Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Arbor Vita Corporation

John D Mantlo

Adrien P Malick

Song Shi

Susan M Kircher

William B Brasso

Liping Feng

Vanda White

Timothy M Wiles

Julie L Rosales

Virginia M Crews

Jon E Salomon

Xiao Mo

Tuan-Linh Ngoc Nguyen

Peter S Lu

Patrick Shawn Beaty

Johannes Schweizer

Stephen J Lovell

Ben Turng

Xiao Li

Donald Ray Callihan

Dyan Luper

Curtis M Gosnell

Kenneth Anthony Kopher

James Y Zhou

Jeffery H Bruton

Carrie S Ferguson

Jeff H Bruton

Robert J Beadenkopf

William Alfred Pope

Axel A Yup

Lydia Blank

John P Douglass

Nancy Hasse

Tong Zhou

Yongqiang Zhang

Jefferey H Bruton

Donald R Callihan

Shawn Beaty

Timothy Wiles

Methods for preparing a biological sample for testing by Maldi where such methods are selected based on sample parameters. Maldi scores are obtained for a range of sample parameters (e.g. McFarland, dispense volume and number of dispenses). From the data, sample preparation parameters can be selected for a biological sample being prepared for Maldi testing. One sample preparation strategy uses multiple dispenses of sample with an intervening drying step, which yields more accurate Maldi scores, particularly for samples at the low range of McFarland values (e.g. below about 2).

Method of sample preparation for Maldi and automated system therefor

Method of sample preparation for maldi and automated system therefor

The present disclosure describes pipette tips having an absorbent material (e.g., a flocking material) anchored to a distal end of the pipette tip and related methods of use. In some embodiments, the flocked pipette tips can be used in an automated process and/or system, wherein the contact between the pipette tips and either a sample or a culture medium can be automatically sensed for accurate sample collection and/or dispense. In some embodiments, automatic detection of the liquid interface may be accomplished by detecting a threshold change in capacitance when the pipette tip contacts the sample liquid interface (e.g., for sample collection) or the agar interface (e.g., for sample release). In some embodiments, the automated process and/or system may utilize one or more predetermined, fixed heights for collecting samples and/or depositing samples.

Unique sample transfer device for an automated pipettor for processing a variety of clinical microbiological specimens

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for reagents and methods for rapidly isolating viable microbial cells, including, from positive blood culture samples. The resulting microbial pellet can be used for both identification and growth-based methods such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The buffers described herein may contain a base solution, non-ionic detergents, thiols, and optionally, ammonium chloride. The disclosed methods provide a process for rapidly isolating and concentrating viable microorganism(s) from PBC samples using only one sample preparation tube and centrifugation while removing cellular debris from the mammalian blood cells that may interfere with identification methods.

Formulations and process for isolating viable microorganisms from positive blood cultures

Rapid methods that identify sepsis-causing bacteria or yeast aid the physician in critical therapeutic decision-making, thus decreasing patient mortality rates. The methods described herein employ plating microorganisms directly on to a MALDI-MS plate, adding concentrated formic acid, and identifying the microorganism by mass spectrometry. Optionally, an organic solvent may be combined with the formic acid, or added to the sample before or after the concentrated formic acid is added thereto. The methods enable direct extraction of proteins from microorganisms without the need for liquid protein extraction methods and yields positive identification results for gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and yeast in minutes.

Identification of microorganisms using MALDI-TOF-MS on-plate extraction

Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for reagents and methods for rapidly isolating viable microbial cells, including, from positive blood culture samples. The resulting microbial pellet can be used for both identification and growth-based methods such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The buffers described herein may contain a base solution, non-ionic detergents, thiols, and optionally, ammonium chloride. The disclosed methods provide a process for rapidly isolating and concentrating viable microorganism (s) from PBC samples using only one sample preparation tube and centrifugation while removing cellular debris from the mammalian blood cells that may interfere with identification methods.

Methods for producing a protein extract from cells, such as cells or cellular samples containing viral proteins, are provided. In general terms, the methods may involve: increasing the pH of the cells to a pH of at least about pH 10.0 to produce an intermediate composition, and then, in the presence of a non-ionic detergent such as a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, neutralizing the pH of the intermediate composition to produce the protein extract. Such methods can be used in conjunction with methods for detecting one or more target proteins in a sample, such as viral proteins. Systems, kits and compositions for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Method of efficient extraction of protein from cells

Described herein are methods and reagents for identifying and analyzing at least one microorganism (e.g. bacteria) in a sample and reducing the background signal intensity obtained when analyzing the sample by flow cytometry. The sample is prepared by combining the sample with a background signal-reducing molecule or with a nucleic acid stain covalently linked to a quencher. A portion of the particulate matter in the sample can optionally be removed with a resin prior to staining with a nucleic acid stain.

Sample preparation for flow cytometry

Methods for producing a protein extract from cells, such as cells containing viral proteins, are provided. In general terms, the methods involve: increasing the pH of the cells to a pH of at least about pH 10.0 to produce an intermediate composition, and then, in the presence of a non-ionic detergent, neutralizing the pH of the intermediate composition to produce the protein extract. Kits and compositions for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Method of protein extraction from cells

A process for determining one of the presence, absence, or total of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) in a sample. According to the process, a biological sample containing complex matrices is obtained. The sample is first combined with a resin to adsorb complex matrices from the sample. The resin is removed from the biological sample. The sample so prepared is then analyzed by flow cytometry.

Method for improving analysis of microorganisms in complex matrices

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Westminster, MD, United States of America

John D Mantlo