Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Certain aspects relate to systems and usage techniques for hazardous contamination detection devices that can utilize location-specific machine-readable information tags in conjunction with optical analysis of assays such as lateral flow assays to enable enhanced reliability and analysis of contamination detection data and/or trends. Location tags affixed to test locations and/or test sample containers provide for consistent and simplified testing workflows for reliably obtaining and storing location information in association with a large number of individual test results without requiring manual recordkeeping. Hazardous contamination detection devices can programmatically implement a two-step testing workflow.

An environmental sampling and assay system, having a coupon storage assembly, storing coupons; an environment sampling assembly, the sampling assembly mixing an environmental sample with a liquid to create a sample-liquid, bearing the environmental sample; a coupon moving assembly; a coupon wetting assembly for automatically wetting a coupon with the sample-liquid; a coupon perceiving device; a data input, adapted to receive a signal; and a data processing and control assembly, controlling the environmental sampling system, the coupon moving assembly, the wetting assembly and the coupon perceiving device. Further, the coupon moving assembly can retrieve a coupon from the coupon storage assembly and move it in a linear manner to the coupon wetting assembly.

Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically identifying and recovering individual cells of interest from a sample of biological matter, e.g., a biological fluid. Also described are methods of enriching a cell type of interest. These systems, methods, and apparatus allow for coordinated performance of two or more of the following, e.g., all with the same device, thereby enabling high throughput: cell enrichment, cell identification, and individual cell recovery for further analysis (e.g., sequencing) of individual recovered cells.

A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.

A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.

A continuous throughput microfluidic system includes an input system configured to provide a sequential stream of sample plugs; a droplet generator arranged in fluid connection with the input system to receive the sequential stream of sample plugs and configured to provide an output stream of droplets; a droplet treatment system arranged in fluid connection with the droplet generator to receive the output stream of droplets in a sequential order and configured to provide a stream of treated droplets in the sequential order; a detection system arranged to obtain detection signals from the treated droplets in the sequential order; a control system configured to communicate with the input system, the droplet generator, and the droplet treatment system; and a data processing and storage system configured to communicate with the control system and the detection system.

The present invention relates to a system for performing assays on a solid phase to measure the level of analyte in a sample. Such a system may perform immunoassays using electrochemiluminescence (ECL) including a counterbalanced orbital shaking apparatus for assay consumables.

A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.