A method for optically reading information encoded in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device including an input microchannel, microfluidic modules, and sets of nodes. Nodes of a first set connect the input microchannel to one of the microfluidic modules, and nodes of a second set connect the one of the microfluidic modules to another to form an ordered pair of the microfluidic modules, where the nodes of the first and second sets have different liquid pinning strengths. A liquid loaded into the input microchannel causes an ordered passage of the liquid through each of the microfluidic modules in an order determined by the liquid pinning strengths of the nodes. The passage of the liquid produces an optically readable dynamic pattern which evolves in accordance with the ordered passage of the liquid through the device.

Described herein are an adaptable apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of a target substance in a liquid. For example, the adaptable apparatus can be a medallion that detects illicit drugs in a beverage. The adaptable apparatus comprises a detection unit comprising an indicator that is configured to display a signal upon the detection of an interaction with the target substance. In some examples, the adaptable apparatus can be attached to an implement.

An exemplary mobile impedance-based flow cytometer is developed for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease. The mobile cytometer may be controlled by a computer (e.g., smartphone) application. Calibration of the portable device may be performed using a component of known impedance value. With the developed portable flow cytometer, analysis may be performed on two sickle cell samples and a healthy cell sample. The acquired results may subsequently be analyzed to extract single-cell level impedance information as well as statistics of different cell conditions. Significant differences in cell impedance signals may be observed between sickle cells and normal cells, as well as between sickle cells under hypoxia and normoxia conditions.

This system takes in raw cellular material collected using a provided swab, blood collection device, urine collection device, or other sample collection device and transforms that biological material into a digital result, identifying the presence, absence and/or quantity of nucleic acids, proteins, and/or other molecules of interest.

Provided are microfluidic systems for monitoring a biofluid property and related methods. Specially configured microfluidic networks and associated structural support and functional elements, including flexible substrates, capping layers, and fluidic conduits and controllers, provide reliable biofluid collection. Optical components and indicators provide a reliable and readily observable readout, including of any of a number of biofluid properties, including directly from biofluid collected in the microfluidic network.

An apparatus and method are provided for imaging and analyzing images of tissue samples. The apparatus includes an imager, a lighting system, and a processor. The imager is configured to capture images within a selectable field of view. A tissue sample container is positionable within the field of view. The imager is configured to capture images of a plurality of tissue sample containers. The lighting system is configured to illuminate the field of view. The processor is configured to receive a first plurality of captured images of tissue sample containers. The processor is configured to analyze the first plurality of captured images and to determine whether there is tissue missing from any ones of the first plurality of captured images.

The invention relates to a pipette auxiliary system for supporting manual pipetting or dispensing of a plurality of samples of a sample-holding arrangement, in particular a microtiter plate. The pipette auxiliary system according to the invention supports the manual pipetting or dispensing of a plurality of samples in a working position of a sample-holding arrangement, the pipette auxiliary system comprising: a base apparatus comprising a positioning device which is designed to position the sample-holding arrangement in the working position inside a positioning space of the base apparatus, said positioning space being opened at least along a plane for the pipetting; the sample-holding arrangement which has a plurality of sample holders; a measurement arrangement comprising a plurality of measurement elements which are positioned at least in the working position underneath this plane and using which the occupancy state of at least one sample holder can be detected in the working position; and an output device or a light arrangement using which the sample-holding arrangement can be illuminated in accordance with this occupancy state of this at least one sample holder.

Naturally occurring RNA pseudoknots fold into many topologies, yet their formation is poorly understood. Herein, by using high-resolution single-molecule force spectroscopy, the folding pathways of the H-type pseudoknot found in the preQ.sub.1-riboswitch in B. subtilis were investigated By holding a single riboswitch RNA molecule in the optical-trap, the structural rearrangements as the end-to-end distance change along the pulling direction, x at a force, F were followed. The data reveal a multistate folding, wherein the intermediate hairpin undergoes a unidirectional conformational switching in the presence of ligand to form the pseudoknot receptor. Specifically-designed mutant RNAs resisted the switching mechanism and resulted in a significantly reduced pseudoknot population (4.5%) compared to the wild-type (100%). The free-energy landscape highlighted two kinetic barriers (G.sup.) that interrupt the folding pathway. By coupling the exothermic ligand-binding reaction (G.sub.binding=16 kT) to the folding events, the nascent transcript ensures successful barrier crossing, thus favoring the pseudoknot conformation.

This invention relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for performing biological assays by using indicators that modify one or more optical properties of the assayed biological samples. The subject methods include generating a reaction product by carrying out a biochemical reaction on the biological sample introduced into a device and reacting the reaction product with an indicator capable of generating a detectable change in an optical property of the biological sample to indicate the presence, absence, or amount of analyte suspected to be present in the sample.

A blood sample collection device includes a two-piece housing that encompasses a port at which a fingertip blood sample is collected. After the sample is taken, the two-piece housing is moved to a closed position to protect and optionally process the sample. A sample event detection circuit triggers a recording of a time when the sample was taken. The sample event detection circuit may determine when the housing is closed, or may detect the presence of blood in or near the sample port. The electronics may optionally record environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity, etc. at the time the sample is taken. The recorded data may then be used to enhance the value or accuracy of lab test, or for other purposes, such as inventory management.