The invention concerns a method of analyzing the content of drops, involving then following step: providing a plurality of drops (6) contained in a carrier fluid, at least one of the drops (6) comprising at least one aggregate (10) of particles defining an object extending along a main axis, at least some of the drops (6) containing at least one target element capable of attaching to the aggregate (10).

The method involves a step in which a physical parameter characteristic of the attachment of the target element to the aggregate (10) is measured.

An object of the present invention is to find a component which can prevent non-specific flocculation of sensitized or unsensitized insoluble carrier particles contained in an immunoassay reagent when the reagent is frozen, to thereby provide means for preventing degradation of the immunoassay reagent. The component which can prevent non-specific flocculation of insoluble carrier particles is the following ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1) [wherein n is an integer of 2 to 6]. The invention provides an immunoassay reagent containing insoluble carrier particles and ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1), and a method for preventing degradation of an immunoassay reagent by using ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1). ##STR00001##

Provided is a canceration information providing method capable of presenting information related to canceration of cells with high reliability. A cell in which an amount of DNA is greater than or equal to an amount of DNA of a normal cell in a S period is extracted from a cell group of V11≦N/C ratio≦V12 (first counting step). If a number of cells obtained in the first counting step is greater than or equal to a threshold value S1 (S107: YES), “Cancer” is set to a flag 1. A cell in which an amount of DNA is 2C is extracted from a cell group of V13≦N/C ratio<V11 (second counting step). A ratio of a number of cells obtained in the first counting step and a number of cells obtained in the second counting step is calculated, and “Cancer” is set to a flag 2 if the ratio is greater than or equal to a threshold value S2 (S111: YES). If either one of the flags 1, 2 is “Cancer” (S113: YES), retest necessary is displayed.

Disclosed herein is a device and method for changing the conditions of a solution flowing in a serial path. In particular, disclosed herein is a device that includes a chemical reactor, a first system, and a second system that are each serial to one another. Each of the first system and the second system include a mixing chamber, a solvent reservoir, a solvent pump, and one or more detectors. Also disclosed herein is a method for changing the condition of a solution that includes flowing a liquid sample in a path, serially mixing the sample with at least two discrete solvents while it flows through the path, and detecting the condition of the sample after it is mixed with each solvent.

A blood processing apparatus (1) comprises a measurement device (8) having at least one chamber element (80, 81) for receiving a blood fluid, wherein the at least one chamber element (80, 81) extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a circumferential wall (804, 814) extending about the longitudinal axis (L), a bottom wall (803, 813) and a top wall (805, 815) together defining a flow chamber (802, 812), the at last one chamber element (80, 81) further comprising an inlet port (800, 810) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid into the flow chamber (802, 812) and an outlet port (801, 811) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid out of the flow chamber (802, 812). The blood processing apparatus (1) further comprises a holder device (9) for holding the measurement device (8), the holder device (9) comprising a base (90) having a reception opening (900) for receiving the measurement device (8) and a closure element (91) movably arranged on the base (90) for locking the measurement device (8) in an inserted position in the reception opening (900). An ultrasonic sensor element (92, 93) of the holder device (9) is arranged on the base (90) and adapted to produce an ultrasonic sensor signal (P) for measuring a haematocrit value of a blood fluid in the flow chamber (802, 812). Herein, the ultrasonic sensor element (92, 93), in the inserted position of the measurement device (8), faces the bottom wall (803, 813) of the at least one chamber element (80, 81) for transmitting the ultrasonic signal (P) into the flow chamber (802, 812) through the bottom wall (803, 813). In this way a blood processing apparatus comprising a holder device for a measurement device is provided which allows to easily insert the measurement device into the holder device and allows for a reliable measurement of, in particular, a haematocrit value of a blood flow through the measurement device.

An imaging system and method for detecting a target in a sample. The imaging system includes a lens-free holographic microscope having a light source in a first plane spaced above an image sensor. The image sensor extends in a second plane. The system also includes a microfluidic chip positioned between the light source and the image sensor. The microfluidic chip extends in a third plane, which is parallel to the second plane. There is at least one chamber in the microfluidic chip configured to receive a sample solution with a target. The system also has a plurality of functionalized beads positioned within the at least one chamber in the microfluidic chip. Any two of the plurality of functionalized beads have an affinity for binding together when exposed to the target in the sample solution.

A method for aggregating a cluster of particles having a target cluster constitution in a channel comprising a retention section comprises the steps of establishing a fluid stream comprising a fluid carrier medium and particles of at least one type through said channel; controlling a supply of said particles of at least one type into the fluid stream; operating a retention mechanism to aggregate at least part of said particles in an aggregation region within said retention section, to thereby form said cluster of particles; monitoring, while operating said retention mechanism, the particles in at least part of said channel for obtaining a monitoring signal associated with the cluster and/or with the particles moving in the fluid stream; determining a current cluster constitution from the monitoring signal; comparing said current cluster constitution with said target cluster constitution; and controlling at least one of said particle retention mechanism and said supply of said particles of at least one type, such that said current cluster constitution approaches said target cluster constitution.

The present invention relates to a method of evaluating and optionally selecting a suitable chemistry for removal of microplastics in a liquid matrix, said method comprising using at least one coagulant and/or flocculant and measuring fluorescence intensity and light scattering intensity of any particles in a sample volume of clarified liquid matrix by an optical measurement.

A device for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium by varying the intensity of the luminous flux, and a method for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium by the addition of aliphatic solvent using the device, including the step of determining the flocculation after the addition of the amount of aliphatic solvent necessary for flocculation.

A device for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium, and a method for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium by the addition of aliphatic solvent using the device, including the step of determining the flocculation after the addition of the amount of aliphatic solvent necessary for flocculation.