The invention, provides a method, apparatus and system for separating blood and other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

A blood processing apparatus (1) comprises a measurement device (8) having a first chamber element (80) for measuring a haematocrit value of a blood fluid, the first chamber element (80) comprising a first inlet port (800) connectable to a first reservoir container (2) for allowing a flow from the first reservoir container (2) into the first chamber element (80) and a first outlet port (801) for allowing a flow out of the first chamber element (80), and the second chamber element (81) comprising a second inlet port (810) for allowing a flow into the second chamber element (81) and a second outlet port (811) connectable to a second reservoir container (3) for allowing a flow out of the second chamber element (81) towards the second reservoir container (3). The blood processing apparatus furthermore comprises a first pump mechanism (600) for pumping a blood fluid in a flow direction (F1) from the first reservoir container (2) towards the blood processing apparatus (1), and a second pump mechanism (610) for pumping a blood fluid in a flow direction (F2) from the blood processing apparatus (1) towards the second reservoir container (2). Herein, the first pump mechanism (600) is located upstream of the first inlet port (800) of the first chamber element (80) and the second pump mechanism (610) is located upstream of the second inlet port (810) of the second chamber element (81). In this way a blood processing apparatus comprising a measurement device is provided which in an easy and reliable manner allows for a measurement of in particular a haematocrit value in the incoming blood flow as well as the outgoing blood flow.

A particle separating and measuring device of the present disclosure includes: a first flow path device including a post-separation flow outlet through which a first fluid containing specific particles to be separated flows out; and a second flow path device on which the first flow path device is placed and including a first flow inlet through which the first fluid flows in, the first flow path device in which the post-separation flow outlet is arranged in a lower surface is placed on the second flow path device in which the first flow inlet is arranged in an upper surface of a first region, the post-separation flow outlet and the first flow inlet are connected so as to face each other, and a size of an opening of the first flow inlet is larger than a size of an opening of the post-separation flow outlet.

A tubing set for use in a blood processing apparatus comprises a measurement device (8) having at least one chamber element (80, 81) for measuring a haematocrit value of a blood fluid, wherein the at least one chamber element (80, 81) extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a circumferential wall (804, 814) extending about the longitudinal axis (L) and encompassing a flow chamber (802, 812), the at last one chamber element (80, 81) further comprising an inlet port (800, 810) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid into the flow chamber (802, 812) and an outlet port (801, 811) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid out of the flow chamber (802, 812). The tubing set furthermore comprises an inlet-side tube section (21, 31) connected to the inlet port (800, 810) and an outlet-side tube section (22, 30) connected to the outlet port (801, 811). Herein, the inlet port (800, 810) and the outlet port (801, 811) are arranged on the circumferential wall (804, 814) and are displaced with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis (L). In this way a tubing set comprising a measurement device is provided which in an easy and reliable manner allows for the measuring of a haematocrit value of a blood fluid.

A drive system for aligning a detection zone of a cartridge With an image capture device is provided. The drive system can include a first motor configured for the purpose of spinning the cartridge to drive centrifugal flow of a liquid in the cartridge. The drive system can further include a second motor coupled to a cartridge-aligned member, configured for the purpose of aligning the detection zone with the image capture device. Advantageously, each motor can be adapted for its specific purpose.

Provided herein are, inter alia, methods and kits for diagnosing post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) or Lyme disease in a subject.

A sample analyzer comprising: a sample preparing section for preparing first and second measurement sample including reagent and sample; a first detector for detecting a predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; a second detector for detecting the predetermined component in the second measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; and a controller configured for performing operations, comprising: (a) controlling the first detector to detect the predetermined component in the first measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; (b) determining the reliability of the result detected by the first detector; (c) controlling the sample preparing section to prepare the second measurement sample from the same sample when the result has been determined to be unreliable; and (d) controlling the second detector to detect the predetermined component in the second measurement sample, is disclosed.

A method for measuring concentrations of blood cell components is provided. The method comprises: obtaining a blood sample from a subject, the blood sample comprising red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs); mixing the blood sample with a non-lysing aqueous solution to form a sample mixture comprising a predetermined tonicity; passing the sample mixture through a flow cell; emitting light towards the flow cell; measuring an amount of light absorbed by the RBCs; measuring an amount of light scattered by WBCs, and PLTs; determining a concentration of each of the RBCs, WBCs, and PLTs present in the sample mixture from the measured amount of light absorbed by the RBCs and scattered by the WBCs and PLTs.

Provided herein are systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a basophil analysis. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye; and then (b) using measurements of light scatter and fluorescence emission to distinguish basophils from other WBC sub-populations. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include performing a basophil cluster analysis of the blood sample, based on the combination of light scatter and fluorescence measurements.

An integrated microfluidic device for carrying out a series of fluidic operations includes a housing including a plurality of n microfluidic conduits, wherein n is at least three, and a rotating valve having an internal channel with an entrance port and an exit port that are angularly separated. The rotating valve is positionable in a first position to connect two of the n fluidic conduits via the internal channel, and upon rotating the valve to a second position, two other of the n fluidic conduits are connected by the internal channel. The device further may include one or more fluidic chambers in fluid communication with respective fluidic conduits. Fluid contained in one fluidic chamber is transferrable by application of positive or negative gas pressure through associated fluidic conduits into another fluidic chamber via the internal channel. The device may be utilized to perform a variety of fluidic operations.