A fluidic storage device capable of long-term storage of biological, chemical, and biochemical substances, including fluids and solids of a corrosive nature or generally incompatible with traditional reagent storage methods like blister packs. The fluidic device employs a fiber-based substrate which allows the substance to be stored long-term within the structure of the fiber-based substrate through capillary action. The stored substance can be released from the fiber-based substrate and used as needed as a result of active or passive forces incurred on the fluidic device. The storage as described herein will assist in minimizing the hazards associated with performing POI and POC testing by scaling down the required reagent volumes as well as facilitating long-term reagent storage and analysis on a single integrated, portable fluidic device.

Separation of the cellular components of whole blood, or other biological fluid, from plasma or serum can be achieved for assay analysis. A device for facilitating separation can include, for example, a capillary tube that accurately draws target blood volume, a pad that chemically interacts with red-blood cells, such that the red blood cells become chemically and/or physically trapped within pad material, a mechanism for plasma recovery from the pad upon diffusion or active mixing, and a dropper tip that facilitates dispensing the mixture onto a test device. The treatment of the cellular components can be performed prior to contact with a buffer solution, so release of the cellular components into the buffer solution is reduced or prevented. Additional filtration can be provided to filter any remaining cellular components in the mixture.

Devices and systems for droplet generation and methods for generating droplets are described. In an embodiment, the devices and systems include a capillary configured to eject a droplet, such as in response to a voltage applied to an end of the capillary. In an embodiment, the devices and systems include a moveable stage configured to carry a multi-well plate and move the stage relative to the capillary such that the ejected droplet is selectively received by a well of the multi-well plate carried by the moveable stage.

A fluidic connection assembly and methods for quickly connecting or disconnecting a tube to a port by hand and without the use of tools. A body is adapted to receive a tube therethrough, and may have at least two sides which are hinged. Each of the hinged sides has corresponding latching portions or projections located near a lower end of the body. These projections are adapted to fit into a port or other fitting and be securely held in place. The assembly may include a tube extending through a body and through a spring located between the end of the body and the end of the tube, whereby the spring exerts a force directly or indirectly against the end of the tube and against the body, thus holding the tubing securely and sealingly engaged in the port when the assembly is connected. The body may further comprise an additional body or an adapter, and/or a cap and latch. A second spring may be used to push a projecting member into a groove or notch of an adapter when an end of the adapter is inserted into one end of the latch or the body. The fluidic connection assembly is useful in analytical instrument systems, such as for in vitro applications and/or in high pressure applications, among other things, and may be used in methods for connecting, or disconnecting, tubing or a fluidic connection assembly from a port or other fitting or connection.

A microfluidic device, particularly of the lab-on-chip type, for the detection of biological and/or medical targets of interest in biological samples, as well as for the operations of extraction of such targets from native or non-native biological samples, of purification, concentration, and injection in buffer solutions, all adapted to optimize the detection thereof.

A digital PCR system has at least one droplet forming assembly and a droplet spraying hole assembly. The droplet forming assembly has at least one droplet collecting tank; the droplet spraying hole assembly is connected below the droplet forming assembly. The droplet spraying hole assembly has a plurality of droplet spraying holes in communication with the droplet collecting tank. Vaporization parts are provided in the droplet spraying holes and used for vaporizing digital PCR solution liquid layers in the droplet spraying holes and quickly pushing the vaporized digital PCR solution liquid layers into droplet forming oil in the droplet collecting tank to form digital PCR droplets.

A specimen transfer device adapted to receive a blood sample is disclosed. The specimen transfer device includes a housing and an actuation member. A deformable material is disposed within the housing and is deformable from an initial position in which the material is adapted to hold the sample to a deformed position in which at least a portion of the sample is released from the material. A viscoelastic member is disposed within the housing between the material and the housing and between the material and the actuation member. The viscoelastic member is engaged with the actuation member and the material such that movement of the actuation member from a first position to a second position deforms the material from the initial position to the deformed position.

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure are directed to sample collecting and dispensing methods and apparatuses. An example apparatus includes a capillary sampler disposed on a device first end, wherein the capillary sampler is configured to collect a fluid sample via an opening and a capillary body. The apparatus further includes a reagents chamber in fluid communication with the capillary sampler, and a barrier assembly disposed between the capillary sampler and the reagents chamber, wherein the barrier assembly is configured to separate fluid in the reagents chamber from the capillary sampler. A plunger assembly disposed on a device second end opposite the device first end, may modify the barrier assembly to dispense the fluid from the reagents chamber to the capillary sampler responsive to application of a force in the direction of the device first end.

Provided herein are microfluidic devices that can be configured to generate an electrophoretic flow that is in opposition to a fluid flow through a microcapillary of a microfluidic device provided herein. Also provided herein are methods that include adding an amount of particle to the inlet area of a microfluidic device as provided herein, generating a first fluid flow through a microcapillary of a microfluidic device provided herein; and applying a uniform electric field to the microfluidic device, where the uniform electric field generates an electrophoretic flow that is in opposition to the fluid flow.

The present teachings generally include devices, systems, kits, and methods for collecting, storing, and transporting specimens, e.g., in the context of pool testing. For example, the present teachings may include a compound swab featuring a first swab and a second swab, where the first swab can be detached for pool testing and the second swab can be preserved for testing based on results of the pool test. The present teachings may also or instead include a container having a separator structurally configured to separate swabs of a compound swab. Further, the present teachings may include a swab having a suction enhancer to promote the capture of a specimen on a collection tip thereof. The present teachings may also or instead include a receptacle that can house a plurality of swabs and sever at least a portion of the collections tips thereof, e.g., for pool testing.