Various apparatus, systems, and methods for measuring a solution characteristic of a sample comprising microorganisms are disclosed. The measured solution characteristic can be used to generate a standardized inoculum. In one embodiment, a sensor apparatus is disclosed comprising a sample container having a chamber lateral wall surrounding a chamber cavity configured receive the sample, a reference sensor fabricated as a container cap and comprising a reference electrode material and, and an active sensor made of a substrate covered in part by an active electrode layer. The active sensor can be coupled to at least part of the chamber lateral wall at a window opening defined along the chamber lateral wall. The solution characteristic can be measured using a reader configured to electrically couple to the sensor apparatus and measure the solution characteristic based on a potential difference between the active sensor and the active sensor.

A test strip and analytical apparatus have pin connections permitting the definition of geographic regions or of particular customers. A test strip made for use in a particular region or for a particular customer will have pin connections matching features of the apparatus made for use in that region or by that customer. Insertion of the strip into the apparatus does not merely turn on the apparatus, but provides the regional or customer coding. Analog switches within the apparatus allow coding of a larger number of distinct regions or customers than would otherwise be possible, all without degrading the quality of the measurements made of the fluid being tested. Conductive paths in the strips permit testing the strips during manufacture so as to detect quality lapses regarding the printing or deposition of the paths.

A mobile, self contained molecular diagnostics system is provided with a microfluidic chip, detection apparatus and an integrated or wireless control interface and imager. The system provides automated sample preparation and rapid optical detection of multianalyte nucleic acids and proteins. On chip PCR may be performed to improve the optical fluorescence signal for nucleic acid detections. Plasmonic protein detection is performed using a dark field smartphone microscope. Dark field illumination is based on an evanescent field generated by LED total internal reflection. The smartphone element may also be used as an interface to control the detection apparatus, acquire images, process data and for wireless communications with remote computers. The handheld automated system has low power requirements and is particularly suited for point of care and on demand diagnostics in resource limited settings.

Various apparatus, systems, and methods for measuring a solution characteristic of a sample comprising microorganisms are disclosed. The measured solution characteristic can be used to generate a standardized inoculum. In one embodiment, a sensor apparatus is disclosed comprising a sample container having a chamber lateral wall surrounding a chamber cavity configured receive the sample, a reference sensor fabricated as a container cap and comprising a reference electrode material and, and an active sensor made of a substrate covered in part by an active electrode layer. The active sensor can be coupled to at least part of the chamber lateral wall at a window opening defined along the chamber lateral wall. The solution characteristic can be measured using a reader configured to electrically couple to the sensor apparatus and measure the solution characteristic based on a potential difference between the active sensor and the active sensor.

The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for routing and tracking multiple mobile units within a microfluidic device. Mobile units may be routed through a plurality of chemical environments, and the mobile units may be tracked to determine the path and/or environments that the mobile units have routed through. Mobile units may be routed in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. Mobile units may be routed through microfluidic devices in ordered flow. Absolute or relative position of a unit inside a microfluidic device, e.g. within an ordered set of units, may be used to identify the routing path history of the unit.

A method for handling a sample tube containing a biological sample is presented. A tube label can be attached to the sample tube. The tube label can carry tube data. The tube data can comprise at least geometric tube data descriptive of at least one geometric property of the sample tube. At least the geometric tube data can be read from the tube label by a reader device. At least the geometric tube data from the reader device can be transmitted to a processing device. The processing device for handling the sample tube can be controlled in accordance with the at least one geometric property described by the read geometric data.

A microfluidic cartridge includes first and second sides and at least one flow channel and an inlet to the flow channel(s) for feeding a liquid sample, the flow channel(s) include a plurality of first optical detection sites. A detector assembly includes a slot for inserting the microfluidic cartridge and a first fixed light source with a beam path and an optical reader for reading out optical signals from at least one of the first optical detection site(s). When the microfluidic cartridge is inserted to a first predetermined position into the slot, one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source, and when the cartridge is inserted to a second predetermined position into the slot, another one of the first optical detection sites of the microfluidic cartridge is positioned in the beam path of the first light source.

Disclosed herein are a biomaterial test apparatus and a method of controlling the same, capable of previously sensing an ambient air temperature where a biomaterial test is performed in order to determine whether to proceed with the biomaterial test. The biomaterial test apparatus includes a housing, a platform receiving chamber arranged inside the housing and capable of receiving a platform into which a biomaterial is injected, a display which is arranged outside the housing and displays a control screen to test the biomaterial, a temperature sensor which senses a temperature of the platform receiving chamber and an air temperature in the vicinity thereof, and a control unit which, when the air temperature is less than a predetermined first critical temperature, controls the display so as to display a screen indicating that the test is impracticable.

A microfluidic processing device includes a substrate defining a microfluidic network. The substrate is in thermal communication with a plurality of N independently controllable components and a plurality of input output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller. Each component has at least two terminals. Each terminal is in electrical communication with at least one contact. The number of contacts required to independently control the N components is substantially less than the total number of terminals. Upon actuation, the components typically heat a portion of the microfluidic network and/or sense a temperature thereof.

A container for a device for collecting and transferring samples of biological material, comprising a main body destined to contain and/or support at least temporarily at least a device for collecting and transferring samples of biological material; and a graduated scale, comprising a plurality of measurement markings configured to, and destined to, supply an at least visual and/or tactile indication of a measurement of a distance; said container being configured to allow a measurement of a distance between a first portion and a second portion of the body of a subject, preferably a distance between an ear, in particular the tragus or lobe or opening of the ear canal, and an opening or end of a naris of a subject and/or between an ear, in particular the tragus or lobe or opening of the ear canal, and the philtrum of the subject by said graduated scale.