A method for performing a magnetic separation procedure that includes transporting a receptacle containing a fluid medium to a first location of a system, where the fluid medium contains both a sample material and a suspension of magnetically-responsive solid supports. At the first location, the fluid medium is exposed to a first magnetic field for a first dwell period, thereby isolating the solid supports within the receptacle, where no portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle at the first location. The receptacle is then transported from the first location to a second location of the system, where the fluid medium is exposed to a second magnetic field for a second dwell period. Following the second dwell period, at least a portion of the fluid medium is removed from the receptacle. A suspension fluid is then dispensed into the receptacle, and the contents of the receptacle are agitated to suspend the solid supports within the suspension fluid.

In accordance with the present disclosure, exposure of a sample to one or more electric pulses via capacitive coupling is described. In certain embodiments, the sample may be a biological sample to be treated or modified using the pulsed electric fields. In certain embodiments, the electric pulses may be delivered to a load using capacitive coupling. In other embodiments, the electric pulses may be bipolar pulses.

Double bag having a first compartment containing a composition to be distributed and a second compartment for receiving a used fluid, a first bag connector communicating with the first compartment and serving to empty the latter, and a second bag connector communicating with the second compartment and serving to fill the latter.

A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.

An elongated incubation trough has an indentation open toward a top end as well as a bottom. The indentation has a first receiving area to receive an elongated test strip as well as a second receiving area to receive an end section of a fluid line. The second receiving area is in fluidic communication with the first receiving area. A maximum width of the second receiving area at bottom height is greater than a maximum width of the first receiving area at bottom height.

A dosing device is proposed which is designed for dosed output of a fluid. The dosing device has a block-shaped channel body, through which a dosing channel system passes. The dosing channel system has a fluid infeed opening and a plurality of fluid output openings. The fluid output openings are formed by the channel apertures of narrowed output sections of a plurality of output channels of the dosing channel system. The entire dosing channel system, including the output channels, is formed in the block-shaped channel body. The dosing channel system is preferably structured such that the flow velocity of the fluid channelled through during operation is at least substantially the same throughout with the exception of in the output sections of the output channels.

Fluidic systems and reagent carriers suitable for storing reagents in a desirable manner are generally provided. In some embodiments, a reagent carrier stores a liquid film comprising a solid reagent and/or stores different reagents in different locations. In some embodiments, a fluidic system comprises a reagent carrier constrained such that it comprises an elongated axis positioned within 30° of a vertical axis of the fluidic reservoir.

A solid reagent containment unit is formed by a support; a frame body fixed to the support and delimiting internally, together with the support, an analysis volume; a reagent-adhesion structure within the analysis volume; and at least one reagent cavity, which extends within the reagent-adhesion structure. The reagent-adhesion structure is of an adhesion material embossable at temperatures lower by 6-8° C. than its own melting point and has a melting point such as not to interfere with the analysis. The reagent cavity forms a retention wall, laterally surrounding the reagent cavity, and houses dried reagents. The adhesion material is chosen among wax, such as paraffin, a polymer, such as polycaprolactone, a solid fat, such as cocoa butter, and a gel, such as hydrogel or organogel.

The present invention provides a mesh filter having superior handling performance for liquid-solution lyophilizates. This mesh filter 130 has a mesh 131, and liquid-solution lyophilizates 132 affixed to the mesh.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for detecting polynucleotides in a sample and for quantifying polynucleotide load in a sample. The polynucleotides can be associated with a disease, disorder, or condition. In some applications, methylated DNA is quantified, e.g., in order to determine the load of polynucleotides in a sample. The present disclosure also provides methods and compositions for determining the load of fetal polynucleotides in a biological sample, e.g., the load of fetal polynucleotides (e.g., DNA, RNA) in maternal plasma. The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for detecting cellular processes such as cellular viability, growth rates, and infection rates. This disclosure also provides compositions and methods for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions provided herein are useful for diagnosis of fetal genetic abnormalities, when the starting sample is maternal tissue (e.g., blood, plasma). The methods and materials described apply techniques for allowing detection of small, but statistically significant, differences in polynucleotide copy number.