Aspects of the invention provide a biological sample collection pad (e.g., for the collection of fecal, liquid or tissue samples). Method of using such pads and analyzing collected samples are also provided.

The present specification discloses an apparatus and method for controlling the brightness of light to calculate more accurate figures as compared to when the level of a component in blood is measured through a change in color of a reaction reagent. A light control apparatus for a colorimetric method according to the present specification can control light to have a second brightness different from a first brightness while a camera captures an image of the reaction of a reagent and a sample. Thus, a wider range of measurement than conventional measurement ranges is possible.

A microfluidic device includes at least one microchannel with a plurality of micropillar arrays provided along a length of the microchannel. Each micropillar array defines a plurality microcapillaries having cross sectional area, and the cross sectional area of the microcapillaries defined by each micropillar array decreases in a direction of fluid flow through the microchannel.

A blood glucose test strip includes a base substrate, a calibration site, a test site and a non-volatile memory. The calibration site is disposed on the base substrate. A chemical reagent is applied on the calibration site. The test site is disposed on the base substrate. A chemical reagent is applied on the test site. The non-volatile memory is disposed on the base substrate. A calibration parameter is stored in the non-volatile memory. During a calibrating procedure, the calibration solution is dropped on the calibration site, a calibration parameter is calculated according to a first reaction result of the calibration solution and the chemical reagent, and the calibration parameter is stored in the non-volatile memory.

Provided herein are devices and methods for extracting blood plasma from ultra-low volumes of blood. In some cases, the devices and methods use positive pressure to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. In some cases, the devices and methods use centrifugation to force a blood sample through a filter or a membrane. The devices and methods disclosed herein are suitable for the preparation of high-quality samples containing cell-free nucleic acids.

A system is provided for monitoring analyte in a host, including a continuous analyte sensor that produces a data stream indicative of a host's analyte concentration and a device that receives and records data from the data stream from the continuous analyte sensor. In one embodiment, the device includes a single point analyte monitor, from which it obtains an analyte value, and is configured to display only single point analyte measurement values, and not any analyte measurement values associated with data received from the continuous analyte sensor. Instead, data received from the continuous analyte sensor is used to provide alarms to the user when the analyte concentration and/or the rate of change of analyte concentration, as measured by the continuous analyte sensor, is above or below a predetermined range. Data received from the continuous analyte sensor may also be used to prompt the diabetic or caregiver to take certain actions, such as to perform another single point blood glucose measurement. In another embodiment, the device provides for toggling between two modes, with one mode that allows for display of glucose concentration values associated with the continuous glucose sensor and a second mode that prevents the display of glucose concentration values associated with the continuous glucose sensor.

A dermal patch for collecting a physiological sample includes a housing with a collection chamber, a sample channel and a pin within a receptacle of the housing. The sample channel is configured to direct a physiological sample drawn from a subject to the collection chamber. The pin is removably positioned within the receptacle and is configured to move from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The pin is configured to seal the receptacle when in the undeployed position and is further configured to facilitate generation of negative pressure in the sample channel when the pin is moved from the undeployed to the deployed position.

In one aspect, a dermal patch is disclosed, which comprises at least one needle configured for puncturing a subject's skin so as to allow drawing blood from the subject, a first blood-transfer fluidic channel for receiving at least a portion of the drawn blood, and a serum-separation element fluidly coupled to said first blood-transfer fluidic channel for receiving at least a portion of the drawn blood and separating a serum component thereof. In some embodiments, the dermal patch may include at least one reservoir for storing blood-processing reagent(s).

Medical devices and methods thereof for determining bacterial infections in blood. The medical devices and methods thereof can utilize a coating including an antibody conjugated to a reporter protein configured to indicate a bacterial infection in a patient's blood by way of an antigen thereof. Exemplary medical devices include, but are not limited to, a catheter assembly, an AV fistula needle set, an extension set for either a catheter assembly or an AV fistula needle set, and a hemodialysis tubing set. The medical devices and methods thereof can utilize immunochromatographic separation of the antibody and an antigen-antibody complex to indicate a bacterial infection in a patient's blood.

Devices associated with on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. These devices include any of packaging and/or loading systems, applicators and elements of the on-body sensor units themselves. Also, various approaches to connecting electrochemical analyte sensors to and/or within associated on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. The connector approaches variously involve the use of unique sensor and ancillary element arrangements to facilitate assembly of separate electronics assemblies and sensor elements that are kept apart until the end user brings them together.