[Solving Means] A sample liquid-sending apparatus includes a placement portion, a suction mechanism, and a vibrator. A sample container is placed in the placement portion, the sample container containing a suspension of a sample. The suction mechanism includes a nozzle configured to be inserted into the sample container placed in the placement portion, and suctions the sample through the nozzle. The vibrator vibrates the nozzle.

An insert for a holding device for reliably and accurately assessing a small volume of blood in a fluid, such as in a volume of surgical fluid collected during a surgical procedure, is provided. The insert may include a circular shelf having an outside perimeter configured to fit up against an inside perimeter of a holding device. The insert may include a center opening. The insert may include a conically-shaped collection cone disposed in the center opening. The collection cone may include a length, an interior surface comprising a red blood cell flocculant coating, a gradually decreasing perimeter terminating in a bottom apex, and a series of graduated volumetric markings along the length of the collection cone.

An insert for a holding device for reliably and accurately assessing a small volume of blood in a fluid, such as in a volume of surgical fluid collected during a surgical procedure, is provided. The insert may include a circular shelf having an outside perimeter configured to fit up against an inside perimeter of a holding device. The insert may include a center opening. The insert may include a conically-shaped collection cone disposed in the center opening. The collection cone may include a length, an interior surface comprising a red blood cell flocculant coating, a gradually decreasing perimeter terminating in a bottom apex, and a series of graduated volumetric markings along the length of the collection cone.

A residue tube assembly includes a residue tube having an open upper end and a cap assembly including a cap sealingly secured with the open upper end and an adjustable member assembled with the cap and defining an outlet passage extending into the residue tube to define a fill limit of the residue tube, and an overflow passage extending radially outward and downward of the open upper end of the residue tube. The adjustable member is vertically adjustable in the cap to adjust the fill limit of the residue tube.

A residue tube assembly includes a residue tube having an open upper end and a cap assembly including a cap sealingly secured with the open upper end and an adjustable member assembled with the cap and defining an outlet passage extending into the residue tube to define a fill limit of the residue tube, and an overflow passage extending radially outward and downward of the open upper end of the residue tube. The adjustable member is vertically adjustable in the cap to adjust the fill limit of the residue tube.

Systems and methods for continuous flow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are provided. The system comprises an injector, a mixer, a coalescer, a droplet generator, a detector, a digital PCR system, and a controller. The injector takes in a sample, partitions the sample into sample aliquots with the help of an immiscible oil phase, dispenses waste, and sends the sample aliquot to the mixer. The mixer mixes the sample aliquot with a PCR master mix and diluting water, dispenses waste, and sends the sample mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the coalescer. The coalescer coalesces the sample mixture with primers dispensed from a cassette, dispenses waste, and sends the reaction mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the droplet generator. The droplet generator converts the sample mixture into an emulsion where aqueous droplets of the reaction mixture are maintained inside of an immiscible oil phase and dispenses droplets to the digital PCR system. The digital PCR system amplifies target DNAs in the droplets. The detector detects target DNAs in the droplets. The controller controls the system to run automatically and continuously.

Systems and methods for continuous flow polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are provided. The system comprises an injector, a mixer, a coalescer, a droplet generator, a detector, a digital PCR system, and a controller. The injector takes in a sample, partitions the sample into sample aliquots with the help of an immiscible oil phase, dispenses waste, and sends the sample aliquot to the mixer. The mixer mixes the sample aliquot with a PCR master mix and diluting water, dispenses waste, and sends the sample mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the coalescer. The coalescer coalesces the sample mixture with primers dispensed from a cassette, dispenses waste, and sends the reaction mixture (separated by an immiscible oil) to the droplet generator. The droplet generator converts the sample mixture into an emulsion where aqueous droplets of the reaction mixture are maintained inside of an immiscible oil phase and dispenses droplets to the digital PCR system. The digital PCR system amplifies target DNAs in the droplets. The detector detects target DNAs in the droplets. The controller controls the system to run automatically and continuously.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

A method for controlling pellet quality in iron ore production includes the steps of mixing water, binder and iron ore particles in at least one mixer to form a mixture (step (i)) and pelletizing the mixture into green pellets (step (ii)). Between step (i) and step (ii), a part of the mixture is taken in a sampling operation, formed into a test specimen and subjected to a test.