A microfluidic chip for conducting microbiological assays, comprises a substrate in which incubation segments, a sample reservoir and microfluidic channels connecting said sample reservoir with said incubation segments are arranged. Said microfluidic chip further comprise a non-aqueous liquid reservoir for containing non-aqueous liquid wherein said reservoir is connectable via a releasable airtight and liquid-tight valve with said microfluidic channels connecting said sample reservoir with said incubation segments each incubation segment comprises an incubation well (113) connected by a gas-exchange channel (115) to an unvented gas cavity (111).

A microfluidic device (200) for separating a liquid L into first and second liquid components L.sub.1, L.sub.2 thereof is described. The microfluidic device (200) comprises an inlet (230) for receiving the liquid therethrough. The microfluidic device (200) comprises a first outlet (210) for the first liquid component L.sub.1, wherein the first outlet (210) is fluidically coupled to the inlet (230) via a first passageway (240). The microfluidic device (200) comprises a second outlet (220) for the second liquid component L.sub.2, wherein the second outlet (220) is fluidically coupled to the first passageway (240A) via a first set of N conduits 250 (250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 250E), wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, wherein respective conduits 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 250E of the first set of N conduits 250 divide from the first passageway 240A at respective divisions 252 (252A, 252B, 252C, 252D, 252E) from the inlet 230 therealong 240. The respective conduits 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 250E of the first set of N conduits 250 are arranged to, at least in part, equalize flowrate ratios at the respective divisions 252 (252A, 252B, 252C, 252D, 252E).

Methods and systems for mRNA analysis and quantification of mRNA expression in cells are provided. An example method includes introducing a first capture probe and a second capture probe into the cells, the first capture probe and the second capture probe each configured to be complementary to a respective section of target mRNA within the cells, wherein binding of the first and second capture probes to the respective sections of the target mRNA results in tagging of the cells and causes the first and second capture probes to form clusters with each other. The first capture probe and the second capture probe are each bound to magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that, when trapped within the tagged cells, cause the tagged cells to be susceptible to magnetic forces. The method and system further include introducing the cells into a device configured to magnetically capture tagged cells.

There is provided a microchip including a plurality of substrate layers having a flow path in which a liquid containing microparticles flows in at least one of the substrate layers, the microchip at least including: an optical radiation region in which light is radiated to microparticles contained in a fluid flowing in the flow path from a side surface of the substrate layers.

Provided are assay devices, methods and microfluidic cartridges for analysis of fluids, such as whole blood. A fibrinogen assay cartridge is adapted to measure whole blood flow rates on exposure to thrombin and measures hematocrit for a plasma fibrinogen calculation. Multiple channel cartridges are provided to allow determination of multiple assays (e.g., coagulation panel) from a single sample on a single cartridge.

This invention relates to a method for separating blood cells comprising the steps of: (a) lysing red blood cells of a blood sample and diluting said sample; (b) providing a microfluidic device comprising a spiral-shaped flow channel having at least a first end and a second end, wherein said flow channel has two inlet ports at or near said first end and at least two outlet ports at or near said second end, wherein one of the two inlet ports is located at the inner wall of the spiral-shaped flow channel and the other inlet port is located at the outer wall of the spiral-shaped flow channel and at least one of the outlet ports is connected to a container allowing the storage of blood cells; (c) introducing the sample of step (a) into the inlet port located at the outer wall of the spiral-shaped flow channel and introducing a sheath fluid into the inlet port located at the inner wall of the spiral-shaped flow channel; (d) driving said sample and the sheath fluid through the spiral-shaped flow channel; and (e) recovering the blood cell in the at least one container connected to the at least one outlet port. The present invention also relates to coupling above described method of purifying neutrophils in the native state with a method for diagnosing diabetes or an inflammatory disease in a subject, which involves further investigation of neutrophils by determining their rolling speed, the neutrophil circularity (NC) index and/or the expression of markers, such as intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), CD1 1 b or PSGL-1.

In situ-generated microfluidic capture structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. Microfluidic capture structures may be advantageously used for assays performed within the microfluidic environment, providing flexibility in assaying micro-objects such as biological cells. Assay reagents and analytes may be incorporated within the microfluidic capture structures.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for separating one or more target analytes from a fluid sample. The systems may comprise a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device may comprise a fluidic channel having an array of obstacles disposed therein. The array of obstacles may be oriented at an angle greater than 0 relative to a direction of a fluid flow in the fluidic channel. The array of obstacles may be configured to separate the target analytes from the fluid upon flow of the fluid through the fluidic channel. The methods of the present disclosure may comprise separating target analytes from a fluid using a microfluidic device comprising obstacles disposed in a fluidic channel of the device. The target analytes may be separated with a high efficiency, sensitivity and/or specificity.

A capturing of target cells from a biological sample is achieved by inducing a flow of the biological sample in a flow channel (30, 60) of an upstream microfluidic device (1). Target cells present in the biological sample are captured in cell channels (20) of the upstream microfluidic device(1). Once at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in the cell channels (20), the flow of the biological sample in the flow channel is reduced and are verse flow is applied at the upstream microfluidic device (1) to release the target cells captured in the cell channels (20) of the upstream microfluidic device (1) and enable transfer the target cells into cell channels (120) of a downstream microfluidic device (100).

The objective of the present invention is to provide a fluid handling device capable of easily isolating droplets. This objective is achieved by means of a fluid handling device which includes a first flow passage through the interior of which, when a fluid containing a droplet is delivered, the droplet can move, a first chamber which captures the droplet moving through the first flow passage, a second chamber into which the droplet captured by the first chamber can move, and a second flow passage providing communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the second flow passage is capable of selectively allowing the droplet to pass, or restricting passage of the droplet.