A method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing comprises: preparing samples of microorganisms suspended in an electrolyte, comprising a first sample of the microorganisms unexposed to antimicrobial agents and a second sample of the microorganisms exposed to an antimicrobial agent; passing the first sample through an impedance flow cytometer to obtain a first impedance signal representing one or more components of impedance values of the unexposed microorganisms; passing the second sample through the impedance flow cytometer to obtain a second impedance signal representing one or more components of the impedance values of the exposed microorganisms; comparing the first impedance signal and the second impedance signal; and determining a susceptibility of the microorganisms to the antimicrobial agent based on any differences between the first impedance signal and second impedance signal. A method of impedance flow cytometry comprises: flowing a sample of fluid comprising particles suspended in an electrolyte along a flow channel; applying electrical signals to current paths through the fluid, the current paths comprising at least a first current path, a second current path, a further first current path and a further second current path, wherein the electrical signals applied to the first current path and the further first current path have a frequency, magnitude and phase and the electrical signals applied to the second current path and the further second current path have substantially equal frequency and magnitude and opposite phase to the electrical signals applied to the first current path and the second current path; detecting current flow in the current paths; producing a first summed signal representing the sum of the current flow detected in the first current path and the second current path, and a second summed signal representing the sum of the current flow detected in the further first current path and the further second current path; and obtaining a differential signal representing the difference between the first summed signal and the second summed signal.

According to one embodiment, provided is a single particle analyzing device including a measuring vessel, first and second chambers in the vessel defined by an insulating membrane, a pore opening in the membrane to connect the chambers, and first and second electrodes in the chambers. Electric current flows between the electrodes through the pore. Electrical characteristics are measured during migration of the target from the first chamber to the second chamber to measure the size and shape of the target. (a) t<a <d≦100a or (b) s<L, s<d≦100s, t<L and t<d, wherein a, L and s are the diameter, length and width of the target, d is the diameter of the pore, and t is the thickness of the membrane in the proximity to the pore.

According to one embodiment, provided is a single particle analyzing device including a measuring vessel, first and second chambers in the vessel defined by an insulating membrane, a pore opening in the membrane to connect the chambers, and first and second electrodes in the chambers. Electric current flows between the electrodes through the pore. Electrical characteristics are measured during migration of the target from the first chamber to the second chamber to measure the size and shape of the target. (a) t<a <d≦100a or (b) s<L, s<d≦100s, t<L and t<d, wherein a, L and s are the diameter, length and width of the target, d is the diameter of the pore, and t is the thickness of the membrane in the proximity to the pore.

A sample analyzer comprising: a sample preparing section for preparing first and second measurement sample including reagent and sample; a first detector for detecting a predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; a second detector for detecting the predetermined component in the second measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; and a controller configured for performing operations, comprising: (a) controlling the first detector to detect the predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; (b) determining the reliability of the result detected by the first detector; (c) controlling the sample preparing section to prepare the second measurement sample from the same sample when the result has been determined to be unreliable; and (d) controlling the second detector to detect the predetermined component in the second measurement sample, is disclosed.

According to one embodiment, an analysis package including a board including an electrical terminal, an analysis chip provided at the board, the chip including a detector for detecting a particle, a flow channel of a sample liquid for particle detection to the detector, and a liquid receiver for introducing the sample liquid into the flow channel, a mold provided to cover the board on which the analysis chip is provided, the mold comprising an opening above the liquid receiver, a first shield layer provided on a back surface of the board, and a second shield layer provided to be attachable and detachable on an opposite side to the analysis chip of the mold, the second shield layer being electrically connected to a part of the electrical terminal.

According to one embodiment, a method for detecting a sample includes preparing a device for detecting a sample, the device including a measurement cassette, a first chamber formed by partitioning the cassette with a partition wall, a through-hole provided in the partition wall, a first electrode provided in the cassette, and a second electrode provided in the cassette, introducing a reagent and a sample containing a measuring object substance into the first chamber, introducing a conductive liquid into the second chamber, supplying current to the through-hole, allowing the measuring object substance whose surface is bound to and is covered by the tag particles via the capture substance in the first chamber to pass through the through-hole, and detecting presence of the measuring object substance.

According to one embodiment, a method for detecting a sample includes preparing a device for detecting a sample, the device including a measurement cassette, a first chamber formed by partitioning the cassette with a partition wall, a through-hole provided in the partition wall, a first electrode provided in the cassette, and a second electrode provided in the cassette, introducing a reagent and a sample containing a measuring object substance into the first chamber, introducing a conductive liquid into the second chamber, supplying current to the through-hole, allowing the measuring object substance whose surface is bound to and is covered by the tag particles via the capture substance in the first chamber to pass through the through-hole, and detecting presence of the measuring object substance.

Systems and methods for decoding code-multiplexed Coulter signals are described herein. An example method can include receiving a code-multiplexed signal detected by a network of Coulter sensors, where the code-multiplexed signal includes a plurality of distinct Coulter signals, and inputting the code-multiplexed signal into a deep-learning network. The method can also include determining information indicative of at least one of a size, a speed, or a location of a particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors by using the deep-learning network to process the code-multiplexed signal. The method can further include storing the information indicative of at least one of the size, the speed, or the location of the particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors.

Systems and methods to integrate electrical sensors comprising parallel electrodes into microfluidic devices that are manufactured using soft lithography are disclosed herein. With minimal fabrication complexity, more uniform electric fields than conventional coplanar electrodes are produced. The methods disclosed are also more suitable for the construction of complex electrical sensor networks in microfluidic devices due to greater layout flexibility and provide improved sensitivity over conventional coplanar electrodes.

An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for detecting microbiological activity in an industrial process may include a plurality of satellite units, a processing unit, and a main analysis unit. Each satellite unit may be configured to sample a liquid from the industrial process at a plurality of respective locations, periodically analyse a sample, carry out an impedance analysis to count and measure the size of particles passing through an orifice, and generate sample results data corresponding to the number and size of particles in each sample. The processing unit may be configured to compare the sample results data to a predetermined criterion and to generate an alert signal if the particle data is outside of the predetermined criterion. The main analysis unit may be configured to carry out a combined impedance and electromagnetic emission analysis of a sample of liquid from the industrial process following generation of the alert signal.