The present invention provides a characterization system (100) for performing optical characterization of a liquid sample in a process plant, comprising a sample section (103) for holding the liquid sample, an inlet comprising an inlet valve (121) adapted to control a flow of the liquid sample into the sample section (103), an outlet comprising an outlet valve (122) adapted to control a flow of the liquid sample out of the sample section (103), a pressurizer (130) adapted to pressurize the sample section (103), an agitator (140, 800) adapted to agitate at least a part of the liquid sample inside the sample section (103) when the sample section (103) is pressurized by the pressurizer (130), a measuring device (150) adapted to perform optical characterization of the liquid sample inside the sample section (103) while the liquid sample is pressurized and agitated during or after agitation by the agitator, wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are connected to a line pipe (202) and the characterization system is adapted to receive the liquid sample from the line pipe through the inlet valve, characterize the liquid sample in the sample section (103), and optionally return at least a part of the liquid sample to the line pipe through the outlet valve.

In one example, a print head drop detector (202) is described. The print head drop detector (202) comprises a sampling volume and a fan (208) to cause an airflow though the sampling volume (206). Detection apparatus to detect the presence of non-gaseous material within the sampling volume is also provided.

The present invention generally relates to a wearable electronic device that collects information about test sample using an optical sensor. The wearable device photographs and analyzes one or more organic samples placed on one or more immunoassay regions of a test strip in order to reveal information about the sample. The wearable electronic device may also sequentially photograph a plurality of individual organic samples applied to different immunoassay regions of a test strip.

A method for evaluating a biological material for unassociated virus-like particles virus size having a particular epitope uses a fluorescent antibody stain specific for binding with the epitope and a fluid sample with the virus-size particles and fluorescent antibody stain is subjected to flow cytometry with identification of fluorescent emission detection events indicative of passage through a flow cell of a flow cytometer of unassociated labeled particles of virus size including such a virus-like particle and fluorescent antibody stain.

Disclosed herein is a dust measuring apparatus and method for measuring a dust concentration in a flow channel. The apparatus includes a flow channel unit for defining a flow channel allowing a fluid containing dust to move therethrough, a light emitter for emitting light into the flow channel, a light detector for detecting light scattered from the dust in the flow channel and converting it to an electrical detection signal, the light detector including a plurality of detectors having different light detection ranges, and a controller for controlling the flow channel unit, the light emitter and the light detector, wherein the controller is configured to receive detection signals from the detectors, compensate for an offset for the received detection signals, and measure a dust concentration based on the compensated detection signals.

The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method of improving temperature uniformity and suppressing well plate warping. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a barrier configured to be positioned above at least one well configured to contain a liquid sample, where a vessel includes the at least one well, where the vessel is transparent and is configured to be placed within a measurement chamber, where a light measurement apparatus includes the measurement chamber, where the light measurement apparatus is configured to measure light scattered from the liquid sample, where the barrier is configured to seal the at least one well from the measurement chamber, and a weighted lid configured to press a bottom surface of the vessel against a well plate retainer of the measurement chamber, thereby spreading heat among the at least one well and preventing the vessel from warping.

The present disclosure describes an apparatus and method of improving temperature uniformity and suppressing well plate warping. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a barrier configured to be positioned above at least one well configured to contain a liquid sample, where a vessel includes the at least one well, where the vessel is transparent and is configured to be placed within a measurement chamber, where a light measurement apparatus includes the measurement chamber, where the light measurement apparatus is configured to measure light scattered from the liquid sample, where the barrier is configured to seal the at least one well from the measurement chamber, and a weighted lid configured to press a bottom surface of the vessel against a well plate retainer of the measurement chamber, thereby spreading heat among the at least one well and preventing the vessel from warping.

An apparatus and method for isolating bacterial particles in a sample using a container with material in temporary fluid blocking position to lower orifice in the container, a separation medium having an electrical conductivity lower than and physical density greater than that of the sample above the material that supports a sample concentrate after passing through the separation medium when exposed to centrifugal force, a heating element for liquefying the material to permit flow into a chamber past an electrode array that attracts and holds subject particles. The system allows rapid detection and isolation of particles from samples from animal, human, environmental sites, a bio-industrial reactor or a food or beverage production facility requiring relatively small volumes, short incubation times resulting in structurally intact particles for further analysis. Testing may be completed in a single unit that requires decreased technician manipulation, fewer steps and a decrease in cross-contamination.

A method of operating a pore field-effect transistor (FET) sensor for detecting particles, wherein the pore FET sensor comprises a FET wherein a gate is controlled by a pore filled by a fluid, comprises: controlling a first voltage (V.sub.cis) to set the FET in a subthreshold region; controlling a second voltage (V.sub.trans) to set a voltage difference between the first and second voltages (V.sub.trans) such that an effective difference in gate voltage experienced between a minimum and a maximum effective gate voltage during movement of a particle in the fluid is at least kT/q; and detecting a drain-source current in the FET, wherein the particle passing through the pore modulates the drain-source current for detecting presence of the particle.

A method for collection and dissemination of biologic data, comprising collecting at least one biologic sample by a testing device including thereon an alignment target and including a plurality of immunoassay test strips, wherein the at least one biologic sample contacts a sample pad on at least one of the plurality of immunoassay test strips, assigning correlative values as test results, wherein each test performed on the biologic sample is assigned a different correlative value, receiving the test results at a server disposed on a network, wherein the server has configured thereon a database, assigning a unique identification to the biologic sample, storing the unique identification in the database, storing the test results in the database in association with the unique identification of the biologic sample, and providing access to the database to healthcare organizations for analysis of the test results.