Oxygen delivery in many animals is enabled by the formation of unicellular capillary tubes that penetrate target tissues to facilitate gas exchange. We show that the tortuous outgrowth of tracheal unicellular branches towards their target tissues is controlled by complex local interactions with target cells. Slit, a phylogenetically conserved axonal guidance signal, is expressed in several trac...

In 1944 a method of Rh blood-grouping, using slanted capillary tubes, was described (Chown, 1944). Further experience with the method led to the appreciation of certain errors in it, which, in 1946, we pointed out, together with ways of preventing them (Chown and Lewis, 1946). Although Discombe and Meyer (1948) reported favourably on the revised method, descriptions of the original one remained...

The aim of this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was to assess the impact of immediate incubation of blood cultures delivered to the laboratory outside its hours of operation on turnaround times, antibiotic prescription practices, and patient outcomes. A continuously monitoring blood culture incubator was placed outside the laboratory, which was switched on (intervention arm) an...

Commercially available blood-collection tubes may be contaminated with endotoxin (315 +/- 95 pg/tube) and could therefore be unsuitable for blood collection for endotoxin measurement. Plasma separation and storage are a potential source of contamination. To avoid contamination and error, we have developed new blood collection tubes that contain heparin free of endotoxin (LPS) and a gel to separ...

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA levels in plasma are currently widely used clinically for prognostication and in monitoring antiretroviral therapy. Accurate and reproducible results are critical for patient management. To determine the effects of specimen collection and handling procedures on quantitative measurement of HIV-1 RNA, we compared anticoagulants and sample processing...

As part of the AACR Annual Meeting Methods Workshop "Sample Collection, Processing, and Storage for Large-Scale Studies: Biorepositories to Support Cancer Research," blood specimen collection, processing, storage, and dissemination issues were discussed. Whole blood and blood fractions comprise a major portion of biospecimen collections for population-based studies. Although procedures for coll...

OBJECTIVES Making liquid biopsy testing widely available requires a concept to ship whole blood at ambient temperatures while retaining the integrity of the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) population and stability of blood cells to prevent dilution of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) with wild-type genomic DNA. The cell- and DNA-stabilizing properties of Streck Cell-Free DNA BCT blood collection tubes (cfDN...

The analysis of whole blood samples by flow cytometry for pharmacodynamic and biomarker assessments in clinical studies has been limited by the necessity to test these samples within a short time frame after blood collection. In most clinical studies, blood specimens are shipped to a centralized testing facility; it is critical to demonstrate specimen stability over a period of time which will ...

BACKGROUND Use of self-administered vaginal swabs (SAS) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by nucleic acid amplification tests simplifies specimen collection and transport, especially for women in nonclinical settings. GOAL We investigated the preference and comfort level of military women for the collection of SAS, compared with urine, for the diagnosis of genital chlamydial infectio...