The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for collecting and stabilizing biological samples, and more particularly, for collecting and stabilizing blood or other bodily fluids from a user's fingertip, earlobe, heel or other locations. The present invention also relates to sample collection devices that simplify the process for mixing the biological samples with an additive or additives, provide for efficient storage and safe transport of the samples, and provide for easy access to the samples for subsequent processing.

Non-limiting embodiments of a modified devices that comprise at least one dye for determining whether results obtained from the conductance of at least one diagnostic assay are biased, as well as kits and methods of use related thereto.

Disclosed is a specimen processing method of processing, by using a specimen processing device, a urine specimen contained in a specimen container having an opening. The method includes: sealing, with a seal, the opening of the specimen container containing the urine specimen; aspirating the urine specimen in the specimen container by using an aspiration tube, of the specimen processing device, which has penetrated through the seal; and processing the aspirated urine specimen.

A device for taking and optionally processing a sample, includes (i) a housing containing a porous matrix that can receive the sample, (ii) a stopper that can be connected to the housing in a tight manner and including a piston that ensures the tight closing of the housing, compressing the porous matrix or the sample, and (iii) a storage receptacle that can be connected to the housing, can receive the sample that has passed through the porous matrix, and includes at least one conduit connecting the inside of the receptacle to the outside, once the porous matrix or the sample is compressed. The device also includes a seal between the stopper and the storage receptacle. The stopper closes the storage receptacle in a tight manner when the stopper and the storage receptacle are connected to the housing.

A fluid handling device has an introduction port, a first flow channel which is connected to the introduction port and in which a droplet can move when a fluid including the droplet is caused to flow therein, a first chamber for capturing the droplet moving through the first flow channel, and a second chamber through which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move via the first flow channel. The liquid handling device is capable of switching between a first state in which a droplet moving through the first flow channel is captured by the first chamber, and a second state in which the droplet captured by the first chamber moves to the second chamber via the first flow channel.

Provided is a device including a well provided in a number of at least one, wherein a nucleic acid having at least one of a full-length nucleotide sequence and a partial nucleotide sequence of rRNA or rDNA is contained in a defined copy number in at least one well of the well, and wherein the defined copy number of the nucleic acid having at least one of a full-length nucleotide sequence and a partial nucleotide sequence of rRNA or rDNA is 1,000 or less.

The invention includes low-volume systems for sample identification. The systems are designed to use multi-use consumables including but not limited to fluid containers containing large volumes of fluids. In some embodiments, the low-volume systems identify nucleic acids in samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Sample partitioning devices and methods of making and using the same are described. A sample partitioning device includes a first film having an array of discrete stems each extending from a first major surface thereof, and a second film having an array of discrete wells formed into a second major surface thereof. The stems of the first film and the wells of the second film are mated with each other. The mated stems and wells are separable from each other, and during the removal of the stems from the wells, one or more voids are created inside the wells to suction an aqueous test sample into the wells.

An analysis unit formed by an analysis body housing an analysis chamber and having a sample inlet and a supply channel configured to fluidically connect the sample inlet to the analysis chamber. Dried assay reagents are arranged in the analysis chamber and are contained in an alveolar mass. For instance, the alveolar mass is a lyophilized mass formed by excipients and by assay-specific reagents.

A lateral flow assay (LFA) device includes a sample port that holds the sample fluid before a hole is made in a wall of the sample port. The LFA device includes a cap with a sealer. The sealer fits inside the sample port after the sample port receives the sample fluid, forms a compartment for holding a predetermined volume of sample fluid between the sample port's wall and the sealer, and pushes any amount of sample fluid in excess of the predetermined volume out of the compartment after the cap is fitted inside the sample port. The LFA device includes a breaker with a tip to make a hole in the wall of the sample port causing the sample fluid held inside the compartment to be applied to the capillary pad after the start of a test.