High-throughput digital microfluidic (DMF) systems and methods (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF apparatuses, etc.), are described herein. The systems, apparatuses and methods integrate liquid handling with the DMF apparatuses, providing flexible and efficient sample reactions and sample preparation. These systems, apparatuses and methods may be used with a variety of cartridge configurations and sizes.

An assay cartridge for detecting a target component in a liquid sample is provided. The cartridge comprises: a sample collection unit configured to introduce the liquid sample into the cartridge; a fluid pathway commencing at its proximal end at the sample collection unit and extending distally through the cartridge including: one or more capture components immobilised within the fluid pathway; one or more detection reagents provided within the diffusion distance of the capture components.

A biochip for the integration of all steps in a complex process from the insertion of a sample to the generation of a result, performed without operator intervention includes microfluidic and macrofluidic features that are acted on by instrument subsystems in a series of scripted processing steps. Methods for fabricating these complex biochips of high feature density by injection molding are also provided.

A microfluidic apparatus and methods thereof. The Apparatus having a flat and thin substrate, the substrate including at least one microfluidic testing device, each device with: plurality of Stationary Nanoliter Droplet Array (SNDA) components; a common inlet port and a distribution manifold, configured to enable an introduction of a fluid into all the primary channels; plurality of individual inlet ports, each coupled to a different primary channel, configured to enable an individual introduction of a fluid into its associated primary channel; and one or more outlet ports and optionally a collecting manifold, configured to evacuate liquid and/or gas flowing out thereof.

Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them to prevent or limit evaporation and surface fouling of the DMF apparatus. In particular, described herein are air-matrix DMF apparatuses and methods of using them including thermally controllable regions with a wax material that may be used to selectively encapsulate a reaction droplet in the air gap of the apparatus; additional aqueous droplets may be combined with the encapsulated droplet even after separating from the wax, despite residual wax coating, by merging with an aqueous droplet having a coating of a secondary material (e.g., an oil or other hydrophobic material) that may remove the wax from the droplet and/or allow combining of the droplets.

Devices and methods used collect and transport a biological specimen are disclosed. The devices include a vial defining a specimen chamber to retain a specimen, a collection member to collect a specimen, and a cap containing a liquid medium to treat the specimen for transport. The cap includes a puncture member to puncture a seal to release the liquid medium from the cap.

Digital microfluidic (DMF) methods and apparatuses (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF readers, etc.), and in particular DMF apparatuses and methods adapted for large volume. For example, described herein are methods and apparatuses for DMF using an air gap having a width of the gap that may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. Also described herein are DMF readers for use with a DMF cartridges, including those adapted for use with large air gap/large volume, although smaller volumes may be used as well.

Integrated devices that include a sample preparation component integrated with a detection component are disclosed. The sample preparation component may be a digital microfluidics module or a surface acoustic wave module which modules are used for combing a sample droplet with a reagent droplet and for performing additional sample preparation step leading to a droplet that contains beads/particles/labels that indicate presence or absence of an analyte of interest in the sample. The beads/particles/labels may be detected by moving the droplet to the detection component of the device, which detection component includes an array of wells.

Receptacles containing a reaction mixture are transported to receptacle wells of a thermally conductive receptacle holder, and the temperature of the holder is cycled with a thermoelectric device situated between a support and a first side of the holder while a first force is applied onto a second side of the holder. Optical communication between each well and an excitation signal source and an emission signal detector is established to determine whether an emission signal is emitted from any of the receptacles during temperature cycling as an indication of the presence of a target nucleic acid. The thermoelectric device may be situated between an upright portion of the support and the first side of the holder. A second force may be applied onto a top end of each receptacle in the holder by a cover moveable with respect to the receptacles between an open position and a closed position.

A self-adhesive layered septum is disclosed. In one example, the septum includes a first outer layer including a thermoplastic elastomer such as a styrenic block copolymer, containing styrene ethylene butylene styrene (TPE-SEBS) capable of closing at least partially an aperture formed when a needle is inserted through the layer; an adhesive second layer for adhering the septum to a mouth area of a well or container to which the septum is attachable; and a thermoplastic third layer between the first and second layers, thermobonded to the first layer and providing better adherence for the adhesive layer. The first layer includes a recess and a vent, which reduce pressure differentials in use, but together with the third layer minimize evaporation through the septum.