A biochip for the integration of all steps in a complex process from the insertion of a sample to the generation of a result, performed without operator intervention includes microfluidic and macrofluidic features that are acted on by instrument subsystems in a series of scripted processing steps. Methods for fabricating these complex biochips of high feature density by injection molding are also provided.

A system for separating biological molecules includes a plurality of capillaries (101), a capillary mount (102), a plurality of optical fibers (145a, 145b), a fiber mount (603), an optical detector (138), and a motion stage (606). The plurality of capillaries (101) are configured to separate biological molecules in a sample. Each capillary (101) comprising a detection portion (121) configured to pass electromagnetic radiation into the capillary (101). The plurality of capillaries (101) are coupled to the capillary mount (102) such that the detection portions (121) are fixedly located relative to one another. Each optical fiber (145) includes a receiving end to receive emissions. The optical fibers (145) are coupled to the fiber mount (603) such that the receiving ends of the optical fibers are fixedly located relative to one another. The optical detector (138) is configured to produce an alignment signal. The motion stage (606) is configured to align the receiving ends of the optical fibers (145) to the detection portions (121) based on values of the alignment signal.

A high-throughput multiplexing electrophoretic gel system is disclosed. The system includes a gel casting device which includes an interior, gel casting chamber by which a polymerized gel layer is formed. The polymerized gel layer includes a plurality of integrally formed sample loading wells. The wells are aligned to be simultaneously loaded with samples via an automated microliter multi-pipette sample loader. The sample-loaded gel layer is adapted to undergo immersed horizontal electrophoresis separation.

An electrophoresis system includes a plurality of capillaries in which electrophoresis of a sample is performed, a light source that irradiates detection positions of the capillaries with light, a light detector that detects light generated by the irradiation with the light by the light source that depends on components contained in the sample, and a buffer storage unit into which one end of the plurality of capillaries are inserted at a time of the electrophoresis of the sample and in which a buffer is stored. A computer controls an electrophoresis condition of each of the plurality of capillaries such that arrival times for the components that move in the plurality of capillaries to reach the detection positions are shifted from each other. As a result, it is possible to detect fluorescence signals at different timings in each of the plurality of capillaries.

The present invention aims to provide a biological sample analysis device which achieves an improvement in accuracy of an analysis result, a reduction in reagent cost, and shortening of a required time. The biological sample analysis device according to the present invention compares first measurement data acquired by measuring a biological sample and second measurement data acquired by measuring a reference sample and determines that when the difference between the two exceeds a threshold value, it is necessary to remeasure the reference sample before remeasuring the biological sample and reacquire a reference value (refer to FIG. 3A).

A microfluidic chip device for the purification of radiochemical compounds includes a chip having an injection channel and intersecting branch channels with a plurality of valves are located along the injection channel and branch channels and configured to retain a plug of solution containing the radiochemical compound. The chip further includes a serpentine channel segment (for separation) coupled to the output of the injection channel. A high voltage power source advances the plug of solution through the purification region and into the downstream fraction collection channel. The chip includes a downstream fraction collection channel coupled to the serpentine channel segment and having an optical and radiation detection regions. One or more branch fraction channels intersect with the fraction collection channel and include valves located therein so that the radiochemical compound that is detected using a radiation detector is directed into the desired branch fraction channel for subsequent use.

In one general aspect, an electrophoretic measurement method is disclosed that includes providing a vessel that holds a dispersant, providing a first electrode immersed in the dispersant, and providing a second electrode immersed in the dispersant. A sample is placed at a location within the dispersant between the first and second electrodes with the sample being separated from the electrodes, an alternating electric field is applied across the electrodes, and the sample is illuminated with temporally coherent light. A frequency shift is detected in light from the step of illuminating that has interacted with the sample during the step of applying an alternating electric field, and a property of the sample is derived based on results of the step of detecting.

An optical detection system for a capillary electrophoresis instrument is disclosed. The optical detection system comprises an ultraviolet (UV) source and an absorption measurement optical path. The optical path comprises a first plurality of optical elements comprising a first optical fiber array and other elements. The first plurality of optical elements are arranged to obtain a plurality of respective UV beamlets from a UV beam emitted by the UV source and to direct, at least partially using the first optical fiber array, the respective UV beamlets through respective capillaries of a plurality of capillaries and to an absorption detector positioned to detect respective signals for use in obtaining respective UV absorption measurements corresponding to the respective capillaries.

Some embodiments described herein relate to a method that includes separating an analyte-containing sample via electrophoresis in a capillary. The capillary is loaded with a chemiluminescence agent, such as luminol, that is configured to react with the analyte (e.g., HRP-conjugated proteins) to produce a signal indicative of a concentration and/or quantity of analyte at each location along the length of the capillary. A first image of the capillary containing the analytes and the chemiluminescence agent is captured over a first period of time. A second image of the capillary containing the analytes and the chemiluminescence agent is captured over a second, longer, period of time. A concentration and/or quantity of a first population of analytes at a first location is determined using the first image, and a concentration and/or quantity of a second population of analytes at a second location is determined using the second image.

A CE based method and kit for the determination of the size and purity of an AAV genome which relies on Capillary Electrophoresis-Laser Induced Fluorescence (CE-LIF) analysis. These methods and kits are capable of detecting intact and partial genomes in a virus vectors such as adeno-associated viruses as well as remove small size impurities. In one example, the method can include creating a nucleic acid ladder using CE-LIF, releasing the genome from within an adeno-associated virus, purifying said genome and analyzing said genome using CE-LIF and comparing the results of the analysis of the genome to the nucleic acid ladder to determine a size of nucleic acids in the genome.