A system for collecting, growing, and analyzing biological specimens that may present a health threat. The system includes separate modules for specimen collection, sample isolation, and sample analysis that can be interconnected to safety process, culture, and analyze and unknown specimen. A decapitation module allows a user to safely collect a swab tip containing an unknown sample and transport the sample to a culture module where the sample can be washed from the swab tip and isolated in a cuvette for growth and analysis. The culture module may be coupled to a base station that can provide mixing, heating and cooling, as well as optical and spectral analysis.

A device for receiving and analysing a sample, wherein the analysing involves use of a solution. The device comprises: a sample receiving portion for receiving a sample to be analysed; and a solution capsule having a sealed configuration in which the solution capsule is sealed and a release configuration in which contents of the solution capsule are released via a flow path that provides fluid communication between the solution capsule and the sample receiving portion. The device further comprises a bistable release mechanism comprising an actuator wherein the bistable release mechanism releases only in the event that a force applied to the actuator reaches a threshold force and wherein actuation of the actuator results in one-way conversion of the solution capsule from the sealed configuration into the release configuration.

A microfluidic cartridge, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, comprising: a top layer comprising a set of cartridge-aligning indentations, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of Detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a Detection chamber, comprises a turnabout portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.

Distribution valve comprising: a stationary element comprising a first valve bearing surface, said stationary element comprising a plurality of first fluid ports and at least one second fluid port, each of said fluid ports emerging at said first valve bearing surface and being in fluidic communication with a corresponding conduit provided in said stationary element; a movable element comprising a second valve bearing surface in contact with said first bearing surface, said movable element being arranged to be movable with respect to said stationary element and being arranged to bring at least one of said first ports into fluidic communication with said second port in function of the relative position of said movable element with respect to said stationary element;
characterised in that: said stationary element comprises a mixing chamber in fluidic communication with one of said first fluid ports.

In another embodiment, the mixing chamber can be provided in the movable element rather than in the stationary element.

A device and a method for isolating a target from a biological sample are provided. The target is bound to solid phase substrate to form target bound solid phase substrate. The device includes a lower plate with an upper surface having a plurality of regions. The biological sample is receivable on a first of the regions. An upper plate has a lower surface directed to the upper surface of the lower plate. A force is positioned adjacent the upper plate and attracts the target bound solid phase substrate toward the lower surface of the upper plate. At least one of the upper plate and the lower plate is movable from a first position wherein the target bound solid phase substrate in the biological sample are drawn to the lower surface of the upper plate and a second position wherein the target bound solid phase substrate are isolated from the biological sample.

A reagent dispenser includes a housing. A container of microbial inhibitor is disposed within the housing. A dispensing system is disposed within the housing and operable to dispense the microbial inhibitor from the container. The dispensing system is calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight per water sample of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight per water sample to inner volume of a sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less.

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are rapid diagnostic tests to detect one or more target nucleic acid sequences (e.g., a nucleic acid sequence of one or more pathogens) having a seal component. In some embodiments, the pathogens are viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or protozoan pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 or an influenza virus. Further embodiments provide methods of detecting genetic abnormalities. Diagnostic tests comprising a sample-collecting component, one or more reagents (e.g., lysis reagents, nucleic acid amplification reagents), a seal component, and a detection component (e.g., a component comprising a lateral flow assay strip and/or a colorimetric assay) are provided.

A filter arrangement with a top element and a bottom element and a filter element therebetween captures oversized particles on the upper surface of the filter element and tangentially rinses these particles using an elution fluid to provide a concentration of particles in a relatively low volume of fluid for further analysis. A configuration using a slider valve may also be utilized. Additionally, an arrangement of supply and receiving containers may be used to minimize the number of containers required. A mass flow meter may be incorporated to measure the flow of elution fluid. Finally, a wash stage of the filtering process may be used to introduce stain onto the particles for further analysis, such as that associated with Gram staining and these stained particles may be further analyzed.

A flow control mechanism and a system comprising the mechanism, specifically relating to a microflow control mechanism and system. The mechanism comprises a base and a constant volume mechanism. The base and the constant volume mechanism are dynamically connected to form two or more relative activity states, comprising a first relative state and a second relative state. A fluid input end and a fluid receiving end are provided on the base. The constant volume mechanism is provided with a constant volume pipeline. In the first relative state, the fluid input end communicates with the constant volume pipeline. In the second relative state, the constant volume pipeline communicates with the fluid receiving end. The microflow control mechanism and system can achieve precise micro-scale fluid flow control, and have a simple structure.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device configured to deliver a controlled amount of a liquid to an analysis tool, wherein the microfluidic device comprises: a buffer tank configured to contain a liquid and/or a gas; at least one level sensor configured to measure a liquid level in the buffer tank; a pneumatic system configured to create selectively a positive or a negative pressure in the buffer tank; at least one intake port to let in a liquid in the buffer tank; at least one delivery port to inject a controlled amount of liquid from the buffer tank onto the analysis tool; at least one drain port with a controlled drain valve, located on the lower part of the buffer tank to discharge the liquid from the buffer tank; a first check valve located upstream of the intake port and a second check valve between the buffer tank and the analysis tool.