Disclosed herein are devices, apparatus, systems, methods and kits for collecting and storing a fluid sample from a subject. A device for collecting the fluid sample can include a housing comprising a recess having an opening, a vacuum chamber in the housing and in fluidic communication with the recess, and one or more piercing elements that are extendable through the opening to penetrate skin of the subject. The vacuum chamber can be configured for having a vacuum that draws the skin into the recess. The recess can be configured having a size or shape that enables an increased volume of the fluid sample to be accumulated in the skin drawn into the recess.

Disclosed herein are devices, apparatus, systems, methods and kits for collecting and storing a fluid sample from a subject. A device for collecting the fluid sample can include a housing comprising a recess having an opening, a vacuum chamber in the housing and in fluidic communication with the recess, and one or more piercing elements that are extendable through the opening to penetrate skin of the subject. The vacuum chamber can be configured for having a vacuum that draws the skin into the recess. The recess can be configured having a size or shape that enables an increased volume of the fluid sample to be accumulated in the skin drawn into the recess.

Disclosed herein are devices, apparatus, systems, methods and kits for collecting and storing a fluid sample from a subject. A device for collecting the fluid sample can include a housing comprising a recess having an opening, a vacuum chamber in the housing and in fluidic communication with the recess, and one or more piercing elements that are extendable through the opening to penetrate skin of the subject. The vacuum chamber can be configured for having a vacuum that draws the skin into the recess. The recess can be configured having a size or shape that enables an increased volume of the fluid sample to be accumulated in the skin drawn into the recess.

Disposable cartridges comprising hinged caps and optical chambers for measuring one or more properties of a blood sample are described. Blood flow in the disposable cartridges may be regulated by either positive or negative pressure. Other embodiments of cartridges comprising a biosensor chamber disposed downstream of the optical chamber are also described. Methods for measuring one or more properties of a blood sample using different cartridge embodiments are provided.

Biological chemicals, potentially found in blood are measured by collecting sweat and determining the concentration or meaning of the selected chemical in sweat. The sweat can be collected using a time based, interval collector 10 and analyzed using an external device. It can also be collected on a one time basis, using a flexible, chemical capacitor 50, or on a continuous basis using a chemical, field effect transducer 98.

A microfluidic device capable of trapping contents in a manner suitable for high-throughput imaging is described herein. The microfluidic device may include one or more trapping devices, with each trapping device having a plurality of trapping channels. The trapping channels may be configured to receive contents via an inlet channel that connects a sample reservoir to the trapping channels via fluid communication. The trapping channels are shaped such that contents within the trapping channels are positioned for optimal imaging purposes. The trapping channels are also connect to at least one exit channel via fluid communication. The fluid, and contents within the fluid, may be controlled via hydraulic pressure.

In one embodiment, a multiplex fluid processing cartridge includes a sample well, a deformable fluid chamber, a mixing well with a mixer disposed therein, a lysis chamber including a lysis mixer, an electrowetting grid for microdroplet manipulation, and electrosensor arrays configured to detect analytes of interest. An instrument for processing the cartridge is configured to receive the cartridge and to selectively apply thermal energy, magnetic force, and electrical connections to one or more discrete locations on the cartridge and is further configured to compress the deformable chamber(s) in a specified sequence.

Provided are microfluidic systems for monitoring a biofluid property and related methods. Specially configured microfluidic networks and associated structural support and functional elements, including flexible substrates, capping layers, and fluidic conduits and controllers, provide reliable biofluid collection. Optical components and indicators provide a reliable and readily observable readout, including of any of a number of biofluid properties, including directly from biofluid collected in the microfluidic network.

Disclosed are a functionalized mesh and fluidic apparatus for capturing cells or molecules in solution. The functionalized mesh comprises a mesh substrate and a functional layer formed on said mesh substrate, wherein the functional layer comprises capturing substances that can specifically bind with the target cells or molecules. The mesh and apparatus of the invention have high specificity, as well as high throughput, and are suitable for capturing molecules in solution or expressed at the surface of cell membranes. It is particularly suited to capture and sort circulating tumor cells.

An optical measurement instrument includes an optical cavity with a light source, a plurality of fluid containers, and an optical sensor. Each fluid container holds a test portion of a fluid sample containing an unknown microorganism, and either a distinct microorganism-attracting substance or a distinct growth-inhibiting substance. Each distinct microorganism-attracting or growth-inhibiting substance is configured to react with a single type of microorganism. The instrument incubates the test portions of the fluid sample within the fluid containers. When using microorganism-attracting substances, the presence of microorganism growth within one of the fluid containers simultaneously indicates the presence and identity of the unknown microorganism. When using growth-inhibiting substances, the absence of microorganism growth within one of the fluid containers simultaneously indicates the presence and identity of the unknown microorganism. The incubated test portions of the fluid sample can be compared to an incubated control portion of the fluid sample.