Articles and methods to separate blood cells from plasma are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprises an absorbent layer comprising a sample collection region laterally spaced from and fluidically connected with filters. The sample collection region may be removable, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, an article comprises a first filter and a second, filter configured to separate blood cells from plasma positioned between the environment external to the article and the first filter. In the context of the present disclosure, it has been recognized that the articles and methods described herein can be used to passively separate plasma with a high purity from whole blood.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for partitioning species. In some embodiments, such systems can be used for determining one or more types of cancer. For example, certain aspects are generally directed to aqueous multi-phase partitioning systems that can be used, for example, for distinguishing between different types of cancers, diagnosing subjects with cancer, or the like. In some cases, such systems can be identified using solvent properties such as the solvent dipolarity/polarizability difference (Δπ*), the solvent hydrogen bond donor acidity difference (Δα), the solvent hydrogen bond acceptor basicity difference (Δβ), and the electrostatic property difference (c) between two phases of the partitioning system. These may be within certain ranges in accordance with various embodiments. Additionally, these ranges can be precisely tuned by controlling the compositions of the phases of the partitioning system to produce novel partitioning systems that are unexpectedly efficient at distinguishing between even relatively minor structural changes of proteins or other species, which accordingly can be used to distinguishing different types of cancers, or for other applications.

The present invention relates to a method of purifying peptides and/or polypeptides, said method comprising or consisting of: (a) loading a sample comprising peptides and/or polypeptides under acidic or neutral aqueous conditions on mixed-phase solid phase extraction (SPE) material, wherein said material consists of or comprises reversed phase/ion exchange material; (b) washing said mixed-phase SPE material with (ba) an acidic or neutral composition comprising at least 50% (v/v) organic solvent; and/or (bb) an acidic or neutral aqueous solution; and (c) eluting said peptides and/or polypeptides from said mixed-phase SPE material with an alkaline composition comprising at least 50% (v/v) organic solvent.

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.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for partitioning species. In some embodiments, such systems can be used for determining one or more types of cancer. For example, certain aspects are generally directed to aqueous multiphase partitioning systems that can be used, for example, for distinguishing between different types of cancers, diagnosing subjects with cancer, or the like. In some cases, such systems can be identified using solvent properties such as the solvent dipolarity/polarizability difference (Δπ*), the solvent hydrogen bond donor acidity difference (Δα), the solvent hydrogen bond acceptor basicity difference (Δβ), and the electrostatic property difference (c) between two phases of the partitioning system. These may be within certain ranges in accordance with various embodiments. Additionally, these ranges can be precisely tuned by controlling the compositions of the phases of the partitioning system to produce novel partitioning systems that are unexpectedly efficient at distinguishing between even relatively minor structural changes of proteins or other species, which accordingly can be used to distinguishing different types of cancers, or for other applications.

A sample image capturing system includes a sample holding apparatus configured to hold a sample slide on which a sample film is applied; an imaging apparatus configured to capture the sample on the sample slide; a sample appearance image obtaining apparatus configured to obtain a sample appearance image, where the sample appearance image includes at least an appearance image of the sample film; and a controller configured to: obtain the sample appearance image, identify an appearance characteristic of the sample film based on the sample appearance image, determine a capturing parameter based on the appearance characteristic, and control the imaging apparatus to capture, with the capturing parameter, sample components on the sample slide. The disclosure further relates to a sample image capturing method and a computer-readable storage medium. The disclosure can use a characteristic of the appearance image to achieve accurate capturing of sample images.

A device and/or methodology are described that include a mechanism for separating erythrocytes from other constituents of blood and for purifying leukocytes from blood. The separation and purification aspects may be provided in separate components or within the same component. The separation aspect assists in separating erythrocytes (red blood cells) from other cells in blood, such as by aggregation of the red blood cells. A suitable aggregation device or device component uses chambers with at least one small dimension (e.g., a microfluidic chip) to control the interaction of the blood with a solution containing a high molecular weight polymer (e.g., dextran) to achieve separation.

The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for the separation of blood components including separation by rapid sedimentation, including in an automated fashion.

A sample image capturing system includes a sample holding apparatus configured to hold a sample slide on which a sample film is applied; an imaging apparatus configured to capture the sample on the sample slide; a sample appearance image obtaining apparatus configured to obtain a sample appearance image, where the sample appearance image includes at least an appearance image of the sample film; and a controller configured to: obtain the sample appearance image, identify an appearance characteristic of the sample film based on the sample appearance image, determine a capturing parameter based on the appearance characteristic, and control the imaging apparatus to capture, with the capturing parameter, sample components on the sample slide. The disclosure further relates to a sample image capturing method and a computer-readable storage medium. The disclosure can use a characteristic of the appearance image to achieve accurate capturing of sample images.

A device and method for analyte detection and analytes in a particulate bearing fluid such as whole blood having an instrument for partitioning the panicles from the fluid that is integrated with a detector for analyses of one or more particulate bearing fluid analytes while the particles in the particulate bearing fluid are partitioned.