Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Gmbh

Julia Philip

Michael J Pugia

Karen L Marfurt

Karen Marfut

A concentrated sample having enhanced concentration of the one or more different populations of target rare molecules is incubated with, for each different population of target rare molecules, a particulate or non-particulate affinity agent that comprises a specific binding partner that is specific for and binds to a target rare molecule. The affinity agent comprises a mass spectrometry (MS) label precursor or a first alteration agent, which either facilitates the formation of an MS label from the MS label precursor or releases an entity that comprises the MS label precursor from the affinity agent. The MS label corresponds to one of the populations of target rare molecules. A second alteration agent is employed if the first alteration agent does not facilitate the formation of an MS label from the MS label precursor. MS analysis is used to determine each different MS label.

Rare molecule detection

There is provided a system () and method () for improving ICC and/or ISH rare cell detection by lowering background noise and providing enhanced detection of rare cells (). In an embodiment, background noise for an ICC and/or an ISH rare cell detection assay is reduced and rare cell signaling is enhanced via feedback control. To accomplish the feedback control, an electronic control circuit () can direct a fluid delivery apparatus () to add an adjustment amount to account for fluid loss in the system () when fluid loss is indicated.

Feedback control for improved rare cell detection

Nucleic acids in non-rare cells in a sample containing non-rare cells and rare cells are selectively released from the non-rare cells. The sample is combined with an aqueous medium, and the combination is held for a period of time and at a temperature for selectively releasing nucleic acids from the non-rare cells but not from the rare cells. The sample is subjected to filtration to separate rare cells from non-rare cells. Rare cells with intact nucleic acids are separated from non-rare cells and nucleic acids from the non-rare cells. Nucleic acids from the rare cells are subjected to one or more identification techniques either with or without extraction of nucleic acids from the rare cells.

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South Bend, IN, United States of America

Julia Philip