A system, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, the system comprising a process fluid container and a cartridge comprising: a top layer, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.

An example microfluidic device comprises a plurality of fluidic channels and a fluidic multiplexor. The fluidic multiplexor includes a plurality of fluidic micro-valves fluidically coupled to the plurality of fluidic channels, and a plurality of control lines that cross the plurality of fluidic channels proximal to the plurality of fluidic micro-valves.

A single junction sorter for a microfluidic particle sorter, the single-junction sorter comprising: an input channel, configured to receive a fluid containing particles; an output sort channel and an output waste channel, each connected to the input channel for receiving the fluid therefrom; a bubble generator, operable to selectively displace the fluid around a particle to be sorted and thereby to create a transient flow of the fluid in the input channel; and a vortex element, configured to cause a vortex in the transient flow in order to direct the particle to be sorted into the output sort channel.

Disclosed in one aspect is a method for performing a complete blood count (CBC) on a sample of whole blood by metering a predetermined amount of the whole blood and mixing it with a predetermined amount of diluent and stain and transferring a portion thereof to an imaging chamber of fixed dimensions and utilizing an automated microscope with digital camera and cell counting and recognition software to count every white blood cell and red blood corpuscle and platelet in the sample diluent/stain mixture to determine the number of red cells, white cells, and platelets per unit volume, and analyzing the white cells with cell recognition software to classify them.

A collection device for a biological sample to capture target compounds such as viruses or other pathogens or particles for testing from within the sample and move the captured target compound to a separate chamber for subsequent processing. The collection device can include an openable substance blister including capture particles located in a cup interior. Capture particles can attract and bind the target compounds from the sample. An extraction tube extracts any nucleic acid from the target compound for storage or subsequent amplification and testing to confirm presence of known microorganisms. The extraction tube can comprise a heat-deformable material and can be connected to a microfluidic cartridge for further processing of nucleic acid including, amplification and detection. The microfluidic cartridge includes valves and a plurality of chambers for amplification.

An intermediate storage dosing unit for taking samples of a fluid. The intermediate storage dosing unit includes a container with an inlet and a two-way outlet. The two-way outlet has a riser as a first outlet and a drain as a second outlet. A system and a method for taking samples of a fluid. In particular, the system includes a sample acquisition unit and at least one sample vessel, the sample acquisition unit is configured to provide a fluid and the at least one sample vessel is configured to receive and store a fluid. A fluid transfer is also possible between the sample acquisition unit and the at least one sample vessel. The intermediate storage dosing unit of the type mentioned is connected between the sample acquisition unit and the at least one sample vessel.

This disclosure provides systems and methods to extend the capabilities of inertial and/or viscoelastic focusing in channels, such as microchannels. The new systems and methods can be integrated with existing microfluidic devices for inertial and/or viscoelastic manipulation of particles that have defied prior attempts, enabling a variety of applications in clinical diagnosis. The particles, e.g., bioparticles and cells, focus into streamlines in the same way and in the same locations as in existing inertial and viscoelastic focusing systems, but at much lower particle Reynolds numbers, much lower shear stress, over much shorter distances, and at lower driving pressures and/or flow rates.

System for performing a flow-based assay. The system may comprise a droplet generator to produce an emulsion including droplets in a carrier fluid. The system also may comprise a thermocycler including two or more temperature-controlled zones and also including a channel connected to the droplet generator for receiving the emulsion. The channel may form a single-pass continuous fluid route traversing the temperature-controlled zones multiple times, such that droplets passing through the channel are thermally cycled. The system further may comprise a detection station downstream from the thermocycler and configured to detect a signal from the droplets after such droplets have been thermally cycled by passing through the channel.

Methods, systems and devices that allow independently applied pressures to a BGE reservoir and a sample reservoir for pressure-driven injection that can inject a discrete sample plug into a separation channel that does not require voltage applied to the sample reservoir and can allow for in-channel focusing methods to be used. The methods, systems and devices are particularly suitable for use with a mass spectrometer.

The present disclosure relates to a fluid system for a sample processor and a sample processor including the fluid system. The fluid system includes a sample line, a processing fluid line, a vacuum line, and an air pump. The sample line communicates a sample container with a sample port of a flow cell unit. The processing fluid line communicates a sheath fluid container with a processing fluid port of the flow cell unit. The vacuum line is in communication with the flow cell unit. The air pump includes a first output port and a second output port. Pressurized gas is generated at the first output port, and the first output port is in communication with the sample container and the sheath fluid container. A vacuum is generated at the second output port, and the second output port is in communication with a vacuum port of the flow cell unit through the vacuum line.