A self-contained apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of any specified substance in any medium. A sample of the medium is placed in a capsule, along with a solvent and a sensor configured to test for a target analyte. The solvent comes into contact with the medium in the capsule, and the capsule is agitated to create a dispersion in the solvent of a portion of any target analyte present in the medium. A release mechanism configured to cause conduction of the dispersion to the sensor, so that the sensor produces an indication of presence of the target analyte if the target analyte is present in the medium. The apparatus uses a disposable capsule where the medium in question is placed and the disposable capsule is placed inside a reader and analyzed for presence of the harmful substance.

A system and method for detecting harmful substances within a consumable sample comprising: receiving a consumable sample at a first chamber of a test container; transforming the consumable sample into a homogenized sample upon processing of the consumable sample; delivering the homogenized sample to a second chamber of the test container, wherein the second chamber is configured to receive the homogenized sample comprises an outlet port; mixing the homogenized sample with a process reagent within the second chamber, thereby producing a dispersion; transmitting a volume of the dispersion to an analysis chamber, of the test container, configured to position a detection substrate proximal the port of the second chamber and comprising a detection window that enables detection of presence of the allergen; and detecting presence of the allergen within the consumable sample by way of an optical sensor configured to detect signals indicative of the allergen through the detection window.

A sample processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a closed-system flow channel, a housing container, and a detection member. The closed-system flow channel is a flow channel configured to process a liquid containing a sample. The housing container houses the flow channel. The detection member is a member provided inside the housing container and configured to detect a liquid present in a space inside the housing container.

Devices, methods and kits including a means for capturing red blood cells are provided. Such means include physical means for trapping red blood cells as well as agglutination agents, including hemagglutination agents, for retaining red blood cells in certain regions of the devices described herein. The physical means and agglutination agents provide separation of red blood cells from whole blood samples. Analysis of separated and/or agglutinated whole blood samples for the presence or absence of analytes of interest can be performed without interference from red blood cells. Devices, such as lateral flow assays with sample receiving zones comprising physical means and/or agglutination agents are also described. Certain agglutination agents include lectins and antibodies. such as red blood cell binding antibodies.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for testing for the presence of a material such as one or more analyte types within a sample and more particularly, for improved single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) testing as well as other variants of single-enzyme linked molecular analysis (SELMA). The invention involves flow systems for digital counting of analytes with at least one opening (inlet/outlet). A support with hydrophilic and hydrophobic patches preferably harbours capture probes immobilised on the hydrophilic features. Nano-to-attoliter droplets are formed on the hydrophilic features. A gas phase (called gas phase seal) is applied to prevent/reduce evaporation from the droplets.

The invention provides a test strip comprising an identification region coded a screen function of the test strip by a chromaticity coordinates model; a calibration region having a particular color for calibrating an external spectrum analyzer; and a reaction region chemically reacted with a specific specimen for changing its own color. By using the external spectrum analyzer to conduct light splitting of the reflective lights from the recognition and reaction regions of the test strip, automatic recognition and simplified usage can be achieved.

A disposable test kit comprising a base sheet; a sealing sheet having at least one sealed sample collection opening before use of the test kit; at least one test strip sealed between the base sheet and the sealing sheet before use of the test kit; and at least one top sheet layered over the sealing sheet before use of the test kit to keep the at least one sample collection opening sealed, the at least one top sheet further configured to be at least partially detached from the sealing sheet to open the at least one sample collection opening and expose a sample collection portion of the at least one test strip for receiving a fluid analyte thereon during use of the test kit.

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. The reaction conditions for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.

Paper microfluidic devices for the detection of bodily fluids are provided. Such devices can be used, for example, for detection of bodily fluids from or at crime scenes, including blood, saliva, semen, urine, feces, vaginal fluids, and perspiration. Detection can be performed using colorimetric reagents that react when placed in contact with the fluid of interest. A single device can be used to test for multiple bodily fluids at the same time.

An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. The reaction conditions for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.