This invention provides compositions and methods for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide. In some cases, 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.

A system for detecting analytes in a test sample, and a method for processing the same, is provided. The system includes a cartridge reader unit that has a control unit and a pneumatic system, and a cartridge assembly that prepares the samples with mixing material(s) through communication channels. The assembly has a memory chip with parameters for preparing the sample and at least one sensor. The assembly, pneumatic system, and control unit operate together to prepare the sample and provide the prepared sample to the sensor for detecting analytes, and also process measurements from the sensor to generate test results.

Various embodiments herein disclose a device, comprising one or more fluid interfacing components and a cartridge holder, wherein the one or more fluid interfacing components are fixed while the cartridge holder moves along a linear guide. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the device to analyze a sample containing particles, and methods of diagnosing a disease in a subject by using the device.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

The present invention may provide a microfluidic device including a rotatable body; a first chamber positioned in a direction of an inner wall of the body; a second chamber positioned in a direction of an outer wall of the body from the first chamber; and a backflow prevention unit, and wherein a fluid is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber, and wherein the backflow prevention unit prevents a backflow of the fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber.

The invention concerns a frame (1) for holding a plurality of filtration assemblies (100) and a testing unit (10) for microbiological testing. The frame (1) for holding the plurality of filtration assemblies (100) comprises an array of supports (5) each configured to receive and support one of the filtration assemblies (100) on a common support plane (2), and connection means (6) provided on the periphery (7) of the frame (1) and configured to releasably connect, by a form-locking engagement, a further frame (1) such that the common support planes (2) of the connected frames (1) are contiguous. Further, the testing unit (10) comprises at least one frame (1) packed in a bag (20) in pre-sterilized condition.

An acoustic liquid transfer system comprises: a processor; a source holding component configured to hold a source microplate; a destination holding component configured to hold a destination microplate; an acoustic transducer configured to cause liquid to transfer between the source and destination microplates; and a controller configured to direct movements, according to an ordered picklist, of one or more of the: source holding component, destination holding component, and acoustic transducer. The processor is configured to access an initial picklist of a plurality of source/destination pairs; obtain a current source/destination pair on the ordered picklist being created, calculate a plurality of movement metrics between the current source/destination pair and at least some of the plurality of source/destination pairs on the initial picklist but not yet on the ordered picklist, select a next source/destination pair with reference to the movement metrics: and add the next source/destination pair to the ordered picklist.

This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of sample chambers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a common fluid source and a plurality of independent, continuous fluidic pathways. Each independent, continuous fluidic pathway comprises a sample chamber and a pneumatic compartment. The sample chamber is connected to the common fluid source, and the pneumatic compartment is connected to the sample chamber. The sample chamber comprises, in part, an assay chamber. The assay chamber comprises a monolithic substrate and a plug having optically transmissive properties. In some embodiments, the assay chamber contains a magnetic mixing element. In some embodiments, the assay chamber is a double tapered chamber. In some embodiments, a ratio of a volume of the sample chamber to a volume of the pneumatic compartment is substantially equivalent for each fluidic pathway of the plurality of fluidic pathways.

The invention relates to a system and method for traceability of transport of containers of biological samples, arranged in a containment rack, from a drawing point to an analysis point, in which a preparation apparatus is able, for each containment rack going out from the drawing point, to identify the containment rack, to detect the measurement of the outgoing mass of the containment rack and to store the measurement of the outgoing mass in a centralized database, and in which a check-in apparatus is able, for each containment rack coming to the analysis point, to identify the containment rack, to detect the measurement of the incoming mass of the containment rack and to compare the measurement of the outgoing mass with the detected measurement of the incoming mass, generating an alert if the measurement of the outgoing mass is different from the measurement of the incoming mass.