The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

Aspects of the present invention are directed to devices, systems and methods that enable the quick and reliable detection of hemolysis in a sample such that a sample which exhibits an unacceptable level of hemolysis can be flagged or disregarded in an associated diagnostic test.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for quantifying an analyte extracted from a sample. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods that involve introducing a solvent into a capillary, introducing the capillary into a vessel including a sample such that a portion of the sample is introduced into the capillary, moving the sample and the solvent within the capillary to induce circulation within the sample and the solvent, thereby causing the analyte to be extracted from the sample and into the solvent, analyzing the analyte that has been extracted from the sample, and quantifying the analyte. In certain embodiments, the quantifying step is performed without knowledge of a volume of the sample and/or solvent.

Novel organoselenium selective ligands are presented and designed to determine metal ions in a sample. These ligands are used as complexing agents in a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure of copper and zinc ions. The procedure has a shortened extraction time, minimal organic solvent types, and lower amounts of solvents, as well as easy operation and high enrichment efficiency.

Novel organoselenium selective ligands are presented and designed to determine metal ions in a sample. These ligands are used as complexing agents in a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure of copper and zinc ions. The procedure has a shortened extraction time, minimal organic solvent types, and lower amounts of solvents, as well as easy operation and high enrichment efficiency.

Methods and systems for processing samples fixed to a porous substrate generally comprising, a compressor defining one or more fluid isolation areas, a support, for the porous substrate, having an opening corresponding to one or more of the fluid isolation areas of the compressor, an actuator that causes at least a portion of the compressor to press against the porous substrate, a fluid inlet having access to the fluid isolation area at least when the compressor is pressed against the porous substrate, and a fluid outlet to receive fluid, through the opening in the support corresponding to the fluid isolation area of the compressor, at least when the compressor is pressed against the porous substrate.

The present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated handling of samples, e.g., biological or chemical samples. The apparatuses and the methods of the present teachings allow automated performance of various sample manipulation steps without manual intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the present teachings provide apparatuses and methods for automated enrichment of templated beads produced by PCR.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for quantifying an analyte extracted from a sample. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods that involve introducing a solvent into a capillary, introducing the capillary into a vessel including a sample such that a portion of the sample is introduced into the capillary, moving the sample and the solvent within the capillary to induce circulation within the sample and the solvent, thereby causing the analyte to be extracted from the sample and into the solvent, analyzing the analyte that has been extracted from the sample, and quantifying the analyte. In certain embodiments, the quantifying step is performed without knowledge of a volume of the sample and/or solvent.

A well plate includes a including a top portion, a bottom portion and a membrane disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion. The top portion defines a sample well in fluid communication with an opening defined by the membrane and in fluid communication with a reservoir defined by the bottom portion. The well plate is configured to be used in a centrifugation process of a test sample including a sample material and a wash liquid. The test sample configured to be received within the sample well and the reservoir. The membrane configured to filter the wash liquid from the test sample during the centrifugation process such that the wash liquid can pass from the reservoir, through the membrane and can be captured within a collection chamber while the sample material remains within the reservoir.

A lab-on-chip-based system is described for the direct and multiple sampling, control of the volume, fluid filtration, biochemical reactions, sample transfer, and dried spot generation on the conventional and commercial cards for dried fluid spot. Within an all-in-one integrated holder, the invention allows the complete process required to ensure a quantitative analysis of blood, plasma or any other fluids, modification and enrichment of molecule subsets, and formation of a dried fluid spot on the specific spot location of a passive cellulose, non-cellulose, absorbent, or non-absorbent membrane material sampling.