Described here are meters and methods for sampling, transporting, and/or analyzing a fluid sample. The meters may include a meter housing and a cartridge. In some instances, the meter may include a tower which may engage one or more portions of a cartridge. The meter housing may include an imaging system, which may or may not be included in the tower. The cartridge may include one or more sampling arrangements, which may be configured to collect a fluid sample from a sampling site. A sampling arrangement may include a skin-penetration member, a hub, and a quantification member.

A method of detecting invasive fungi according to morphology thereof based on contrast staining, including: sterilizing and storing the necessary equipment aseptically; drawing 1 ml of venous blood from a tested subject's elbow vein; dripping one drop of the venous blood, prior to coagulation, into an ampoule containing 0.8 ml of a detection reagent under an aseptic environment; gently shaking the ampoule until the drop of venous blood is evenly distributed; leaving the ampoule to stand for 20 minutes to form a stained solution; sterilizing or disinfecting a microscope slide and a cover slip; dripping one drop of the stained solution on the microscope slide prepared under aseptic condition; observing the sample sequentially with 4×, 10× and 40× objective lenses and a 100× oil-immersion lens; magnifying with a 5 million pixel eyepiece; displaying an image of the sample on computer screen using a high-resolution imaging software for observation and record.

Provided are a cupping device and a blood analysis apparatus using the same. The cupping device includes a cupping cup having a first opening defined in a lower portion thereof, at least one blood collecting container disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the cupping cup and having an accommodation space configured to accommodate blood therein, and a connecting pipe disposed between the cupping cup and the blood collecting container to connect an inner space of the cupping cup to the accommodation space of the blood collecting container.

An apparatus includes a housing, defining an inner volume, and an actuator mechanism movably disposed therein. The actuator mechanism is configured to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to define a pre-sample reservoir fluidically couplable to receive a pre-sample volume of bodily-fluid via an inlet port of the housing. The actuator mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position within the housing after the pre-sample reservoir receives the pre-sample volume such that the housing and the actuator mechanism collectively define a sample reservoir to receive a sample volume of bodily-fluid via the inlet port. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the sample reservoir and is configured to be fluidically coupled to an external fluid reservoir after the sample volume is disposed in the sample reservoir to transfer at least a portion of the sample volume into the external fluid reservoir.

This disclosure is directed to methods and devices (300) associated with Point of Care medical testing and diagnostics. More specifically, methods and devices are described which provide a quick and streamlined way to prepare blood samples for analysis using flow cytometers, microscopes, and other analysis platforms. The benefits include a reduction in the time, resources, and expertise needed for preparing those blood samples without compromising the accuracy and efficacy of diagnosing diseases or identifying specific particulates from those blood samples.

Provided are methods of detecting a marker for active tuberculosis, and a portable device for carrying out a method of detecting a marker for active tuberculosis. Also provided is a system for carrying out a method of detecting a marker for active tuberculosis, a method for pre-treating a sample stream from a human or animal suspected of having active tuberculosis, a system for pre-treating a sample stream from a human or animal suspected of having active tuberculosis and kits for performing said methods.

A grinder (220) is provided for use in a method of processing a piece of lateral flow paper, comprising a grinder body (222) defining a grinder storage volume (226) with a top opening for accessing the grinder storage volume and one or more through holes (228) providing a fluid connection through the grinder body into the grinder storage volume, wherein the grinder body further comprises one or more grinding protrusions (229) at an outer surface of the grinder body. Furthermore, a sample container (200) is provided for storing a blood sample provided on a piece of lateral flow paper, comprising a sample container body with a base part, a cylindrical wall extending from the base part and defining a storage volume with an opening for accessing the storage volume, wherein the base part comprises one or more protrusions (209) extending into the storage volume.

A capillary chamber for performing chemical and physical analysis using a plurality of whole blood samples is presented. Following a loading of the whole blood samples into a plastic tube, the whole blood samples are distributed into a collection chamber and the capillary chamber has means of adding respective vaccines or similar biological products into each capillary tubes. The whole blood is then analyzed using standard microscopic techniques with sufficient resolution and contrast to record the chemical and physical properties of the blood immediately after withdrawal.

Disclosed is a syringe apparatus. Syringe apparatus has a barrel including an inner surface, an open end, and an inlet end; a plunger including a plunger head received in slidable sealing contact with the inner surface of the barrel and forming a reservoir therein; and an extensible member, optionally including an additive, is contained in the reservoir. Extensible member can be coupled between the inlet end and the plunger head and is extensible in length L as a bio-liquid (e.g., whole blood) is drawn into the reservoir. Methods of mixing or adding an additive such as an anticoagulant, coagulant, or marker, to a bio-liquid are provided, as are other aspects.

A tissue penetrating system has a housing member, a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member and a plurality of sample chambers. Each sample chamber is associated with a penetrating member. A tissue stabilizing member has a tissue interface surface configured to be applied to a tissue surface and provide for spontaneous flow of blood for sample capture. The tissue stabilizing member is coupled to the housing.