This disclosure provides an integrated and automated sample-to-answer system that, starting from a sample comprising biological material, generates a genetic profile in less than two hours. In certain embodiments, the biological material is DNA and the genetic profile involves determining alleles at one or a plurality of loci (e.g., genetic loci) of a subject, for example, an STR (short tandem repeat) profile, for example as used in the CODIS system. The system can perform several operations, including (a) extraction and isolation of nucleic acid; (b) amplification of nucleotide sequences at selected loci (e.g., genetic loci); and (c) detection and analysis of amplification product. These operations can be carried out in a system that comprises several integrated modules, including an analyte preparation module; a detection and analysis module and a control module.

A droplet dispenser comprises a chamber (3) with a fluid inlet valve (2) and a fluid outlet valve (4). The chamber (3) is arranged such that the volume of the chamber may be varied in use to cause fluid to be alternately drawn in to the chamber (3) through the inlet valve (2) then subsequently expelled from the chamber through the outlet valve (4) to dispense a droplet. The droplet dispenser is capable of dispensing from an open reservoir and one may change the dispensed drop volume simply and easily. The droplet dispenser can also handle liquids which are normally seen as difficult to dispense, such as cyanoacrylate adhesives.

An apparatus and method are provided for performing detection of microorganisms (e.g., viruses) with high sensitivity. The apparatus and method are well suited for point-of-care (POC) testing in resource-limited regions and are capable of being operated with very little manual intervention and without the need for lab equipment. A variety of viruses can be detected with high sensitivity, including, for example, coronaviruses, Zika virus and flu viruses.

In one aspect of the invention, the fluidic device includes a fluidic chip includes a body having a first surface and an opposite, second surface, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a fluidic chip registration means formed on the first surface for aligning the fluidic chip with a support structure; and an actuator configured to engage with the one or more channels at the second surface of the body for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flowrates.

A fluidic valve for a sample separation apparatus for separating a fluid, wherein the fluidic valve comprises a stack of connected layer structures, a first conduit within the stack, a second conduit within the stack, a movable body within the stack, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable body to selectively bring the movable body into a flow enabling configuration in which flow of fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit is enabled, or into a flow disabling configuration in which flow of fluid between the first conduit and the second conduit is disabled.

A method and system for processing a sample in a fluid is provided. An assembly comprising a cap prefilled with a fixative solution, a valve, and a container for storing a tissue sample are provided. The valve is adapted to be situated between the cap and the container such that fluid can flow from the cap into the container when the assembly is upright, but the fluid cannot backflow from the container to the cap when the assembly is horizontal or inverted.

Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. Aspects of the technology are directed, for example, to automated specimen processing systems configured to use microfluidic slide processing modules to robotically process tissue specimens. The slide processing modules can include reagents and a flow cell with a reaction chamber for holding the tissue specimens and reagent.

A method and system for processing a sample in a fluid is provided. An assembly comprising a cap prefilled with a fixative solution, a valve, and a container for storing a tissue sample are provided. The valve is adapted to be situated between the cap and the container such that fluid can flow from the cap into the container when the assembly is upright, but the fluid cannot backflow from the container to the cap when the assembly is horizontal or inverted.

A system for controlling custody of a sample can include a cartridge comprising a sample receptacle configured to receive an article configured to deliver a sample to the cartridge, a cartridge module having a cartridge receptacle configured to receive the cartridge; a housing enclosing the cartridge module and the cartridge. The housing can include a closable door; at least one sensor configured to produce a signal indicating: insertion or removal of an article into or from the sample receptacle; whether the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge receptacle; or whether the door is open or closed. The system can further include a computer programmed to record a signal from the at least one sensor for a recording period of time and to display a signal history to a user.

A reagent cartridge includes a drug solution storage section which has a first window section and a drug solution chamber, a case section which holds the drug solution storage section movably in the negative Z-axis direction and has a second window section and a nozzle section, a spring which biases the drug solution storage section, and a discharge mechanism for discharging a predetermined amount of the drug solution from the nozzle section by the moving motion of the drug solution storage section within a predetermined range.