A system and associated method for concentrating and separating components of different densities from fluid containing cells using a centrifuge includes a syringe and a syringe holder, the syringe having a proximal top with a luer port, a sidewall extending from the top forming a syringe tube, and a plunger slidably disposed inside the syringe tube, the plunger forming a sealing engagement with the sidewall, the syringe holder defining a cavity for receiving the syringe, wherein a distal end of the syringe tube is at least partially closed by the syringe holder after the plunger is placed inside the syringe tube. The method includes receiving a fluid containing cells in the syringe; placing the syringe and syringe holder into a centrifuge; exposing the syringe and syringe holder to elevated g force in the centrifuge, the syringe holder being in physical contact with the sidewall on the distal end to provide support and prevent fluid from leaking outside the syringe; removing the syringe from the centrifuge; and extracting separated layers containing cells using the luer port of the syringe as an access port.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides devices and methods for sample extraction from a swab during biological sample processing. In particular embodiments, the devices and methods are configured for use in conjunction with microfluidic devices for sample processing.

Provided is a centrifugal separation container for separating a material from tissue and body fluids by using a centrifugal force, including: a first container; a second container; a first piston positioned in the inside of the first container and configured to be movable up and down in the inside of the first container; an elastic body positioned below the first piston in the inside of the first container and configured to elastically bias the first piston upward; a first connecting duct having one end connected to the first container and the other end connected to the second container; and a first control valve operating by a centrifugal force and configured to open and close the first connecting duct.

A centrifugal piston according to an embodiment comprises: a piston body defining a path which extends from the front of the piston to the rear of the piston, and through which substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston; and a valve disposed on the path and configured to selectively open or block the path, wherein, during centrifugation in which centrifugal force acts on the piston, the substances at the front of the piston are centrifuged while the valve is blocking the path, and, when an external force is applied to the piston while the centrifugal force does not act on the piston, the valve moves freely relative to the piston body, and when the valve opens the path, at least a portion of the substances at the front of the piston can move to the rear of the piston.

Multivolume liquid pipettes with nested plunger and vacuum chamber configurations and methods of using such pipettes are disclosed herein. These pipettes typically include a body and a fluid displacement assembly with a small plunger element slideably received within a larger plunger element, each movable within a vacuum chamber for the precise and accurate control of the displacement of fluid, such as air. In turn, this allows for a single device to aspirate and dispense a broad range of liquids in a dynamic, accurate, and precise manner. In addition, the devices disclosed herein may also include a multi-tiered spring-loaded ejection mechanism to allow the user to use and eject pipette tips of different sizes.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for external control testing of an assay system.

The invention relates to a system is provided that comprises a first container, a second container and a fluorescence detection device. The first container comprises a first set of chemicals and/or agents and is closed prior to use. The second container comprises a second set of chemicals and/or agents that are at least in part distinct from the chemicals and/or agents of the first set. The first container comprises a lid, that can be opened when the first container and the second container are combined to form a single, fluid tight assembly, in order to allow the contents of the first container to enter the second container.

A multi-channel parallel pretreatment device includes a magnetic separation and transfer device and a first drive device. The magnetic separation and transfer device includes a second mounting bracket provided therein with an injector chamber. A mounting plate is provided above the top of the injector chamber and is provided with multiple piston rods that are connected to the injector chamber in a movable and sealing manner. The second mounting bracket is further provided thereon with a second drive device. The injector chamber is provided with loading heads that have a hollow structure. The piston rods have free ends that are provided with magnetic rods. The second drive device can drive the magnetic rods on the piston rods to pass through the loading heads. The first drive device and the second drive device realize the reciprocation of the loading heads.

The present invention provides a whole blood sample detection method, device and system using a fluidic diffraction chip, including: injecting a whole blood sample through a diffraction chip; rinsing the diffraction chip; emitting a laser light source through the diffraction chip, wherein the wavelength range of the laser light source is 400 nm to 700 nm, the laser power density range of the diffraction chip is 2 mW/cm.sup.2 to 2000 mW/cm.sup.2, and a laser diffraction signal is received on the opposite side of the laser transmitter. The attenuation of the laser diffraction signal calculates the number of a test target. The method, device and system of the present invention can detect the number and status of cells or bacteria without labeling of cells or bacteria.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.