A surface bio-contamination assay kit (1) comprising a disposable swab cartridge (2) comprising a swab (29); a sampler (3) designed to removably receive the cartridge (2) and to wipe the cartridge swab (29) on a surface to be collect a sampled, along a predetermined sampling path (4) designed to cover a predetermined surface area; and a bio-contamination meter (5) designed to removably receive the cartridge (2) after sampling and to measure bio-contamination of the collected sample on the cartridge (2).

Embodiments include a reaction vessel having a first reaction chamber filled with a first material; a first light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the first reaction chamber; a second reaction chamber filled with a second material; a second light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the second reaction chamber; a temperature sensor disposed within the second reaction chamber; and one or more energy sources configured to direct light at the first light absorbing region and the second light absorbing region. A processor may be employed to determine a first temperature of the first material from a second temperature of the second material measured by the temperature sensor. Methods of manufacturing such a reaction vessel are also disclosed.

A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising focusing electromagnetic radiation into a region of a liquid sample 3 below a surface of the liquid sample so as to generate one or more bubbles 4. The one or more bubbles 4 rise to the surface of the liquid whereupon one or more droplets of liquid 6 are emitted from the surface of the liquid sample. The method further comprises directing the one or more emitted droplets 6 towards an inlet of a mass spectrometer 8.

The present application is directed to a sampling system for sampling a fluid from a vessel, where the sampling system includes a sterile dispenser assembly operatively connected to the vessel, the sterile dispenser assembly including a valve operatively connected to the vessel, a membrane, and a needle, and a detachable sterile sampling container assembly operatively connected to the sterile dispenser assembly, the detachable sterile sampling container assembly including a sampling container, a membrane attached to the sampling container, and a sampling container housing enclosing the sampling container, where the sampling container housing includes a compressible portion having a deflated configuration and an expanded configuration.

The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods for point-of-care and/or distributed testing services. The methods and devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device can be modified to allow for more flexible and robust use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical, laboratory, and other applications. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention can allow for effective use of samples by improved sample preparation and analysis.

A film for a microfluidic device is capable of bonding to a polydimethylsiloxane substrate having flow channels formed in a surface thereof, and also exhibiting stable hydrophilicity even under high temperature and high humidity conditions and having scratch resistance. When the film can be used as a microfluidic device, the film is bonded to a polydimethylsiloxane substrate having flow channels formed in a surface thereof to form a liquid-tight flow channels. The film including a base material and a hydrophilic coating, wherein the hydrophilic coating includes a (meth)acrylic resin and from 65 to 95 mass % of unmodified nanosilica particles based on a total mass of the hydrophilic coating.

An apparatus and examples of methods for using and manufacturing aspects of an apparatus with a sensor having an active surface. A sensor, a lid, and a flow channel bounded by the lid and a surface of the sensor, and including an illumination source, a heater, and a pump. A method includes fluidically coupling a first flow cell and a second flow cell to a reservoir, moving fluid from the reservoir into a flow channel of the first and second flow cell using respective pumps; and heating fluid in the flow channels of the first and second flow cells using respective heaters. A method includes forming a first sensor and a second sensor on a flexible surface, and folding the flexible surface until the first sensor faces the second sensor.

Magnetic cell levitation and cell monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. A method for separating a heterogeneous population of cells is performed by placing a microcapillary channel containing the heterogeneous population of cells in a magnetically-responsive medium in the disclosed levitation system and separating the cells by balancing magnetic and corrected gravitational forces on the individual cells. A levitation system is also disclosed, having a microscope on which the microcapillary channel is placed and a set of two magnets between which the microcapillary channel is placed. Additionally, a method for monitoring cellular processes in real-time using the levitation system is disclosed.

A biomolecule analysis method including: feeding a reagent into a reaction container which includes a plurality of wells and filing the reagent in the plurality of wells, the reagent being for causing an enzymatic reaction with regard to a target substance of analysis; feeding an oil sealing solution over the plurality of wells and sealing the reagent into the plurality of wells with the oil sealing solution so that the plurality of wells become a plurality of independent reaction containers; performing the enzymatic reaction by incubating the reaction container; and detecting a signal amplified by the enzymatic reaction.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is a sample vessel for a holding a sample for analysis by a sample analyzer. The sample vessel includes a body that includes a bottom, an open top spaced from the bottom along a first axis, a side wall that extends from the open top to the bottom, and an interior chamber for holding a sample and that extends from the open top toward the bottom along the first axis. The body includes an opaque portion, a first translucent portion, and a second translucent portion spaced from the first translucent portion a distance that extends along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The first and second translucent portions are each disposed along the bottom of the body.