An automated system for identifying in a biological sample microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). The system provided an automated platform for preparing, from a single biological sample, inoculates for both ID and AST. The system loads a plate for ID testing as samples are being prepared for AST testing. The system tracks the sample and the inoculates from the samples to link the test results to the sample and the patients from whom the sample was obtained.

The present invention provides a method of recovering viable microbial cells from a complex sample, said method comprising: a) providing a sample having a volume of at least 1 ml; b) contacting said sample with a buffer solution and one or more proteases, wherein said buffer solution has a pH of at least pH 6 and less than pH 11, wherein said buffer solution and said one more proteases do not comprise a detergent or a chaotrope, and wherein the buffer solution/protease/sample mixture is non-hypotonic; c) filtering the mixture obtained in step (b) through a filter suitable for retaining microbial cells; and d) recovering the microbial cells retained by the filter in step (c), wherein the recovered microbial cells are viable, and a microbial recovery device for the same.

A process for preparing a peptide sample from a biological sample, and a process for detecting or quantifying proteins including the process for preparing a sample. Also disclosed is the use of these processes for the detection or monitoring of a condition or a disease.

An amphoteric dissociation ion exchange separation medium, the surface of which is an amphoteric dissociation covalently-modified layer. When an environmental pH value is lower than the isoelectric point, pIm, of the covalently-modified layer, the type of net charges on the surface of the covalently-modified layer is positive and the separation medium has the properties of an anion exchanger; when the environmental pH value is higher than the pIm, the type of net charges on the covalently-modified layer surface is negative and the separation medium has the properties of a cation exchanger. The separation medium has the properties of an anion exchanger and a cation exchanger at both sides of the pIm, respectively. The pH of an eluent can be adjusted to allow the separation medium surface and the target substance to have the same type of net charges, so that the target substance can be released by electrostatic repulsion.

A system without electrodes for identifying analytes based on optical measurement of ion flux through nanopores that is driven by a chemical gradient, and a method for identifying an analyte by using such system. A nanopore array without electrodes for identifying different analytes in parallel, a method for identifying different analytes by using such array, and a method of manufacturing such array.

An isolation device includes an isolation chip assembly, a vacuum system, a frequency converting module, and a controller. The isolation chip assembly includes an isolation chip having a first chamber and a second chamber, a first oscillator mounted on the first chamber, and a second oscillator mounted on the second chamber. The frequency converting module causes the vacuum system to generate negative pressure in the first and the second chambers alternately. The controller controls the first and the second oscillators to operate when the vacuum system stops generating the negative pressure in the first chamber and in the second chamber. The first and the second oscillators respectively generate a first and a second oscillation wave when operating, a frequency of the first oscillation wave is greater than a frequency of the oscillation wave, an amplitude of the first oscillation wave is less than an amplitude of the second oscillation wave.

A sample concentrator includes a lower frame and an upper frame coupled to overlap each other, wherein the lower frame includes a first electrode buffer channel and a second electrode buffer channel spaced apart from each other, a main channel formed in the lower frame and connecting the first electrode buffer channel to the second buffer channel, a first ion exchange membrane located between the first electrode buffer channel and the main channel, a second ion exchange membrane located between the second electrode buffer channel and the main channel, a first electrode electrically connected to the main channel with the first electrode buffer channel interposed therebetween, and a second electrode electrically connected to the main channel with the second electrode buffer channel interposed therebetween.

An isolation device for isolation of target particles from a plurality of liquid samples includes a plurality of isolation chips and a vacuum system. Each of the plurality of isolation chips includes a sample reservoir, and a first outlet and a second outlet disposed at opposite sides of the sample reservoir. The vacuum system includes a first vacuum pump connected to the first outlet of each of the plurality of isolation chips and a second vacuum pump connected to the second outlet of each of the plurality of isolation chips. The first vacuum pump generates a negative pressure in each of the plurality of isolation chips through a corresponding first outlet. The second vacuum pump generates a negative pressure in each of the plurality of isolation chips through a corresponding second outlet. The target particles are isolated from each of the plurality of liquid samples in a corresponding sample reservoir.

A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.

A display method for displaying a plurality of pieces of data respectively obtained by electrophoretic separation for a plurality of samples. The first data includes a first peak corresponding to a separated component of the known sample. The second data includes a second peak corresponding to a separated component of the unknown sample. The display method includes: acquiring the plurality of pieces of data; detecting the first peak and the second peak respectively from the first data and the second data; setting a range included within a predetermined threshold from the first peak as a specified range; determining, for the second data, whether or not the second peak is included in the specified range; and displaying specifically the second peak, when the second peak is in the specified range.