Hologic, Inc.

Erin Coffman

Steven Hecht

Paul MacLean

Anthony P Shuber

Howard B Kaufman

Henrik Stender

James R Linder

Brian B Lentrichia

Kenneth M Oliveira

Menashi Cohenford

Paul Maclean

The present disclosure describes a method of treating a sample comprising cells with a process of partial lysing. Cells are exposed to a process such as bead beating that lyses some cells in the mixture. The process generates a resultant sample mixture that is suitable for both cell morphology screening and genetic screening.

Method of partial lysis and assay

The present disclosure describes a method of treating a sample comprising cells with a process of partial lysing. Cells are exposed to a process such as bead beating that lyses some cells in the mixture. The process generates a resultant sample mixture that is suitable for both cell morphology screening and genetic screening. A first portion of the partially lysed sample can be mounted on a slide and observed for atypical cells and cytologic abnormalities. A second portion of the partially lysed sample can be screened for genetic markers known to correlate with a risk of cervical cancer. The method is particularly useful for cervical screening, where a combination of cytology and genetic screening present a more complete picture of cervical health. The disclosed method streamlines the diagnostic process for protocols that require both types of assays, without compromising screening accuracy.

A wash solution for remediating lubricant contamination in cytological specimens includes a Tris-based alkaline buffer solution. The buffer solution may be prepared in methanol, and may include a proton-rich protein, or a basic amino acid, such as arginine, lysine, or guanidine. A method for remediating a specimen contaminated with lubricant includes using the wash solution and/or adding a salt to the final vial prior to preparing the microscope slide. The method may include adding the wash solution to the specimen, centrifuging the specimen and wash solution to form a supernatant and cell pellet, decanting the supernatant, and adding a preservative solution to the cell pellet. The method may further include adding salt to a vial containing the preservative solution and cell pellet.

Wash solution and method to remediate lubricant contamination

This invention relates to methods, articles and compositions useful in detecting target substances in an alcoholic preservative solution, and for identifying sensors useful for binding to such targets. The methods allow for the simultaneous performance of sufficient fixation of a sample and binding of a detectable sensor to a target of interest in the sample. In one aspect, a method is provided that comprises contacting a sample suspected of containing a target with a detectable sensor molecule known to bind to such target in an alcoholic preservative solution. The method maybe performed in multiplex form to permit simultaneous analysis of a plurality of targets. Methods for identifying a sensor capable of binding to a desired target in an alcoholic preservative solution are also provided. An alcoholic preservative solution comprising one or more such detectable sensors is also provided. Also provided is a sample comprising a bound sensor provided by such a process. Also provided are kits useful for such methods.

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Nashua, NH, United States of America

Erin Coffman