The invention refers to a method of detecting nucleic acid sequences in biological samples from medical, agricultural and biotechnological sources, and a corresponding device, that can be used in health care, in particular in laboratorial diagnosis, to detect genetic sequences, with the objective of identifying viruses and diseases arising from genetic malformations, bringing novelties of using saliva samples, making extraction of RNA from the genetic material from the sample, through a small device with low complexity and innovative design, with the advantages of portable, rapid results, with on-line connectivity to a test results center, dispensing frequent visits to the doctor, hastening the start of treatment, allowing access for groups of people and eliminating the need for a highly qualified operator.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of forming, including a supporting structure, a sensor on the supporting structure, a pair of columns on the supporting structure at opposite sides of the sensor, the pair of columns having a column height relative to a top surface of the supporting structure, the column height being higher than a height of the active surface of the sensor relative to the top surface of the supporting structure, and a lidding layer on the pair of columns and over the active surface, the lidding layer being supported at opposite ends by the pair of columns. The active surface of the sensor, the lidding layer and the pair of columns form an opening above at least more than about half of the active surface of the sensor, and the supporting structure, the sensor, the lidding layer and the pair of columns together form a flow cell.

Device (145) for dispensing drops of liquid, characterised in that it comprises: —at least one container (100) for a liquid, comprising at least one internal chamber and an upper opening, each chamber having a lower aperture and a seal sealing the upper opening, the seal having a substantially planar resiliently deformabie flexible portion, —at least one mechanical actuation means (146) configured to deform a flexible portion of a seal of at least one container, —a means (147) for selecting the volume of a drop to be dispensed from a plurality of drop volumes, a means (148) for determining the volume of liquid present in at least one container, and—a means (149) for controlling the actuation means, which means controls the movement from at least one point of the flexible portion of a container seal, as a non-constant function of the drop volume to be dispensed and the volume of liquid present in the container.

An analytical method for determining a concentration of an analyte is disclosed. In this method, an image of an optical test strip having a body fluid applied thereto is obtained with a camera of a mobile device. Local temperature information is received at a current location of the mobile device from a temperature source such as a remote weather information service or temperature sensor. Additional local temperature information is received by the mobile device from a thermochromic field provided on the test strip and/or on a color reference card. A processor determines a correction temperature and/or a correction temperature function using the local temperature information. The processor also determines the analyte concentration from the image captured and taking into account the correction temperature information.

The present application relates to a pipetting device and a pipetting method for pipetting, therefore for aspirating and/or dispensing, a metered liquid using a working gas, independently of the flow- and/or wetting characteristics of the metered liquid, wherein a pipetting channel comprises a first working region, of which the known base temperature is in a lower base temperature range, and a second working region, of which the known working temperature is in a working temperature range that is increased with respect to the base temperature range.

A workstation for processing particles entrained in a fluid includes a consumable portion and a reusable portion. The consumable portion is mounted to the reusable portion to form a fluid chamber in which an acoustic wave can be generated. The consumable portion implements a closed, isolated fluid environment that is managed using components of the reusable portion, such as valves, sensors and pumps. The workstation can be operated to retain particles from the fluid via the acoustic wave and provide a new fluid media to the retained particles. Following processing, the consumable portion can be removed and discarded.

An analytical toilet is disclosed with a bowl adapted to receive excreta, a conduit for transporting a liquid excreta sample from the bowl, and a liquid reagent source. The analytical toilet also includes a microfluidic chip that has a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the excreta sample. The microfluidic chip also has an excreta sample path in fluid communication with the conduit and the sensor and a reagent path in fluid communication with the liquid reagent source and the sensor. The length of and number of channels in the sample path and the reagent path are selected so as to control the respective fluid resistance of the excreta sample and the reagent to thereby optimize the mixing and flow rates of the excreta sample and reagent into the sensor. There is also disclosed analytical toilet with a microfluidic chip having reagent path that includes a first and a second channel. The second channel is longer than the first channel. A valve, which is controllable so as to cause the reagent to flow through either the first channel, the second channel or both channels. As such, the fluid resistance of the reagent is controlled, to thereby optimize the flow rate of the reagent into the sensor.

Apparatus (1000) and method for automatically detecting odorant substances based on use of nematodes that includes a mechanical selection unit (100) configured to select nematodes in adult stage from an initial nematode population obtaining an intermediate nematode population, a nematode optical selection unit (200) configured to select from the intermediate population a final population of nematodes in adult stage and to select nematodes in young adult stage from nematodes in egg producing adult stage to be sent to a measurement unit (300) configured to detect the response of nematodes of the final population to a stimulus of an odorant substance, the mechanical selection unit (100) being connected to the optical selection unit (200) by a connection channel with an at least three way branch and the optical selection unit (200) being connected to the measurement unit (300) by a loading microchannel.

A pipetting apparatus and method for pulsed dispensing of small metered-liquid doses of no more than 1 μl. The apparatus includes a pipetting conduit at least partly filled with working gas, a pressure-modifying apparatus for modifying the pressure of the working gas, and a control apparatus for applying control to the pressure-modifying apparatus. The control apparatus can control the pressure-modifying apparatus so as to generate in the pipetting conduit, with respect to a reference holding pressure in the pipetting conduit which is necessary for immovable holding of the metered-liquid quantity, an overpressure pulse having a pulse duration of no more than 40 ms.

An elongated incubation trough has an indentation open toward a top end as well as a bottom. The indentation has a first receiving area to receive an elongated test strip as well as a second receiving area to receive an end section of a fluid line. The second receiving area is in fluidic communication with the first receiving area. A maximum width of the second receiving area at bottom height is greater than a maximum width of the first receiving area at bottom height.