Herein is provided a simple, reliable and accurate method for cellular analysis on hematology analyzers. In various aspects, the methods provide separation and/or differentiation between red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) by utilizing a fluorescent dye to selectively stain WBCs such that they emit stronger fluorescence signals. The method provides optimal detection limits on WBCs and RBCs, thereby allowing analysis of samples with sparse cellular concentrations. As few as one reagent may be used to prepare a single dilution for body fluid analysis, in order to simplify the body fluid analysis. Minimal damage to WBCs is attained using the lysis-free approach described in aspects of the disclosure.

Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically identifying and recovering individual cells of interest from a sample of biological matter, e.g., a biological fluid. Also described are methods of enriching a cell type of interest. These systems, methods, and apparatus allow for coordinated performance of two or more of the following, e.g., all with the same device, thereby enabling high throughput: cell enrichment, cell identification, and individual cell recovery for further analysis (e.g., sequencing) of individual recovered cells.

A device for testing the quality of a biological sample, preferably semen, in cooperation with an electronic apparatus, the device comprising; a slide slot adapted for receiving a slide containing a biological sample; a receiving surface adapted for receiving an electronic apparatus containing a camera, where the receiving surface comprises a through hole extending through said receiving surface; a light source arranged opposite the through hole; a lens arranged between the slide slot and the receiving surface, and adapted to magnify the image received at the receiving surface; where the slide slot is arranged between the light source and the through hole, the device further comprising a housing attached opposite the receiving surface, the housing having a shape allowing for a plurality of stable resting conditions in which the electronic apparatus lies on the receiving surface, and alignment between the camera and the through hole is maintained by friction.

The invention relates to a device for automatic species analysis and to a method for carrying out the same. In particular, the invention relates to a device for automatic species analysis within a large biological group and to a method for automatically carrying out such analyses. A device according to the invention for automatic species analysis within a large biological group comprises a first beam path (10), directed from a first laser radiation source (12) to a sample region (40), the fluorescence radiation emitted by a sample (42) within the sample region (40) as a result of excitation by the first laser radiation source (12) being collected and fed to a first spectrometer (14) for spectral evaluation; a second beam path (20), directed from a second laser radiation source (22) to the sample region (40), the fluorescence radiation emitted by the sample (42) within the sample region (40) as a result of excitation by the second laser radiation source (22) being collected and fed to a second spectrometer (24) for spectral evaluation; and a camera (30), which is designed to capture a photograph of the sample (42) within the sample region (40); the device also comprising a means for automatic species analysis (50), which is designed to carry out an automatic species analysis from the sample-related results of the spectroscopic evaluation of the first spectrometer (14) and of the second spectrometer (24) and the photograph of the camera (30) by means of a multi-step threshold value comparison for certain determination parameters stored in an associated database. A method according to the invention serves to carry out an automatic species analysis by means of a device according to the invention.

An apparatus for extracting a material from a liquid includes a concentration stage having a filter, a first path from the filter, and a second path from the filter. Under this configuration, the concentration stage accepts an initial liquid volume. A first liquid not having material collected by the filter is passed along the first path, and concentrated liquid having material therein, which is entrapped by the filter, is directed to the second path. The apparatus also includes an aerosolizing stage coupled to the concentration stage that converts the concentrated liquid into an aerosol and a drying stage that dries the aerosol such that material extracted from the aerosol onto a material substrate.

A particle detecting device includes a chamber 30; a first introduction flow path 225 for introducing a particle-containing fluid into the chamber 30; a second introduction flow path 235 for introducing a particle-free fluid into the chamber 30; a light source 10 configured to illuminate fluid in the chamber 30 to detect particles contained in the fluid; a discharge flow path 260 for discharging fluid from the chamber 30; an introduction flow meter 245 configured to measure a flow rate of fluid flowing through the second introduction flow path 235; and a control unit 301 configured to perform control such that a fluid having a total flow rate obtained by adding a predetermined flow rate of fluid flowing through the first introduction flow path 225 to a flow rate of fluid flowing through the second introduction flow path 235, the flow rate being measured by the introduction flow meter 245, flows through the discharge flow path 260.

Methods and kits for accurately detecting one or more analytes in a sample by removing non-specific binding signals utilizing capture and control microparticles. The capture microparticles can specifically bind to the analyte while the control microparticles do not specifically bind to the analyte but to the background molecules. Both capture and control microparticles are added to the sample under suitable conditions to allow binding between analytes and the microparticles. Detection agent is then added to bind to analytes and other substances captured by the microparticles. The microparticles are then run through a cytometry-based detection method, where detection signals from the capture and the control microparticles are distinguished. The differences between the detection signals from the capture and the control microparticles are obtained, which are then used to determine the presence and/or amounts of the analytes based on a previously determined relationship between such differences and known amount of the analyte.

Hydrogel particles and their use in cytometric applications are described. The hydrogel particles described herein are selectively tunable to have at least one optical property substantially similar to the at least one optical property of a target cell. In this regard, the hydrogel particles provided herein in one aspect, are used as a calibration reagent for the detection of a target cell in a sample.

A method for measuring microscopic object velocities in fluid flow in a capillary tube including scanning a microscope focal plane through a fluid filled space for objects, where the scanning follows an interrupted repeating pattern having sub-patterns where the sub-patterns position the microscope focus plane beginning at a selected focus position at a first time and ending at the selected focus position at a later second time. A sensor registers images in image frames during the scanning. A first object image is registered in a first image frame at the selected focus position and a second object image is registered in a second image frame at the selected focus position. The object in the first object image and the second object image are identified as the same object. A processor determines a velocity for the identified object.

Devices, systems and methods for optical analysis of cells in microgravity are disclosed. Effective cellular microscopic and image analysis requires placement of cells into a proper focal plane, region, or volume. Such placement often requires immobilization of the cells. Cell settling onto a substrate is often sufficient for cell immobilization; however, no significant settling occurs in microgravity. Cell immobilization in microgravity may be accomplished by treatment of a substrate, the cells, or both effective that the substrate captures and immobilizes the cells for inspection. Cells may be immobilized in microgravity by adhering magnetic particles to the cells and applying a magnetic field. Cells may be placed in a proper location for viewing in microgravity by placing the cells into a small chamber or narrow channel. Centrifugal force may effect cell settling and aid cell immobilization. Proper placement or immobilization of cells aids cellular microscopic and image analysis in microgravity.