The metering chamber is made of a compressible material, such as flexible tubing, so that when an external compression is applied to the chamber, the liquid contained therein is forcibly expelled. As the compression is removed, the metering chamber resumes its former shape and draws liquid into the chamber from the reagent reservoir. A dispensing assembly with electromechanical actuators for compression of the metering chamber and a sensor for sensing the amount of liquid contained within the reagent reservoir are also shown.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: An antigen-dependent negative selection blood cell separation method is described. Rare circulating epithelial cells can be separated from blood by depleting erythrocytes from a blood sample. Erythrocytes are depleted by agglutination. The new method comprises the use of an agglutinating agent, such as an anti-glycophorin A or glycophorin B antibody, as glycophorin A or B are present on erythrocytes and not on the desired epithelial cells. With regular mixing, desired rare circulating epithelial cells do not become entrapped in the red cell agglutinate.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: A method and device is described for a quality control device for immunohistochemical testing of surgical biopsies. Immunohistochemistry testing involves the use of antibodies to detect the presence of proteins that have diagnostic or prognostic importance. A cell-free moiety is covalently attached to glass microscope slides. The cell-free moiety can represent antibody contact sites to the native protein. Namely, the cell-free moiety can contain the same amino acid sequence as the epitope in the native protein to where the antibody binds. Alternatively, the cell-free moiety may not necessarily share the exact sequence as found in the native protein but they still bind to the antibody. Tissue sections derived from surgical biopsies can be mounted on the same glass slides bearing the cell-free moiety. As the immunohistochemical stain is performed on the tissue section, a similar reaction sequence occurs at the site of the glass slide where the peptide is located.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: A method and device is described for a quality control device for immunohistochemical testing of surgical biopsies. Immunohistochemistry testing involves the use of antibodies to detect the presence of proteins that have diagnostic or prognostic importance. In this invention, peptides are covalently attached to glass microscope slides. The peptides represent antibody contact sites to the native protein. Namely, the peptide contains the same amino acid sequence as the epitope in the native protein to where the antibody binds. Alternatively, peptides may not necessarily share the exact sequence as found in the native protein but they still bind to the antibody. To use this invention, tissue sections derived from surgical biopsies may be mounted on glass slides bearing the peptides. As the immunohistochemical stain is performed on the tissue section, a similar reaction sequence occurs at the site of the glass slide where the peptide is located.

Abstract: The invention describes quality control devices for assays that measure analytes in cells and tissue samples, and methods of use thereof. In particular, the quality control device comprises a matrix affixed with synthetic controls in different concentrations, or different synthetic controls. The quality control device can be adhered to a microscope slide via an adhesive or chemically attached to a microscope slide and processed simultaneously with a tissue sample.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: A microscope slide stainer includes a platform that supports a plurality of microscope slides. The platform includes surface areas, heated by resistive heaters, under the microscope slides. A liquid dispenser is located above the platform and the dispenser and platform are adapted for relative movement with respect to each other. The dispenser dispenses liquid reagents onto a slide bearing a biological sample.

Abstract: An automated slide stainer with slides mounted in a horizontal position on a rotary carousel. Reagents and rinse liquids are automatically dispensed onto tissue sections or cells mounted on slides for the purpose of performing chemical or immunohistochemical stains. The rinse liquids are removed by an aspiration head connected to a source of vacuum. Individual slides or groups of slides are supported on flat heating stations for heating to individual temperatures. Temperature control electronics on the carousel are controlled by a user interface off of the carousel.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.

Abstract: A sample chamber is formed by a housing sealed against a microscope slide. The housing has fluid ports, including a well formed over at least one port. In a rinse station, rinse solution is drawn from a reservoir through the chamber to a waste reservoir. At a fill station, an aliquot of reagent already placed in the well is driven into the chamber. The reagent may be driven into the chamber by first drawing a vacuum on the chamber through the aliquot of reagent and then releasing the reagent to be drawn into the chamber by the vacuum.