A specimen collection, storage, transport, and testing device can include an outer vessel containing an internal cup having an openable drain having a brim raised above the bottom floor of the cup. Once opened the drain allows a portion of liquid specimen to flow from the cup into a lower chamber of the vessel containing a number of chromatographic assay strips. A lid sealing the vessel can include a downwardly projecting guide tube having first barrier sealing a bottom aperture. An oblong initiator can axially engage the guide tube, break the first barrier and open the drain to initiate the test while retaining a pool of liquid specimen in the cup for subsequent confirmatory testing.

A sample preparation container, preferably for use in sterility testing, comprising a housing (1) having a housing wall (2) defining an inside space (3), a support on which a membrane filter is placed or is to be placed so as to get in contact with a sampling fluid to be introduced into the inside space (3), and at least one inlet opening (4) to the inside space (3) and at least one outlet opening from the inside space (3). A sampling port (5) is provided for allowing access from the outside to the inside space (3), wherein said sampling port (5) is closed by a septum (6) and the septum (6) is separated from the inside space (3) by a barrier wall (7) which is preferably piercable or breakable on application of an external force, preferably applied through a sampling instrument like a needle (8).

An apparatus, in particular a microfluid apparatus, includes a chamber for extracting a fluid. The chamber has a wall with an opening. The opening is sealed by a sealing mechanism that is impermeable to specified substances. The apparatus further includes a membrane that contacts the outside of the wall, in a region of an outside of the wall which adjoins the opening, and covers the opening.

A container (1) for collecting faecal specimens comprises an extraction portion (2) suitable for containing an extraction solution (3) and a closure portion (8) for closing the container (1). A connection means (9) is interposed between the extraction portion (2) and the closure portion (8) and configured to define a closed configuration of the container (1). A shaped wand (10) suitable for collecting the specimens is axially inserted into the extraction portion (2) when the container (1) is in the closed configuration. A filtering element (17) divides a solubilization chamber (18) from a sampling chamber (19) and is suitable for enabling a flow (F) of the extraction solution from the solubilization chamber (18) to the sampling chamber (19).

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for preparation of samples for use with in vitro diagnostic tests or analytical assays for detecting one or more analytes. For example, certain embodiments may relate to diagnostic tests performed on human subjects for a variety of applications related to health, medical, and wellness testing. Other embodiments may relate to testing in various applications. Further embodiments may relate to processing environmental samples for detection of various analytes of biological or non-biological origin. Additional embodiments may relate to various applications that require mixing an arbitrary sample with a precise amount of one or more reagents.

The invention provides integrated Organ-on-Chip microphysiological systems representations of living Organs and support structures for such microphysiological systems.

A test cartridge for evaluating biological fluids can have a sensor flow cell defining a flow path for selectively passing a test fluid or biological fluid across a sensor to evaluate the sensor or the biological fluid. The test cartridge can include a sample port and at least one deformable reservoir, both formed as part of the test cartridge and fluidly connected to the flow path upstream of the sensor. A biological fluid can be manually fed into the flow path through the sample port for evaluation by the sensor. Before the biological fluid is fed through the sample port, the deformable reservoir can be manually ruptured to pass the test fluid contained within the reservoir across the sensor to first evaluate the sensor. In an example, the deformable reservoir can include a first reservoir containing a liquid quality control (LQC) fluid and a second reservoir containing a calibration fluid.

A pipette tip having a first end arranged to be fitted to a pipette body (3) of a pipette (1) and having a second end with an opening (15) arranged to be inserted in a sample which is at least in part intended to be drawn up by the pipette, wherein the opening (15) has a sharp profile such that it can be used to cut through a cover (119) covering an enclosure containing the sample.

Polymer hydrogels and methods for selective retrieval of microbial targets from microwells and other cell culture devices. The methods use semi-permeable, photodegradable hydrogel membranes that permit exchange of nutrients and waste products but seals motile bacteria and other microbes within microwells. Light exposure can be used to degrade the hydrogel membrane in a targeted manner and release the microbes from targeted microwells for further study.

A cassette for retaining a specimen of surgically exposed tissue from a patient in an orientation that facilitates optical sectioning of the tissue by a confocal microscopic or other optical imaging microscope. The cassette includes a base member having a rigid optically transparent window upon which a tissue specimen is situated, a pliable membrane locatable over a substantial portion of the base member including the window, and an upper member, having an aperture therethrough, which can cover the base member to provide an enclosed cavity between the membrane and the window sealing the tissue specimen therein. The edges of the tissue specimen may be positioned planar against the window and retained in that position by bonds formed between the membrane and window at multiple points or locations around the tissue specimen. The specimen retained in the cavity is imagable by a microscope through the window of the base member.