Methods and apparatus are provided for transfer of a tissue section from a first location to a second location. Thermoplastic material is applied to at least one pin of a tissue section transferring apparatus. The thermoplastic material contacts a tissue section while at least partially melted, and when it cools, substantially solid thermoplastic material holds the tissue section to the at least one pin. A tissue section transferring apparatus comprises a heater block, a heat source, and at least one pin attached to and extending from the heater block.

An air quality test unit for attachment to a vent of a HVAC system with air flow there through. The air quality test unit contains at least two substrate panels arranged in a v-shape form wherein at least one panel includes a sticky surface or a collection container. The air quality test unit is attachable to the vent by one or more clips. The sticky surfaces or collection container of the substrate panels capture airborne substances and contaminants emanating from the air flow of the HVAC system vent. A culture growth medium may be disposed in the collection container or on the sticky surface. The air quality test unit kit provides a user with an air quality test unit and process for shipping the unit to the laboratory for analysis.

A method for collecting a compound from a surface, the method comprising providing a silicone adhesive collector comprising a silicone adhesive layer on a backing; contacting the silicone adhesives collector and a first solvent to provide a wetted collector; contacting the silicone adhesive layer of the silicone adhesive collector and a surface to be analyzed to provide a loaded collector; and removing the loaded collector from the surface to collect the compound. The disclosure also relates to a system for collecting a chemical compound from surfaces, the system comprising a silicone adhesive collector comprising a backing, and a silicone adhesive layer disposed on the backing; a first solvent; and instructions to dispose the first solvent on the silicone adhesive collector, the surface, or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a test film for detecting surface particles in a clean room in order to prevent inferior products by measuring the contamination level of the clean room using the surface particles. The present invention provides a test film for detecting surface particles in a cleanroom, the test film comprising a substrate which has a predetermined thickness and is formed of a transparent synthetic resin material; a first adhesive layer which is formed at one side of the substrate and collects the surface particles; a release film which is adhered to the first adhesive layer and is separated from the first adhesive layer when the surface particles are collected; a second adhesive layer which is formed at the other side of the substrate; and a protective film which is adhered to the second adhesive layer so as to protect the substrate and has gradations indicated thereon. According to the present invention, there is an effect in that it is possible to easily and quickly check whether or not a clean room is contaminated by collecting, on the adhesive layer-applied surface of a substrate to which an adhesive is applied, surface particles adhered to an object to be measured, and then measuring the number, size, distribution, etc. of the surface particles with the naked eye or using instruments such as a light, a magnifier, a microscope, or the like.

An air quality test unit for attachment to a vent of a HVAC system with air flow there through. The air quality test unit contains at least two substrate panels arranged in a v-shape form wherein at least one panel includes a sticky surface or a collection container. The air quality test unit is attachable to the vent by one or more clips. The sticky surfaces or collection container of the substrate panels capture airborne substances and contaminants emanating from the air flow of the HVAC system vent. A culture growth medium may be disposed in the collection container or on the sticky surface. The air quality test unit kit provides a user with an air quality test unit and process for shipping the unit to the laboratory for analysis.

A method for identifying particulates in the air, including drawing a predetermined volume of air into a housing defining an airway, flowing the predetermined volume of air over a first adhesive capture member positioned in the airway to yield a first test sample, generating a first optical image of the first test sample with a camera, storing the first optical image in a memory, analyzing the first optical image with the microprocessor to identify captured particulates, automatically counting the identified particulates, storing the first adhesive capture member to preserve the first test sample, and positioning a second adhesive capture member in the airway.

A trace evidence material (TEM) collection device is disclosed that enables crime scene investigators to quickly and easily collect, analyze, annotate, securely store and electronically distribute images of large amounts of trace evidence materials and related crime scene information while also helping to comply with required trace evidence recovery procedures and documentation requirements. The TEM collection device includes a reusable handle and cassette drive mechanism, which may be used with a plurality of single-use cassettes. Each cassette includes a TEM collection media (such as a collection tape or swabbing pads attached to a substrate) that when moved across a surface is capable of collecting TEMs located on the surface. Preferably, each cassette also includes a sealing assembly that seals the TEM collection media after collection of the TEMs so as to preserve the collected TEMs.

A method for monitoring air particulates, including positioning a particulate capture medium, flowing a predetermined volume of air over a particulate capture medium to yield a test sample, measuring the temperature and humidity of the air to generate environmental information, generating optical interrogation data from the test sample, storing the optical interrogation data, and analyzing the optical interrogation data to identify and quantify particulates.

A microscopic collection device, method for collecting a microscopic sample from a target surface, and the work stand for holding the microscopic collection device are provided. The microscopic collection device includes a holding element comprising a handle at one end and a collection platform connected to the holding element at a second end. The collection platform includes a collection surface on which the microscopic sample is deposited when the microscopic collection device comes into contact with the target surface. A tape is inserted through a slit and wrapped around the collection platform. The work stand includes a slit capable of holding the microscopic collection device such that the collection platform is perpendicular to the top surface of the work stand. A microscopic sample, collected using the microscopic collection device, is not only collected from the target surface but is also concentrated onto the collection face of the tape. Removal of the collection face of the tape excludes excess tape that would disrupt downstream analysis of the microscopic sample.

A particulate contamination measurement method and apparatus are discussed. The method, for example, comprises pressing a measurement surface (5) of a polyurethane elastomer (2) against a surface (7) to be measured, removing the polyurethane elastomer from the surface without leaving residues, then using an optical apparatus (11) to detect particles (8) which have been removed by the polyurethane elastomer from the surface and which have become attached to the polyurethane elastomer.