A cover for a drug container piston array includes a plurality of cover sections configured for positioning over the drug container piston array. Each cover section includes an elongated cover section body having an open base end and a closed capped end, and a plurality of base sections or a web positioned between the plurality of cover sections and coupled to each base end. Packaging assemblies including a cover and a piston nest are also disclosed.

A device for storage and transportation of an empty case of a firearm bullet cartridge for forensic investigation, wherein said case comprises a cylindrical shell which is substantially closed at one end, said device comprising a container having a bottom wall, a side wall and an opening, and comprising a cap for sealing the opening of said container, wherein said cap is provided with holding means arranged to be inserted in the empty case for restricting lateral movement of the empty case in said container.

A sample holder (10) comprises a sample chamber (33), a gas reservoir (32) and an upper layer (20) covering over the sample chamber (33) and gas reservoir (32), wherein a bottom surface of the upper layer (20) comprises a microstructure array (23) which overlies at least a portion of a top periphery of the sample chamber (33), and wherein the microstructure array (23) is in communication with a gas path which extends to the gas reservoir (32), to allow gas exchange between the sample chamber (33) and the gas reservoir (32).

A sample analysis cup, sample cup assembly, and method is provided including a cell body with an open top end including an outer top wall and an inner top wall, each extending axially and positioned in concentric relationship; a bottom wall extending from the outer top wall to the inner top wall, the bottom wall and the inner and outer top walls defining an internal reservoir therebetween; a transverse wall extending a selected distance from the inner top wall, the transverse wall partially closing the open top end; an open bottom end including an outer bottom wall and an inner bottom wall, each extending axially and positioned in concentric relationship, the outer and inner bottom walls defining an internal channel therebetween; and a hollow chamber defined between the open top end and the open bottom end.

Provided are valveless microfluidic flowchips comprising fluid flow barrier structures or configurations. Further provided are systems and methods having increased fluid transfer control in a valveless microfluidic flowchip. The systems and methods can be used in the present valveless microfluidic flowchips as well as in currently available valveless microfluidic flowchips.

A container includes a vial, cap, and one or more wireless transponders secured to the cap, the vial or a jacket to store and identify samples of biological material at cryogenic temperatures (e.g., vitrified biological samples), for instance held by cryopreservation storage devices. A specimen holder may be extend from the cap. The vial and/or cap includes ports or vents. A carrier includes a box, thermal shunt, thermal insulation to store and identify arrays of containers that hold cryopreservation storage devices with samples of biological material at cryogenic temperatures. Various apparatus include wireless transponders positioned and oriented to enhance range, and allow interrogation while retained in a carrier. Various apparatus can maintain the biological material at or close to cryogenic temperatures for prolonged period of times after being removed from a cryogenic cooler, and can allow wireless inventorying while maintaining the biological samples at suitably cold temperatures.

The invention relates in a first aspect to an improved fluidic device for determining a property of a microbe. The device comprising a bottom layer comprising a plurality of light-transmissive wells; and a top layer comprising an injection opening and a fluid distribution system. Each of said plurality of distribution channels has: essentially the same channel length between the inlet end and the outlet end; and essentially the same channel volume. The invention relates in a second aspect to a use of the device for determining a susceptibility of a microbe, preferably a bacterium, to an antimicrobial drug.

Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.

An assembly for storing sample processing consumables can include a cover and a tray. The cover defines a cover cavity. The tray defines a first plurality of wells. The tray includes a first portion received within the cover cavity such that a press fit is formed between a first tray surface of the first portion of the tray and a first cover surface of the cover defining the cover cavity, thereby releasably coupling the cover to the tray. Each of the first plurality of wells contains a sample processing consumable. The assembly can be used to load sample processing consumables into a sample processing instrument.