摘要:
A computer-implemented method for determining the amount of an analyte of interest in a sample, the method comprising (a) forming amplification products from an analyte of interest, (b) collecting signal data with a signal measuring device concurrently with the formation of amplification products, the collected signal data comprising periodic measurements of the level of a signal emitted by the sample, wherein the level of signal emitted by the sample corresponds to the amount of amplification products formed by the sample, (c) storing the collected signal data in computer-readable media; and (d) using a computer programmed with an algorithm, which, when executed by the computer, is configured to cause the computer to access the data stored in step (c) and to adjust the data collected in step (b) to remove background contributions to the measured levels associated with sources other than the presence of the analyte of interest, normalize the data adjusted in step (d)(1) by dividing the adjusted data by the maximum level measured, adjusted to remove background contributions, approximate a curve through a portion of the adjusted, normalized data between a predetermined low bound stored on computer-readable media and a predetermined high bound stored on computer-readable media, determine an emergence time at which the curve approximated in step (d)(3) crosses a predetermined threshold data level and determine the amount of the analyte of interest by comparing the emergence time determined in step (d)(4) with threshold times determined for known amounts of the analyte of interest and stored on computer-readable media.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with a vessel capable of receiving fluid specimens for clinical analysis and diagnosis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between the fluid specimen and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device, and may include a plurality of striations which were discovered to further improve penetrability of the cap. In this way, substances can be dispensed into or withdrawn from the vessel without having to physically separate the cap from the vessel. Also featured are fluid transfer devices having rib structures which aid in improving the penetration and/or strength characteristics of standard fluid transfer devices (e.g., pipettes) and which aid in creating air gaps for venting air from the interior of a collection device to prevent or minimize the release of fluid sample in the form of an aerosol or bubbles.
摘要:
A system for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to detennine the amount of a target nucleic acid present in one or more of the reaction receptacles or to ascertain the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in one or more of the reaction receptacles, said system comprising: (A) at least one temperature-controlled incubator including an incubation chamber for receiving reaction receptacles therein and for exposing the reaction receptacles within said incubation chamber to controlled temperature conditions; (B) a nucleic acid quantification system constructed and arranged to determine the amount of a target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacles by: (1) periodically measuring the amount of a signal emitted by the contents of each reaction receptacle; and (2) quantifying the amount of the target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle based upon the periodic measurements; and (C) a nucleic acid detection system constructed and arranged to ascertain the presence of the target nucleic acid within the reaction receptacle by: (1) detecting a signal emitted by the contents each reaction receptacle; and (2) ascertaining the presence or absence of the target nucleic acid in the reaction receptacle based upon whether or not a signal above a threshold level is detected.
摘要:
The invention relates to a sealed collection device comprising a vessel closed with a penetrable cap, the collection device containing a specimen retrieval device positioned along a side wall of the vessel and having proximal portion positioned between an inner wall of the cap and the side wall of the vessel. The invention relates further to a method for obtaining a fluid substance from the sealed collection device comprising the steps of: a) penetrating the cap with a fluid transfer device; b) entering the collection device so that the specimen-retrieval device does not substantially interfere with the movement of the fluid transfer device; c) drawing the fluid substance into the fluid transfer device; and d) removing the fluid transfer device from the collection device.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a cap which can form an essentially leak-proof seal with a vessel capable of receiving fluid specimens for clinical analysis and diagnosis. To minimize potentially contaminating contact between the fluid specimen and humans or the environment, the present invention features a cap which is penetrable by a plastic pipette tip or other fluid transfer device, and may include a plurality of striations which were discovered to further improve penetrability of the cap. In this way, substances can be dispensed into or withdrawn from the vessel without having to physically separate the cap from the vessel. Also featured are fluid transfer devices having rib structures which aid in improving the penetration and/or strength characteristics of standard fluid transfer devices (e.g., pipettes) and which aid in creating air gaps for venting air from the interior of a collection device to prevent or minimize the release of fluid sample in the form of an aerosol or bubbles.
摘要:
A method for processing the contents of multiple reaction receptacles to quantitatively determine the amount of a target nucleic acid present in each of said reaction receptacles, said method comprising the automated steps of a) successively providing to a heater a plurality of reaction receptacles, each reaction receptacle being provided with reagents sufficient to amplify and detect the presence of a target sequence, or its complement, contained within a target nucleic acid under the temperature conditions of said heater; b) periodically measuring the amount of a signal associated with the presence of an amplification product containing said target sequence or its complement in each reaction receptacle provided to said heater in accordance with step a); and c) quantifying the amount of said target nucleic acid present in each reaction receptacle based upon said measurements obtained in step b), wherein a portion of said plurality of reaction receptacles are being successively provided to said heater in accordance with step a) as the contents of a portion of said plurality of reaction receptacles are being processed in accordance with steps b)-c).