A lateral flow assay (LFA) device includes a capillary pad and a sample port that holds the sample fluid before a hole is made in a cavity surface of the sample port. The LFA device includes a breaker with a tip to make a hole in the cavity 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.

A microfluidic device can include a microfluidic circuit that comprises an inlet port, a reagent-containing chamber configured to receive fluid from the inlet port, a non-aqueous-liquid-containing reservoir configured to receive liquid from the chamber, and a droplet-generating region configured to receive and produce droplets of liquid from the reservoir. The circuit can also include first and second valves or frangible members. The first valve or frangible member can have closed position in which fluid is prevented from entering or exiting the chamber therethrough and an open position in which fluid is permitted to enter or exit the chamber therethrough. The second valve or frangible member can have a closed position in which fluid is prevented from flowing between the chamber and the reservoir therethrough and an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow between the chamber and the reservoir therethrough.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

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.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide a liquid handling device that enables a user to more easily and efficiently perform sample dilutions, without requiring the user to perform any calculations or be in a controlled environment (e.g. a laboratory or sterile/aseptic environment). Advantageously, this may enable a user to perform sample dilutions and subsequent sample processing outside of a laboratory, such as during field work, or in environments, regions or countries where access to sterile/aseptic environments may be difficult or nonexistent. The device may be used to dilute any liquid sample, such as biological samples, chemical samples, or environmental samples (e.g. liquid samples taken from a river or lake, or soil samples that are mixed with liquid).

Provided is a multi-well-based rapid cell culture test device designed such that fluid films with a uniform thickness are formed. The rapid cell culture test device has an array structure of a plurality of aligned well units, each of which includes a first sub-well in which a first fluid is accommodated and a barrier structure surrounding the first sub-well to define the area of the first sub-well. A capillary channel recessed from the bottom surface of the first sub-well while traversing the bottom surface is formed to accommodate the first fluid and the barrier structure is divided into a barrier portion A located adjacent to one end of the capillary channel and a barrier portion B located adjacent to the other end of the capillary channel. The barrier portion A is greater in height than the barrier portion B such that when the barrier portion A is wetted with the first fluid introduced into the first sub-well along its inner wall, a change in the level of the first fluid at the other end of the capillary channel depending on the amount of the first fluid dispensed is minimized.

A test strip system having containers and suitable carriers therefor. The test strip assembly is suitable for carrying out different types of chemical, biological or biochemical tests and evaluating them using a suitable analysis device. The test strip assembly has a first region having at least one container and a second region also having at least one container. The container of the first region has a flat transparent bottom, and the container of the second region has a V-shaped or U-shaped bottom.

The present invention discloses an electrophoretic chip comprising: (a) a non-conductive substrate designed to support elements of said electrophoretic chip; (b) an electrode structure for conducting current through said electrophoretic chip, printed on said non-conductive substrate and comprising a counter electrode and at least one working electrode, each electrode comprising a conductive low-resistance ink layer printed on the non-conductive substrate, and a carbon ink layer printed on top of and fully or partially covering said conductive low-resistance ink layer; (c) a dielectric ink insulator layer placed on top of, and covering, said electrode structure, said dielectric ink insulator layer having at least one opening above the counter electrode and at least one opening above said at least one working electrode, thereby forming at least one addressable location; and (d) a molecule capturing matrix spotted on and covering said at least one addressable location, thereby creating at least one microgel region.

An applicator or applicator system used for handling samples in an analytical laboratory setting. In particular, the invention the applicator or applicator system is capable of capping an analytical sample tube by applying a capping material to an opening of an analytical sample vessel, the applicator or applicator system including g a dispenser configured to dispense a substantially continuous length of a capping material, such that a region of the substantially continuous length of capping material is located on or about an opening of an analytical sample vessel held in a predetermined orientation.

Apparatus and methods for separating blood components are disclosed in which an apparatus for separating blood generally includes a tube defining a channel and configured for receiving a quantity of blood and a float contained within the tube and having a density which is predefined so that the float is maintained at equilibrium between a first layer formed from a first fractional component of the blood and a second layer formed from a second fractional component of the blood. Upon completion of the centrifugation, the first layer may be removed from the tube while the float isolates the second layer from the first layer.