Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

An insulated chamber having an interior region for storing items therein includes a phase change material to facilitate controlling the temperature of the interior region and the items. A heating device or cooling device may be used to melt or freeze the phase change material. The phase change material (PCM) may be in various locations such as the walls of the chamber in the form of packets or in the form of containers that serve as shelves and may be removable from the interior region. The packets may have recesses for receiving the items. The phase change material may be within capsules that may be within a liquid or a solid matrix. Controls may be provided to control humidity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide within the interior chamber.

An ergonomic vial and tube rack is disclosed for retaining a plurality of vials or tubes containing fluid therein in inclined or vertical upright positions, features of which a mechanism for a variable incline angle; lid/cap receptacles positioned either on a shelf above the vial holders or inside the cover when in an open position; an ice or heat pack compartment or a sealed compartment underneath the vials and/or behind the vials for the limited temperature control; rack to rack pin-to-hole locators for stackability, ease of transportation, and storage; color-coding of vial racks for convenience and work-flow assistance; a transparent front panel or an opening in front of each vial receptacle for additional verification of reagent labels; a rack cover with rows of circular indentations, with or without a disposable lining, for use as shallow reaction dishes for qualitative or quantitative chemical assays, such as pH testing.

A method and device for warming biological samples utilizes a heater and an outer chamber fabricated from a thermal regulating material. The outer chamber includes an outer surface and an inner surface with the heater being in operative contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer chamber. A biological sample receiving region defined by the inner surface of the outer chamber is included, the biological receiving region being configured to operatively accept a biological sample and, alternatively including a liquid that has a freezing point near to or below that of the biological sample, and, wherein one or more of the inner surface and the liquid is in close and intimate contact with the biological sample. The thermal regulating material may obtain and maintain a substantially constant predetermined temperature when heat is imparted to the outer chamber by the heater.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

Provided are devices adapted to isolate, amplify, and detect nucleic acids that may be present in a biological sample. The devices can, in some embodiments, isolate, amplify, and detect nucleic acid in a single chamber. In other embodiments, the devices are adapted to isolate and amplify nucleic acids in a reaction chamber, after which the nucleic acids may be communicated to a pervious mediumsuch as a lateral flow stripwhere the user may label and detect the nucleic acids.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

An insulated chamber having an interior chamber for storing items therein includes a phase change material to facilitate controlling the temperature of the interior chamber and the items. A heating device or cooling device may be used to melt or freeze the phase change material, which may be in various locations such as the walls of the chamber or packets which may serve as shelves and may be removable from the interior chamber with the items thereon. The packets may have recesses for receiving the items. The phase change material may be within capsules which may be within a liquid or a solid matrix. Controls may be provided to control humidity and carbon dioxide within the interior chamber.

The present invention relates to the use of warmers, or autonomous heat packs, for heating and maintaining a solution on at a suitable temperature, for the period of time required to accomplish a chemical, biochemical or biological reaction, in particular in molecular biology or cell biology applications. Biology kits containing warmers are also part of this invention.

Provided herein are devices for monitoring nucleic acid amplification, nucleic acid amplification monitors, methods of quantifying nucleic acid amplification, methods of identifying an unknown nucleic acid molecule, and systems for monitoring nucleic acid amplification. The disclosed devices, methods, and systems comprise at least one nuclemeter, comprising at least one sample chamber and at least one reaction-diffusion conduit in fluid communication with the chamber.