Devices and methods are provided that permit efficient and selective separation of liquid biological specimens into at least two constituent components to facilitate subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis on at least one analyte of interest in at least one of the components. The devices generally include one or more sample deposition regions supported on a base. Each sample deposition region includes a separation membrane for separating the liquid biological specimen into two different fractions. The first fraction is trapped by the separation membrane while the second fraction passes through the separation membrane and into a respective collection membrane. The separation and collection membranes are easily separable from the devices and can be utilized for further processing and analysis.

The disclosure relates to methods and systems for ultrahigh throughput protein synthesis and analysis.

A vacuum manifold for filtration microscopy includes a manifold top having multiple openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top, where the capture membrane is configured to deflect into contact with a surface of the manifold top when a negative pressure is applied to the multiple openings. A method for filtration microscopy includes the steps of providing a vacuum manifold including a manifold top having a plurality of openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top; applying sample drops to sample spots on the membrane, the sample spots positioned above the plurality of openings; applying a negative pressure to the openings such that the capture membrane contacts a surface of the manifold top; and optically imaging particulates on the capture membrane.

An apparatus for calibrating a flux analyzer comprises a first frame; a second frame; and a permeable membrane. The first frame and the second frame are connected or integrally formed. A method for calibrating a flux analyzer is provided which uses an artificial standard rather than a biological standard.

Many hand-held diagnostics are limited in their functionality due to the challenging physics associated with small dimensional systems. An example of this is capillary forces in hydrophilic systems, such as the tight retention of liquid passing through a small pore filtration membrane, or capillary force driven microfluidics where, to keep liquid flowing the dimensions of the system become so small that the flow rates are too low to be useful, or the manufacturing of such devices becomes uneconomical. This disclosure details methods to reset the capillary force condition to avoid the requirement of transient pressure spikes associated with the breakthrough pressure of small pore membranes, and avoid the necessity of extremely small microfluidic channels, which can be useful in applications such as filtration of whole blood to plasma using only suction pressure or passive capillary pressure.

Fluidic devices and related methods are generally provided. The fluidic devices described herein may be useful, for example, for diagnostic purposes (e.g., detection of the presence of one or more disease causing bacteria in a patient sample). Unlike certain existing fluidic devices for diagnostic purposes, the fluidic devices and methods described herein may be useful for detecting the presence of numerous disease causing bacteria in a patient sample substantially simultaneously (e.g., in parallel). In some embodiments, the fluidic devices and methods described herein provide highly sensitive detection of microbes in relatively large fluidic samples (e.g., between 0.5 mL and about 5 mL), as compared to certain existing fluidic detection (e.g., microfluidic) devices and methods. In an exemplary embodiment, increased detection sensitivity of microbial pathogens present in a patient sample (e.g., blood) is performed by selectively removing human nucleic acid prior to sensitive detection of microbial infection. In some embodiments, the fluidic device allows for the identification of microbial pathogens directly from unprocessed blood without having to conduct blood culturing processes.

A fully integrated sample-in-signal-out microfluidic paper-based analytical devices are provided relying on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) switches for target analyte recognition and colorimetric signal generation. Simultaneous colorimetric detection and quantification of multiple antibodies in a single drop of whole blood is shown. The devices make use of BRET-based antibody sensing proteins integrated into vertically assembled layers of functionalized porous layer(s) of material. The device enables sample volume independent, eliminates addition of reagents to the sample, and has on-device blood plasma separation. User operation is a single drop of a sample and the acquisition of a photograph after sample introduction, with no requirement for precise pipetting, liquid handling or analytical equipment except for a camera. Using different antibodies as targets, simultaneous detection in whole blood was achieved. This device is believed to be ideally suited for user-friendly point-of-care-testing in low-resource environments based on BRET-sensors.

The present disclosure provides for devices, systems and methods for fractionation and concentration of particles from a fluid sample. This includes a cartridge containing staged filters having porous surface in series of decreasing pore size for capture of particles from a fluid sample; and a permeate pressure source in fluid communication with the cartridge; wherein the particles are eluted from the porous surfaces and dispensed in a reduced fluid volume.

The present disclosure provides instruments, modules and methods for improved detection of edited cells following nucleic acid-guided nuclease genome editing. The disclosure provides improved automated instruments that perform methodsincluding high throughput methodsfor screening cells that have been subjected to editing and identifying cells that have been properly edited.

The present disclosure is directed to cross-flow membrane emulsification devices. The devices disclosed herein can have a continuous phase plate, a dispersed phase plate, an outlet, and a chamber. The chamber is located between the continuous phase plate and the dispersed phase plate and is bisected by a membrane with a plurality of pores. The chamber can include at least one channel on a first side of the membrane formed from at least one groove in the continuous phase plate and the membrane. In addition, the chamber can also include a cavity on a second side of the membrane formed in the dispersed phase plate.