A sampling manifold and method of use for detecting volatile compounds on a surface, such as skin, comprising an adhesive base layer and mesh defining a pouch for insertion of a removable sorbent patch.

An absorbent member, and a recorder that identifies a time and a date of fluid absorbed by the absorbent member.

A thermal desorber assembly includes a housing and a desorption heater element mounted in the housing with a sample cavity defined between the desorption heater element and an inner wall of the housing. An outlet port is defined in the housing. A flow channel connects the sample cavity in fluid communication with the outlet port for conveying analytes from the sample cavity to the outlet port for introducing the analytes to a spectrometer.

A self-defense device includes a body, a self-defense spray canister within the body, a whistle coupled to the body and the canister, and a light source within the body. The body includes a longitudinal bore and a defense ring extending annularly around the body. The ring includes an upper surface, a lower surface including an abrasive area for scraping a body surface, and an interior receptacle for collecting material scraped from the body surface. The canister is disposed within the longitudinal bore and includes a nozzle for discharging the self-defense fluid. The whistle includes a mouthpiece and a housing coupled to the spray canister. The housing includes a quick release mechanism for removably attaching the housing to the body and maintaining the canister in a fixed position within the housing. The mouthpiece is pivotally connected to the housing enabling pivoting about the housing to provide access to the nozzle.

Provided herein are automated apparatus and methods for the identification of microorganisms in various samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying and distinguishing various types of microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria in a timely, efficient, and automated manner by library preparation and sequencing.

A sampling device for obtaining a material sample from a surface is provided. The sampling device comprises a housing (4) defining a cavity (6) for forming an at least semi-enclosed space adjacent a surface; an extraction conduit in communication with the cavity for extracting a material sample from the surface; an input interface arranged to receive light from a first direction (A); and an optical subsystem. The optical subsystem is located at least partially within the housing and is arranged to direct light from the input interface to be output through the cavity in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction (A), to ablate a material sample from the surface.

A collecting device includes a stage configured to place a substrate. A magnetic field generating unit holds, by a magnetic field, a first liquid containing a magnetic fluid and a collecting liquid to bring the first liquid into contact with at least an end portion of the substrate. A collecting unit collects the first liquid from the magnetic field generating unit. A separating unit separates the collecting liquid from the first liquid.

The invention provides a device for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample. The device comprises a receiving chamber for receiving an absorbent element, wherein the absorbent element is used for collecting a liquid sample; and a detection chamber configured to receive a testing element, wherein the testing element is set to test an analyte in a liquid sample, the receiving chamber is provided with a first position and a second position, when the receiving chamber is located at the first position, the receiving chamber is not in fluid communication with the detection chamber, and when the receiving chamber is located at the second position, the receiving chamber is in fluid communication with the detection chamber.

A system includes a conductive sampling swab including a non-mesh substrate and a thermal desorber including a clamping assembly configured to releasably hold the conductive sampling swab. The clamping assembly is configured to be electrically connected to a voltage or current source, and the thermal desorber is configured to resistively heat the conductive sampling swab to a temperature sufficient to vaporize a sample material disposed on the conductive sampling swab.

There is provided a sample processing cartridge comprising a. a sample entry location; b. a closed sample processing chamber; c. a sample analysis location comprising a sample analysis well; d. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; e. a second channel connecting the sample analysis location and the sample processing chamber, the second channel comprising a closed or closable second channel valve;
wherein the sample processing chamber comprises a second channel port providing fluid connection between the second channel and the sample processing chamber, the second channel port being positioned in a sample accumulating region of the sample processing chamber.

There is also provided a sample processing system comprising the cartridge, and methods of use of the cartridge and processing system in a sample processing assay.