This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting blood cells in biological samples. A small unmeasured quantity of a biological sample such as whole blood is placed in the disposable test cartridge which is then inserted into the cell analyzer. The analyzer isolates a precise volume of the biological sample, mixes it with self-contained reagents and transfers the entire volume to an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping, when it is transferred into the imaging chamber. Images of essentially all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are analyzed to obtain counts per unit volume. The devices, apparatus and methods described may be used to analyze a small quantity of whole blood to obtain counts per unit volume of red blood cells, white blood cells, including sub-groups of white cells, platelets and measurements related to these bodies.

Described is a rotary valve that includes a stator, a rotor and a plurality of sample channels. The stator includes a stator surface having an inlet port, an outlet port and a plurality of selectable ports. The rotor includes a rotor surface having a first rotor channel and a second rotor channel. The rotor is configurable in a plurality of rotor positions, each of which couples the inlet port to one of the selectable ports through the first rotor channel and couples the outlet port to another one of the selectable ports through the second rotor channel. The two selectable ports are coupled to each other through one of the sample channels. The rotor has a bypass state defined by a rotor position, or angular range of rotor positions, at which the inlet port is coupled to the outlet port through the second rotor channel.

Methods of determining methylation of DNA are provided. In one illustrative, but non-limiting embodiment the method comprises i) contacting a biological sample comprising a nucleic acid to a first matrix material comprising a first column or filter where said matrix material binds and/or filters nucleic acids in said sample and thereby purifies the DNA; ii) eluting the bound DNA from the first matrix material and denaturing the DNA to produce eluted denatured DNA; iii) heating the eluted DNA in the presence of bisulfite ions to produce a deaminated nucleic acid; iv) contacting said deaminated nucleic acid to a second matrix material comprising a second column to bind said deaminated nucleic acid to said second matrix material; v) desulphonating the bound deaminated nucleic acid and/or simultaneously eluting and desulphonating the nucleic acid by contacting the deaminated nucleic acid with an alkaline solution to produce a bisulfite converted nucleic acid; vi) eluting said bisulfite converted nucleic acid from said second matrix material; and vii) performing methylation specific PCR and/or nucleic acid sequencing, and/or high resolution melting analysis (HRM) on said bisulfite-converted nucleic acid to determine the methylation of said nucleic acid, wherein at least steps iv) through vi) are performed in a single reaction cartridge.

The invention includes low-volume systems for sample identification. The systems are designed to use multi-use consumables including but not limited to fluid containers containing large volumes of fluids. In some embodiments, the low-volume systems identify nucleic acids in samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

There is provided a cartridge for nucleic acid extraction comprising: a first body having a plurality of chambers in which ports are formed at the bottom; a second body coupled to a lower region of the first body; and a piston disposed rotatably in the centers of the first body and the second body and having a port formed at the bottom thereof; and characterized in that the cartridge comprises a plurality of flow paths formed on the upper region of the second body, one end overlapping the port of the piston and the other end overlapping the port of the first body.

The invention provides integrated Organ-on-Chip microphysiological systems representations of living Organs and support structures for such microphysiological systems.

The present invention relates to a bioprocessing fluid sensor arrangement (100) for sensing fluidic properties in a process fluid path with a sensor (S), configured for aseptically connecting the sensor with at least one conditioning fluid while separating said sensor from the process fluid to at least one conditioning fluid e.g. for calibration, cleaning, regenerating and/or storing the sensor, the arrangement comprising a process fluid path (PF) having a process fluid inlet (PI) and a process fluid outlet (PO); a sensor (S) arranged in the process fluid path (PF); a bypass fluid path (BF) in the process fluid path (PF), for bypassing the sensor (S); a conditioning or cleaning fluid path (CF) having an inlet (CI) and an outlet (CO) each aseptically and fluidically connected to the process fluid path (PF), one on each side of the sensor (S); and flow controls (FC) for controlling the flow of fluids, whereby fluids can be controlled to flow either in the process fluid path (PF) via the sensor (S), or in the bypass fluid path (BF) omitting the sensor from the fluid path (PF), or in the conditioning or cleaning fluid path (CF) including the sensor in said flow but omitting the remaining process fluid path (PF) and bypass fluid path (BF).

The present disclosure is drawn to devices and systems for target detection in samples, particularly allergen detection in food samples. The allergen detection system includes a sampler, a disposable analysis cartridge and a detection device with an optimized optical system. The allergen detection utilizes nucleic acid molecules as detection agents and detection probes.

Flow cell devices, cartridges, and systems are described that provide reduced manufacturing complexity, lowered consumable costs, and flexible system throughput for nucleic acid sequencing and other chemical or biological analysis applications. The flow cell device can include a capillary flow cell device or a microfluidic flow cell device.

Methods and devices for preparing target molecules (e.g., target nucleic acids or target proteins) from a biological sample are provided herein. In some embodiments, methods and devices involve sample lysis, sample fragmentation, enrichment of target molecule(s), and/or functionalization of target molecule(s).