Abstract:
Assays and methods for detecting resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics including detection of multiple β-lactamase family specific gene targets by polymerase chain reaction or microarray. One or more kits including primers and/or probes for identification of β-lactamase genes selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following:MOX-like, FOX-like, ACC-like, ACT/MIR-like, CMY-2-like, DHA-like, CTX-M-14-like, CTX-M-15-like, VIM-like, NDM-like, IMP-like, KPC-like, and OXA-48-like, OXA-51 -like, OXA-143-like, OXA-58-like, OXA-23-like, OXA-24/40-like, TEM-like, and SHV-like. A kit may also include one or more primers and/or probes for the identification a non-beta lactamase gene family which confers antibiotic resistance, such as the MCR-1 gene.
Abstract:
A method for preserving and processing nucleic acids located within a blood sample is disclosed, wherein a blood sample containing nucleic acids is treated to reduce both blood cell lysis and nuclease activity within the blood sample. The treatment of the sample aids in increasing the integrity and amount of cellular nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while avoiding contamination of the isolated nucleic acids with cell -free nucleic acids. The preferred compositions for preserving and processing contain diazolidinyl urea (DU), EDTA, aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), glyceraldehyde and sodium floride.
Abstract:
The present teachings relate to a method of making a biological sample collection container, an internally coated biological sample collection container, and uses of the same, particularly for omic analysis. A reagent (or a reagent precursor) is deposited in a liquid state at least partially along at least one side wall of the container. The reagent precursor is dried to form a dried coating having a predefined pattern and topology along at least a portion of the at least one side wall. A container thus results having a coating that includes, in a dried state, a stabilizer agent, or reaction product of a stabilizer agent and an anticoagulant, and upon collection of a sample enables stabilization of any present white blood cells, cell-free nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, proteins, metabolites, lipids, or any combination thereof, and preserving them in sufficient quantity and quality for omic analysis.
Abstract:
An improved sample tube that includes a body portion having a longitudinal axis and a wall generally circumscribing the longitudinal axis. The body portion terminates in a distal tip having a dimple. The body portion includes at least one transparent portion (e.g., at the distal tip) that is adapted for transmitting light. The wail is configured for elastic deformation along at feast a portion of its length, including in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, so that it compressively and resiliently deforms and engages a wail defining an opening in a sample block of a PGR amplification instrument. The tube may be made by injection molding a polymeric material including a thermoplastic.
Abstract:
Compositions and Methods for Stabilizing Circulating Tumor Cells Methods and compositions for stabilizing a biological sample for analysis, comprising the steps of obtaining in a sample collection device a biological sample from a subject, especially blood, the biological sample including at least one circulating tumor cell from the subject. The methods may include a step of contacting the biological sample with a protective agent composition that includes a preservative agent, an optional anticoagulant, and a quenching agent to form a mixture that includes the protective agent composition and the sample.
Abstract:
Methods and devices for stabilizing a biological sample for analysis, comprising the steps of obtaining in a sample collection device a biological sample from a subject, the biological sample including at (east one circulating cell-free first nucleic acid from the subject. The methods may include a step of contacting the.biological sample while within the sample collection device with a protective agent composition that Includes a preservative agent, an optionai anticoagulant, and a quenching agent to form a mature that: includes the protective agent composition and the sample.
Abstract:
A composition (and associated methods) including a plurality of treated red blood cells for simulating reticulocytes, and particularly an immature reticulocyte fraction, of whole blood when processed as a sample in an automated analyzer capable of detecting reticulocytes. A method for making the composition or other simulated reticuolcyte may include steps of contacting a suspension of a plurality of red blood cells each having a membrane in an initial state that surrounds an interior volume of a cell with an effective amount of a hypertonic permeabilizing solution including dimethyl sulfoxide and a hypotonic loading agent delivery solution including a loading agent, for a sufficient time to form a plurality of pores in the membrane, for permitting the loading agent to enter into the interior volume of the cells, and, after entry of a desired amount of the loading agent into the interior volume of the cell, for sealing the pores for substantially restoring the membrane to the initial state while substantially encapsulating the loading agent within the resulting cell, and preferably also retaining within the resulting cell a substantial amount of hemoglobin from the original starting red blood cell.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed at a composition comprising a live swine flu virus having an infectious component and a plurality of surface antigens in contact with a formaldehyde donor agent having a molecular weight that is less than about 400 g/mol. Preferably, the formaldehyde donor agent is selected from a non-crosslinking chemical fixative that contains urea.
Abstract:
A thermocycling device (10) and method of operating in which at least one first temperature sensor (1060) monitors a first temperature condition within the sample holder (64) and is adapted to provide a first electrical signal corresponding with the first temperature condition. In addition, at least one second temperature sensor (87) monitors a second temperature condition of a component external of the sample holder and is adapted to provide a second signal corresponding with the second temperature condition. At least one control device is adapted to interface with a power supply (1010) to control the delivery of power to a first thermal cycling element (60) and a second thermal cycling element (62), (both of which may sandwich a sample holder) and optionally an air mover (54); adapted to be in signaling communication with the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor; is configured for analysis of signals from the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and; is configured such that, based upon such analysis, the at least one control device alters the power that is delivered to one or more of the first thermal cycling element and second thermal cycling element, and/or the air mover. The device Is controllably operated to account for thermal inertia effects.
Abstract:
Compositions for preserving and processing fetal nucleic acids located within maternal blood samples are disclosed, wherein a sample of maternal blood containing fetal nucleic acids is treated with a composition to reduce both cell lysis of the maternal blood cells and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and ribonuclease (RNase) activity within the fetal nucleic acids. Treatment of the sample with a composition as disclosed herein aids in increasing the arnount of fetal nucleic acids that can be identified and tested while maintaining the structure and integrity of the fetal nucleic acids.