Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A calibration device for confirming or calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanner, said device comprising: a polymer layer comprising at least one fluorescent agent, wherein said device has minimal local and global nonuniformities and is dimensioned for placement in an optical scanner. 2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent is distributed substantially uniformly throughout said polymer. claim 1 3. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, epoxides, urethanes, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyetherketones, polyesters, polystyrenes, polyethylstyrene, polysiloxanes, and copolymers thereof. claim 1 4. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is polymethyl-methacrylate. claim 1 5. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said polymer layer ranges from about 0.25 micron to about 10 microns. claim 1 6. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said polymer layer ranges from about 0.4 micron to about 1 micron. claim 1 7. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a single polymer layer. claim 1 8. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a plurality of polymer layers. claim 1 9. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent is present in said polymer in a final concentration ranging from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm. claim 1 10. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent absorbs and emits light in the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to which a photomultiplier tube of said optical scanner is sensitive. claim 1 11. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent absorbs and emits light in the wavelength range selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet, visible and infrared. claim 1 12. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said global nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 1 13. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said local nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 1 14. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer comprises at least two fluorescent agents. claim 1 15. The calibration device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer is selected from the group consisting of a spin-coated polymer layer, a draw coated polymer layer, a roller coated polymer layer, an electrodeposited polymer layer and a sprayed polymer layer. claim 1 16. A method for calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanning system, said method comprising: (a) illuminating a surface of a calibration device with at least one light source, wherein said calibration device is a calibration device according to  claim 1 ;  claim 1 (b) obtaining fluorescence data from said surface of said calibration device; and  (c) calibrating said optical scanning system based upon said fluorescence data. 17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of illuminating comprises illuminating said surface of said calibration device in the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to which a photomultiplier tube of said optical scanner is sensitive. claim 16 18. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of illuminating comprises illuminating said surface of said calibration device in the wavelength range selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet, visible and infrared. claim 16 19. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of obtaining fluorescence data comprises detecting a signal related to the intensity of emitted light from said fluorescent agent. claim 16 20. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of calibrating comprises calibrating the scale factor of said system. claim 16 21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein said scale factor calibration comprises adjusting the sensitivity of an optical detector of said system. claim 20 22. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of calibrating comprises calibrating the focus position of said system. claim 16 23. The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said focus position calibration comprises adjusting the distance between a scanning stage and a lens of said system. claim 22 24. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of calibrating comprises calibrating the dynamic focus of said system. claim 16 25. The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said dynamic focus calibration comprises adjusting the rate of speed at which an optical stage of said system travels. claim 24 26. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of calibrating comprises determining the amount of oscillation in an intensity image and adjusting the rate of speed of said optical stage according to said oscillation data. claim 16 27. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said step of calibrating comprises calibrating at least one scanner mirror of said system. claim 16 28. The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said at least one scanner mirror calibration comprises adjusting said at least one scanner mirror to synchronize the light beams of said system. claim 27 29. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of subtracting a background signal from said obtained fluorescent data to obtain a background corrected value. claim 16 30. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said fluorescent agent(s) is distributed substantially uniformly throughout said surface. claim 16 31. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of verifying the jitter of said optical scanning system. claim 16 32. A method for performing a hybridization assay, said method comprising: (a) calibrating an optical scanner with a calibration device, wherein said calibration device is calibration device according to  claim 1 ,  claim 1 (b) performing a hybridization assay with at least one array, and  (c) scanning said array with said calibrated optical scanner. 33. A method comprising forwarding data representing a result of a scan obtained by the method of  claim 32 . claim 32 34. The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said data is transmitted to a remote location. claim 33 35. A method comprising receiving data representing a result of an interrogation obtained by the method of  claim 33 . claim 33 36. A method for manufacturing a calibration device, said method comprising spin-coating a composition onto a substrate to produce a calibration device according to  claim 1 . claim 1 37. The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising photobleaching at least one region of said device. claim 33 38. A kit for calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanner, said kit comprising: (a) at least one device according to  claim 1 ; and  claim 1 (b) a substrate comprising instruction for using said device to calibrate a biopolymeric array optical scanner. 39. A kit for calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanner, said kit comprising: (a) at least one device according to  claim 1 ; and  claim 1 (b) an array. 40. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer is present on a substrate having a length ranging from about 4 mm to 200 mm. claim 1 41. The device according to  claim 40 , wherein said substrate has a length ranging from about 4 mm to 150 mm. claim 40 42. The device according to  claim 41 , wherein said substrate has a length ranging from about 4 mm to 125 mm. claim 41 43. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer is present on a substrate having a width ranging from about 4 mm to 200 mm. claim 1 44. The device according to  claim 43 , wherein said substrate has a width ranging from about 4 mm to 120 mm. claim 43 45. The device according to  claim 44 , wherein said substrate has a width ranging from about 4 mm to 80 mm. claim 44 46. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer layer is present on a substrate having a thickness ranging from about 0.01 mm to 5.0 mm. claim 1 47. The device according to  claim 46 , wherein said substrate has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mm to 2 mm. claim 46 48. The device according to  claim 46 , wherein said subsrate has a thickness ranging from about 0.2 mm to 1 mm. claim 46 49. A calibration device for confirming or calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanner, said device comprising: a polymer layer comprising at least one fluorescent agent, wherein said device has minimal local and global nonuniformities; and  a transparent substrate;  wherein said device is dimensioned for placement in an optical scanner. 50. The calibration device according to  claim 49 , wherein said transparent substrate is glass. claim 49 51. The calibration device according to  claim 50 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent is distributed substantially uniformly throughout said polymer. claim 50 52. The calibration device according to  claim 49 , wherein the thickness of said polymer layer ranges from about 0.25 micron to about 10 microns. claim 49 53. The calibration device according to  claim 49 , wherein said global nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 49 54. The calibration device according to  claim 49 , wherein said local nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 49 55. A calibration device for confirming or calibrating a biopolymeric array optical scanner, said device comprising: a polymer layer comprising at least one fluorescent agent, wherein said device has minimal local and global nonuniformities; and  a substrate having a length ranging from about 4 mm to 200 mm, a width ranging from about 4 mm to 200 mm and a thickness ranging from about 0.01 mm to 5.0 mm;  wherein said device is dimensioned for placement in an optical scanner. 56. The calibration device according to  claim 55 , wherein said substrate is transparent. claim 55 57. The calibration device according to  claim 55 , wherein said at least one fluorescent agent is distributed substantially uniformly throughout said polymer. claim 55 58. The calibration device according to  claim 55 , wherein the thickness of said polymer layer ranges from about 0.25 micron to about 10 microns. claim 55 59. The calibration device according to  claim 55 , wherein said global nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 55 60. The calibration device according to  claim 55 , wherein said local nonuniformity of said calibration device is less than about 5%. claim 55 61. An optical scanner comprising a calibration device according to  claim 1 . claim 1