SYSTEMS FOR ANALYZING STABILIZED BIOMARKERS

1 . A system for the detection of a diagnostic marker, the system comprising:

a detection platform comprising a plurality of detection wells housed in a solid matrix;

the detection wells containing a plurality of diagnostic markers and at least one competitor molecule, wherein the plurality of diagnostic markers and at least one control molecule are each bound to a paramagnetic particle;

a detection system capable of receiving the detection platform, exerting a magnetic field upon a surface of the detection platform, and determining at least one characteristic of the diagnostic marker.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the solid matrix is comprised of material selected for the group consisting of quartz, glass, metal, silica-based materials, resins, polymers, or combinations thereof.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is able to force the paramagnetic particle towards the surface of the detection platform.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a second paramagnetic particle linked to a detection antibody.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second paramagnetic particle is comprised of Europium.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second paramagnetic particle is coupled to a second detection agent.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker indicative of a disease state.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the disease state is selected from the group consisting of a cancer, a metabolic disease, a cardiac disease, diabetes, a bacterial infection, a viral infection, a fungal infection, and a parasitic infection.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the competitor is an anti-haptin.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0, acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, benzoic acid, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is capable of inhibiting degradation of the diagnostic marker to an inhibitory degree, wherein the inhibitory degree is selected from the group consisting of at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, and at least about 99%.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent has a concentration selected from the group consisting of about 200 parts per million (ppm) to about 2000 ppm, about 400 ppm to about 1600 ppm, about 600 ppm to about 1400 ppm, about 800 ppm to about 1200 ppm, and about 400 ppm to about 600 ppm.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is able to inhibit the degradation or inactivation of the diagnostic marker for an inhibitory period selected from the group consisting of at least one minute, at least about five minutes, at least about ten minutes, at least about fifteen minutes, at least about thirty minutes, at least about one hour, at least about two hours, at least about four hours, and at least about eight hours.

14 . A method of detecting a diagnostic marker, the method comprising the steps of:

contacting a bodily fluid specimen with a stabilization agent;

introducing the stabilized bodily fluid specimen into a system for the detection of a diagnostic marker, the system comprising:

a detection platform comprising a plurality of detection wells housed in a solid matrix;

the detection wells containing a plurality of diagnostic markers and at least one competitor molecule, wherein the plurality of diagnostic markers and at least one control molecule are each bound to a paramagnetic particle

a detection device capable of receiving the detection platform, exerting a magnetic field upon a surface of the detection platform, and determining at least one characteristic of the plurality of diagnostic markers;

applying a magnetic field from the detection device onto a bottom surface of the detection platform, wherein the paramagnetic particles are urged to the bottom surface in response to the application of the magnetic field; and

determining at least one characteristic of the plurality of diagnostic markers.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the magnetic field is able to force the paramagnetic particle towards the surface of the detection platform.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing agent is useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker indicative of a disease state.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the disease state is selected from the group consisting of a cancer, a metabolic disease, a cardiac disease, diabetes, a bacterial infection, a viral infection, a fungal infection, and a parasitic infection.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the competitor is an anti-haptin.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0, acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, benzoic acid, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.