Methods, devices, and systems for automated cellular analysis of a body fluid sample are disclosed. The methods, devices, and systems apply watershed transform to data, generated by flowing a body fluid sample through a flow cytometer, to determine threshold(s) to be used for analysis of the data.

Diagnostic consumables for use in the analysis of fluid samples, such as whole blood, plasma or urine, are provided. The diagnostic consumables include a substrate having a sample preparation stage that includes an inlet port for receiving a fluid sample, an outlet port for dispensing a prepared fluid sample, and a channel extending from the inlet port to the outlet port. The channel includes an array of micro-projections extending into the channel to define a plurality of flow paths therebetween along at least a portion of a length of the channel between the inlet port and the outlet port. A material is disposed on the array of micro-projections for mixing with the fluid sample as the fluid sample is flowed through the channel to generate the prepared fluid sample. Methods of operating and manufacturing the diagnostic consumables are also provided.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for accurately predicting a cancer patient prognosis based on a count of desired cells for which expression of a leukocyte marker and an epithelial marker is hardly exhibited by detecting those cells. Provided is a method for diagnosing an overall survival prognosis for a patient suffering from cancer, the method including: a step of obtaining a concentrated solution containing desired cells by pre-treating a biological sample obtained from the patient; a step of optically detecting the concentrated cells; and a step of detecting the desired cells from the detected image, wherein an association is made with the overall survival prognosis diagnosis by counting the detected desired cells, and wherein the desired cells are cells confirmed by the existence of a cell nucleus and in which expression of a leukocyte marker and an epithelial marker is hardly exhibited.

Methods of agglutinating and separating erythrocytes, by which erythrocytes can be instantaneously agglutinated into a sufficient size in a blood sample and completely separated from the blood sample; and a hemagglutination reagent are provided. The method of agglutinating erythrocytes according to the present invention includes adding a solution containing a cholic acid-based surfactant and an acid to a blood sample. The method of separating erythrocytes according to the present invention includes separating the erythrocytes agglutinated by the above-described method of the present invention. The hemagglutination reagent according to the present invention contains a cholic acid-based surfactant and an acid.

The invention provides methods of simultaneously detecting one or more biomarkers associated with one or more platelets in a platelet sample by contacting the sample with one or more metal-tagged probes or mixtures thereof; washing the sample to remove unbound probes; and analyzing the sample by mass cytometry to simultaneously detect binding of the one or more metal-tagged probes or mixtures thereof to one or more biomarkers associated with the one or more platelets. Compositions, panels and kits for use with the methods described herein are also provided.

Separation of the cellular components of whole blood, or other biological fluid, from plasma or serum can be achieved for assay analysis. A device for facilitating separation can include, for example, a capillary tube that accurately draws target blood volume, a pad that chemically interacts with red-blood cells, such that the red blood cells become chemically and/or physically trapped within pad material, a mechanism for plasma recovery from the pad upon diffusion or active mixing, and a dropper tip that facilitates dispensing the mixture onto a test device. The treatment of the cellular components can be performed prior to contact with a buffer solution, so release of the cellular components into the buffer solution is reduced or prevented. Additional filtration can be provided to filter any remaining cellular components in the mixture.

A device for separating blood plasma from whole blood includes a first reservoir and a second reservoir. The first reservoir is configured to receive a sample of whole blood including red blood cells and includes a collection region and a constricted region. The second reservoir is fluidically connected to the constricted region of the first reservoir, such that, responsive to centrifugal force applied to the device, the sample of whole blood disposed within the first reservoir separates into a first fraction and a second fraction. The first fraction is located in the collection region and includes blood plasma from which substantially all red blood cells have been removed. The second fraction is located in the second reservoir and includes blood plasma and red blood cells that have been removed from the first fraction by the centrifugal force. The constricted region inhibits the second fraction from entering the collection region.

To provide a device for concentration and separation of circulating tumor cells, capable of recovering circulating tumor cells in a blood-derived specimen simply, at a high recovery rate, and with low invasion of the tumor cells. A device for concentration and separation of circulating tumor cells present in a blood-derived specimen, in which a cell separating agent with thixotropic property having a specific gravity ranging from 1.050 to 1.080 and enabling the separation of tumor cells and blood cells other than the tumor cells by a centrifugal operation is housed in a bottomed tube-shaped container closed at one end and opened at the other end.

Provided herein are methods for selecting and stimulating a plurality of cells in a sample of cells using column chromatography, and collecting the cells without using additional steps or reagents to facilitate detachment of the cells from the column. In some aspects, the methods provided herein reduce the time needed to generate a population of selected and stimulated cells useful for genetic engineering, and ultimately, cell therapy, compared to existing methods. Also provided are articles of manufacture and apparatus thereof.

This disclosure provides IR700-molecule conjugates and methods of their use to remove (e.g., separate or isolate) a target from a sample in vivo or from a subject in vitro. It is shown herein that exposure of IR700 to near infrared (NIR) light removes a portion of IR700, changing it from a hydrophilic molecule, to one that is hydrophobic, resulting in aggregation of IR700 and anything bound to it. For example, the disclosed IR700-molecule conjugates and methods provide photo-controlled ways to control the pharmacokinetics of a drug in vivo, and can be used to remove undesired agents from environmental or food samples or to isolate target molecules in a laboratory.