The presently disclosed subject matter provides devices and methods for sample extraction from a swab during biological sample processing. In particular embodiments, the devices and methods are configured for use in conjunction with microfluidic devices for sample processing.

A method of treating an isolated area of a sample with a liquid is disclosed. The method has the steps of generating an isolated area of a sample by a first fluid reservoir where the first fluid reservoir enclosing a distal end of a second fluid reservoir and the isolated area of the sample being sealed towards the remaining area of the sample, bringing the isolated area of the sample into fluid connection with the second fluid reservoir, dispensing a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a first direction, and aspirating the fluid from the first fluid reservoir into the second fluid reservoir thereby generating a fluid flow on the sample at the isolated area in a second direction.

A manually actuated chromatography device comprising a chamber for receiving a liquid sample, a pump with a metering valve, and a chromatography element, wherein the pump moves a predetermined volume of liquid from the sample chamber to the chromatography element.

A fluid sampler system includes a fluidic head including a gas aperture capable of communication with a pressurized gas source, a liquid conduit capable of communication with a sample reservoir, and a seal capable of forming a compression seal to the sample reservoir when gas pressure is applied to the sample reservoir through the gas aperture and capable of displacing a portion of the sample through the liquid conduit; and a positioning apparatus capable of positioning the fluidic head and the sample reservoir in communication with one another. A method for providing an aliquot of sample, includes forming a releasable compression seal to a reservoir including a liquid sample; pressurizing the reservoir with compressed gas; displacing an aliquot of the sample from the reservoir; and transferring the displaced aliquot of the sample to a location.

Disclosed are an automated nucleic acid extraction method and device. The device includes a base body, a cassette, a driving unit, a moving frame and a syringe. The base body comprises a sample accommodating area, a column accommodating area, a cassette accommodating area and a collection tube being arranged in a linear direction. The cassette is arranged in the cassette accommodating area and includes two parallel walls and at least two vertical walls. The parallel walls and the vertical walls jointly form a lysis buffer well, at least one wash buffer well and an elution buffer well. Each vertical wall includes a load-bearing abutment. The driving unit and the moving frame are arranged on the base body. The syringe is arranged on the moving frame and is driven by the driving unit to reciprocate along with the moving frame in the linear direction.

Provided is a reaction cup, comprising cup walls and a cup bottom. The cup walls are provided with clamping portions, the clamping portions can allow a membrane strip to stand upright in the reaction cup, and the connecting area of the two opposite clamping portions forms an upright placement position for the membrane strip. The present invention further provides a molecular hybridization instrument used with the reaction cup, and an analyte testing method. The reaction cup can allow the membrane strip to stand upright therein, and can be opened for operation, thereby reducing the area occupied by the reaction cup on the molecular hybridization instrument, and reducing the area of the molecular hybridization instrument. A plurality of reaction cups can be placed on the molecular hybridization instrument at the same time, which increases the number of tests and improves the utilization and working efficiency of the molecular hybridization instrument.

A droplet dispensing apparatus includes a crystal sensor, a resonance frequency measuring unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor before droplets are discharged from a liquid dropping device, control the liquid dropping device to discharge droplets on to the crystal sensor, and obtain the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor after droplets are discharged from the liquid dropping device. The controller estimates a volatilization amount for the droplets on the crystal sensor based on a temporal change trend in the resonance frequency of the crystal sensor and calculates the total weight of the droplets discharged from the liquid dropping device based on the difference in resonance frequency of the crystal sensor before and after the droplets are discharged and the estimated volatilization amount.

Automated biological testing systems may advantageously allow users to perform some maintenance or upkeep of the system, such as replacing or refilling reagent, or replacing gaskets, hoses, filters, and other components. A manifold seal and filtration system including a gasket, retaining ring, and filter is usable with a manifold of such a system to transport reagent from a bottle to the testing system. The gasket includes features to prevent leakage and erroneous installation, and may be replaced by a user during normal maintenance or to select a gasket material to accommodate a particular type of reagent. The retention ring and filter include features to prevent particulate from passing into the testing system when reagent bottles are changed, and to prevent accidental displacement during removal of the gasket, or flushing of the manifold to clean the filter.

A biological sample processing apparatus, including: a pipette block with which a plurality of pipettes for sucking or discharging a biological sample in a multi-well plate in which wells are arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions are detachably coupled; a pipette block forward and backward transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a forward and backward direction along a process direction; a pipette block top and bottom transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a vertical direction; a magnetic field applying unit disposed below the multi-well plate for applying a magnetic field to a well of the multi-well plate; and a heating unit disposed below the multi-well plate so as to be spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit, for heating a well of the multi-well plate.

A pipette tip extension having a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end is disclosed. The exterior wall has an outer side and an inner side and encloses an inner cavity which is delimited by the inner side of the exterior wall. The exterior wall forms at the proximal end a reception aperture. The pipette tip extension further has one or more distance elements arranged at the inner side of the exterior wall and protruding into the inner cavity.