1. A method effective for at least a week for prevention of microbial colony growth on an inanimate surface which is a plastic, metal, glass or ceramic surface, comprising the step of covering the surface with a dry or substantially dry film formed from a composition comprising a polyvinyl alcohol, a quaternary ammonium compound and a surfactant which does not inactivate the quaternary compound.
2. (canceled)
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the film is formed in situ by coating the surface with a solution or emulsion comprising a polyvinyl alcohol and a quaternary ammonium compound and then causing or allowing it to dry or substantially dry.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the film is effective for prevention of microbial colony growth thereon for at least four weeks.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has a hydrolysis range of greater than 96 mole %.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises from 0.5% to 75% ww of the dried film composition.
7. A method according claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is an alkyl benzalkonium compound.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is an n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium halide.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol forms a complex with the quaternary compound.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the composition further includes a surfactant is a non-ionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant which does not inactivate the quaternary compound.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a C12 to C18 straight chain alcohol or ethoxylated alcohol.
12. A composition effective for at least a week for prevention of microbial colony growth on an inanimate surface which is a plastic, metal, glass or ceramic surface, comprising a dry or substantially dry film formed from a composition containing a complex formed between a polyvinyl alcohols a quaternary ammonium compound and a surfactant which does not inactivate the quaternary compound.
13. (canceled)
14. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol has an average degree of hydrolysis of greater than 96 mole %.
15. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound comprises from 0.5% to 75% ww of the dried film composition.
16. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is an alkyl benzalkonium compound.
17. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is an n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium halide.
18. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the composition comprises polyvinyl alcohol and a quaternary ammonium compound in an aqueous solution or emulsion.
19. A composition according to claim 13 wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant.
20. A composition according to claim 13 wherein the surfactant comprises a C12 to C18 straight chain alcohol or ethoxylated alcohol.
21-22. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method comprising:
restraining a plurality of spectrally labeled bodies with affinity binding so as to define a multiplexed array, wherein the spectrally labeled bodies are spatially resolved and comprise a plurality of fluorescent labels used to encode discrete and different emission spectra wherein each emission spectrum has a plurality of signals at differing wavelengths;
directing an image of the multiplexed array of bodies onto a sensor to sense spectra generated by the bodies; and
identifying the bodies from the spectra sensed by the sensor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodies are affixed to each other.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodies are restrained within an array of openings affixed in a support structure.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a CCD camera.
5. A method of claim 1, wherein the spectrally labeled bodies include polymers.
6. A method of claim 1, wherein affinity binding is facilitated by a chemical moiety.
7. A method of claim 1, wherein the affinity binding is specific.
8. A method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signals include a reference signal.
9. A method of claim 1, wherein the affinity binding is facilitated with a binding pair.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodies are restrained to a support structure.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodies are restrained in the multiplexed array by an array of discrete binding sites.
12. A method of claim 8, wherein the reference signal identifies a spectral code family.
13. A method of claim 9, wherein one member of the binding pair is affixed to at least one of the plurality of spectrally labeled bodies and the other member is affixed to a site of the multiplexed array.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the support structure has a substantially planar surface.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the support structure contains a plurality of openings sized to accommodate one of the spectrally labeled bodies.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of unbound bodies are washed away.
17. A method of claim 11, wherein the discrete binding sites are arranged so as to inhibit a presence of more than a single body at each binding site.
18. A method of claim 11, wherein the binding sites comprise a material capable of binding to the bodies.
19. A method of claim 18, wherein the material comprises a selective affinity molecule which selectively binds to one or more particular bodies.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selective affinity molecule is streptavidin.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein a selective binding material is a biotinylated structure.