The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device configured to deliver a controlled amount of a liquid to an analysis tool, wherein the microfluidic device comprises: a buffer tank configured to contain a liquid and/or a gas; at least one level sensor configured to measure a liquid level in the buffer tank; a pneumatic system configured to create selectively a positive or a negative pressure in the buffer tank; at least one intake port to let in a liquid in the buffer tank; at least one delivery port to inject a controlled amount of liquid from the buffer tank onto the analysis tool; at least one drain port with a controlled drain valve, located on the lower part of the buffer tank to discharge the liquid from the buffer tank; a first check valve located upstream of the intake port and a second check valve between the buffer tank and the analysis tool.

In embodiments there is described a method for reducing false positives and negatives in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in suspected patients using mass spectroscopy employing the steps of mixing samples of collected saliva and nasopharyngeal secretions in a single sample container; adding universal transport medium to the mixed samples in said single sample container; transporting the single sample container at a temperature above 0° C. to a remote location; deactivation of viral content of the mixed sample; protein digestion of the mixed sample; concomitant separation of peptides, ionization by mass spectroscopy of the separated peptides, and comparison of peptide patterns to known SARS-CoV-2 peptides. Also set forth in an embodiment is a collection container for collecting saliva and/or sputum, as well as a swab member, with universal transport medium and/or virus inactivating agent housed in separate compartment communicable with sample compartment through a one-way valve.

A well plate assembly with an interior channel system in the well plate lid provides a more efficient and uniform distribution of fluid into a receptacle positioned below the well plate lid. The channel system in the lid allows air, or other fluid, to pass through with the use of a pump to each of a plurality of channels in the receptacle. Inlet and outlet valves in the lid prevent a gasket positioned between the lid and the receptacle from releasing contact with the receptacle due to high pressure experienced during the injection of fluid into the assembly. Specifically, pressure under a specified tolerance passes through the inlet valves, and if the pressure within the channel system exceeds the limit of the outlet valve, the outlet valve opens and allows air to escape the lid safely without disturbing the fluid flow into the channels below.

A sample chamber holder for MAS-NMR capable of operating at both low and high pressures. In one example the sample chamber holder is made up of a sample holder body defining a sample chamber therein, a connector configured to operatively statically hold an in situ rotor within the sample chamber; a coupler configured to operatively connect the sampler holder body to a magnetically coupled rotation member. The magnetically coupled rotation member is configured to engage and rotate a sealing cap from an NMR rotor in such a way so as to allow an NMR cap to be alternatively opened or sealed in-situ while the NMR rotor remains statically positioned in an NMR device.

Systems for monitoring fluidics in reagent cartridges and related methods. An apparatus includes a system includes a reagent cartridge receptacle and a flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a reagent cartridge receivable within the reagent cartridge receptacle and adapted to carry the flow cell assembly. The reagent cartridge includes a reagent reservoir fluidically coupled to the flow cell assembly. The apparatus includes a sensor module adapted to be positioned adjacent the reagent reservoir. The sensor module is adapted to generate a signal associated with a volume of reagent contained within the reagent reservoir.

Reagent delivery systems, which can include a reagent trough and a pump system, are useful for delivering liquids to a laboratory workbench. Processing samples on the laboratory workbench can result in a large amount of liquid waste. Described herein are reagent troughs, pump systems, reagent delivery systems, waste management systems, and methods of using the same.

A system and method for performing a portable, fast, field assay of a small sample biological analyte includes a microfluidic cartridge and a reader with which the microfluidic cartridge is selectively communicated. A closed microfluidic circuit mixes and recirculates the analyte with a buffer. A shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector communicates with the microfluidic circuit and has a plurality of channels including at least one functionalized sensing channel in which the mixed analyte and buffer is recirculated and sensed. Capture of the analyte is amplified by recirculation of the analyte and buffer, and detection is amplified by use of an all-purpose endospore display mass amplification.

A method and system for processing a sample in a fluid is provided. An assembly comprising a cap prefilled with a fixative solution, a valve, and a container for storing a tissue sample are provided. The valve is adapted to be situated between the cap and the container such that fluid can flow from the cap into the container when the assembly is upright, but the fluid cannot backflow from the container to the cap when the assembly is horizontal or inverted.

The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for measuring blood. The microfluidic devices of the present invention include an inlet port adapted and configured to receive a fluid sample, a microfluidic flow path in fluidic communication with the inlet port, an outlet in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flow path, the outlet: having a smaller cross-sectional area than the microfluidic flow path; and adapted for communication with a pressure sink. The microfluidic devices further include a priming circuit in fluidic communication with the microfluidic flow path such that when a priming fluid is applied under pressure to the priming circuit, the priming fluid will flow through the microfluidic flow path to the inlet port due to low resistance to laminar flow in the microfluidic flow path relative to the outlet.

Microfluidic pumps are provided that use electrowetting to manipulate the location of one or more droplets of a working fluid (e.g., water) in order to pump tears, blood, laboratory samples, carrier fluid, or some other payload fluid. The working fluid is separated from the payload fluid by one or more droplets of an isolating fluid that is immiscible with the working fluid. The working fluid is manipulated via electrowetting, by applying voltages to two or more electrodes, to repeatedly move back and forth. Forces, pressures, and/or fluid flows exerted by the working fluid are coupled to the payload fluid via the droplet(s) of isolation fluid and reed valves, diffuser nozzles, or other varieties of valve can act as flow-rectifying elements to convert the coupled forces into a net flow of the payload fluid through the pump.