A compact sorting flow cytometer system is disclosed. The system includes a fluidics system having a flow cell and a deflection chamber in communication with the flow cell to receive drops in a stream of a sample biological fluid with one or more biological cells or particles and selectively deflect the drops in the stream of the sample biological fluid with the one or more biological cells or particles; and a droplet deposition unit (DDU) system in communication with the deflection chamber to receive the selectively deflected drops in the stream of the sample biological fluid with the one or more biological cells or particles into one or more containers. The DDU system includes a case or a housing with an open face surround by edges of the case, the case forming a portion of a containment chamber, the case having a top side opening aligned with the deflection chamber to receive the selectively deflected drops in the stream of the sample biological fluid into one or more containers in the containment chamber, a seal mounted around edges of the case, one or more hinges coupled to a bottom portion of the case, and a door coupled to the one or more hinges to pivot the door about the one or more hinges, the door when closed to press against the seal and close off the containment chamber from an external environment.

A method for evacuation of air in a containment chamber of a flow cytometer is disclosed. The method includes turning off a return fan in a first tunnel between an air conditioning chamber and a containment chamber; turning on an evacuation fan in a second tunnel between the air conditioning chamber and the containment chamber, the evacuation fan pulling air out of the containment chamber into the air conditioning chamber, opening a valve in an evacuation vent, the evacuation fan pushing air out of the air conditioning chamber through the evacuation vent into the environment; and continuously running the evacuation fan for a predetermined period of time to evacuate air out of the containment chamber.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a PCR apparatus comprising a repeated sliding means and a PCR method using same. According to the present invention, the throughput of samples can be increased by simultaneously, rapidly, and accurately performing a PCR on the large number of samples through repeated thermal contact between a PCR heating block having two or more heaters disposed therein and a PCR chip having two or more reaction chambers disposed therein. In addition, the present invention is capable of: significantly improving PCR yield by preventing radial heat distribution generated by the individual heaters and the consequent nonuniform thermal overlap between the adjacent heaters; significantly contributing to the miniaturization and integration of the apparatus by requiring no separate temperature control means; furthermore, simultaneously and rapidly amplifying multiple nucleic acid samples by using the PCR heating block having heater units repeatedly disposed therein and a plate-shaped PCR chip; and checking the process of nucleic acid amplification in real time by measuring sequential optical signals or electrochemical signals.

In an example implementation, a reagent storage system for a microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chamber formed in a microfluidic device. A blister pack to store a reagent includes an electrically conductive membrane barrier adjacent to the chamber. A thinned region is formed in the membrane barrier, and a conductive trace is to supply electric current to heat and melt the thinned region. Melting the thinned region is to cause the membrane barrier to open and release the reagent into the chamber.

An analytic device comprising a device housing, a dock to receive a camera enabled mobile electronic device, such as a smartphone and other smart devices, and a processing device to communicate with the mobile electronic device and to control a condition of the assay tube, such as temperature. In another example, the analytic device comprises a device housing and a circuit board. A processing device, a heating block defining a recess to support assay tube, and a resistive heater are surface mounted to the circuit board. A light source and a fan are also provided. A dock may be provided to support a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device communicates with the processing device to cause the application of reaction conditions to the assay tube, to perform a PCR procedure, for example. Methods are also disclosed.

A system and method for treatment of biological samples is disclosed. In some embodiments, an automated biological sample staining system (100), comprising at least one microfluidic reagent applicator (118); at least one bulk fluid applicator (116); at least one fluid aspirator; at least one sample substrate holder; at least one relative motion system; and a control system (102) that is programmed to execute at least one staining protocol on a sample mounted on a substrate that is held in the at least one sample substrate holder.

A disease screening device (100) comprising a substrate (101) and a sonication chamber (102) formed on the substrate (101). The sonication chamber (102) is provided with an ultrasonic transducer (105) which generates ultrasonic waves to lyse cells in a sample fluid within the sonication chamber (102). The device (100) comprises a reagent chamber (111) formed on the substrate (101) for receiving a liquid PCR reagent. The device (100) comprises a controller (23) which controls the ultrasonic transducer (105) and a heating arrangement (128) which is provided on the substrate (101). The device (100) further comprises a detection apparatus which detects the presence of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19 disease.

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a portable lab system for PCR testing. An example method for operating an integrated thermal cycling system includes depositing samples into the integrated thermal cycling system that includes a thermal cycling device and an electronic interface. The thermal cycling device includes multiple wells to receive the samples to be thermally cycled, a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) element connected to the multiple wells, a substrate on which the TEC element is positioned, and a controller coupled to the TEC element. The multiple wells are positioned within the substrate that includes a thermally conductive ground positioned between adjacent wells. Supplying power to the integrated thermal cycling system, via the electronic interface, allows the multiple wells to exchange heat with the substrate and for each well to operate independently from other wells.

The invention relates to a system is provided that comprises a lysis chamber, an amplification chamber and a fluorescence detection device. The fluorescence detection device (16) comprises - a detection chamber (42) configured to receive the amplification chamber (14) or the contents of the amplification chamber, - a light source (44), - an optical sensor (46), - energy supply means (48), - a wireless data interface (52) and - a controller (50).

Methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided. In one illustrative, but non-limiting embodiment the method comprises i) contacting a biological sample comprising a nucleic acid to a first matrix material comprising a first column or filter where said matrix material binds and/or filters nucleic acids in said sample and thereby purifies the DNA; ii) eluting the bound DNA from the first matrix material and denaturing the DNA to produce eluted denatured DNA; iii) heating the eluted DNA in the presence of bisulfite ions to produce a deaminated nucleic acid; iv) contacting said deaminated nucleic acid to a second matrix material comprising a second column to bind said deaminated nucleic acid to said second matrix material; v) desulphonating the bound deaminated nucleic acid and/or simultaneously eluting and desulphonating the nucleic acid by contacting the deaminated nucleic acid with an alkaline solution to produce a bisulfite converted nucleic acid; vi) eluting said bisulfite converted nucleic acid from said second matrix material; and vii) performing methylation specific PCR and/or nucleic acid sequencing, and/or high resolution melting analysis (HRM) on said bisulfite-converted nucleic acid to determine the methylation of said nucleic acid, wherein at least steps iv) through vi) are performed in a single reaction cartridge.

A sulfur chemiluminescence detector 200 includes: a heating furnace including a gas passage having first and second supply ports, and a heater configured to heat the gas passage; an oxidation-reduction gas supply unit configured to supply, to the gas passage, an oxidizing-agent gas through the first supply port and a reducing-agent gas through the second supply port; a reaction cell configured to make a sample gas that has passed through the gas passage react with ozone; an ozone supply unit configured to supply the ozone into the reaction cell; a vacuum pump connected to the reaction cell; a photodetector configured to detect light generated inside the reaction cell; a signal receiving unit configured to receive a shutdown signal; and a shutdown functioning unit configured to control each unit to automatically stop supplying the reducing-agent gas and the oxidizing-agent gas by the oxidation-reduction gas supply unit, heating the gas passage by the heater, supplying the ozone by the ozone supply unit, and evacuating by the vacuum pump, upon the shutdown signal being received by the signal receiving unit.