A transfer container for a fluid includes a tube, the tube including a conical portion at one end, the tube defining an interior space and one or more fluid passages configured to allow flow of fluid into or out of the interior space of the tube. The transfer container also includes a connector configured to seal the end of the conical portion when the connector is joined only to the conical portion and a pressure control mechanism configured to increase or decrease a pressure in the interior space of the tube. The transfer container can be used in a method including connecting fluid lines to the fluid passages, adding a fluid including cryoprotectant and cells, centrifuging the transfer container, and then connecting the transfer container to a second fluid transfer container containing another fluid. This allows the sterile transfer of fluids and separation of cells from cryoprotectant.

A piston for centrifugation according to one embodiment may include: a body; a valve which can move inside the body to the front side and the rear side of the body according to an applied external force; a fluid channel through which a fluid flows from the front side of the body to the rear side of the body; and a valve support for guiding movement of the valve.

A container for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of viral infections and/or associated conditions prefilled with a thixotropic gel characterized by a density selected from about 1.02 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.05 g/cm.sup.3.

A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

A method of analyzing a fecal sample containing parasitic material and non-parasitic material. The fecal sample is first deposited into a carrier containing a flotation medium. The carrier is then shaken to disperse the fecal sample in the flotation medium. The fecal sample is then allowed to settle under gravity or by centrifugation. A filter device is then inserted into the carrier to separate the parasitic material from the non-parasitic material and to collect the parasitic material. The collected parasitic material is then poured into a capture filter for analysis.

Sample collection tubes and methods of producing the same are provided. Contemplated collection tubes comprise a tube having a separator substance disposed therein. In some aspects, the separator substance preferably maintains a predetermined flowability during irradiation or heat sterilization, and can subsequently polymerize upon exposure to a UV light or other suitable source. In other aspects, the separator substance preferably includes a soft gel component (thixotropic gel), and a photocurable sealant component that is formulated to polymerize and form a solid barrier between fractions of a liquid.

A separation container includes a separation tube receiving a sample therein, a first sedimentation part connected to an end portion of the tube, a particle in the sample being deposited by a centrifugal or agitating force, and a separating part provided in the tube and including at least one separating layer which selectively opens and closes the tube.

Multi-component separation devices configured to separate components of a liquid sample by centrifugation are provided. Aspects of the separation devices include a container having a distal end and a proximal end and a buoy configured to be displaced along a longitudinal axis within the container where the buoy includes one or more sealed chambers. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices to separate components of a multi-component liquid sample such as whole blood, bone marrow aspirate or stromal vascular fraction as well as systems suitable for practicing the subject methods.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward devices, systems, and method for conducting nucleic acid purification and quantification using sedimentation. In one example, a method includes generating complexes which bind to a plurality of beads in a fluid sample, individual ones of the complexes comprising a nucleic acid molecule such as DNA or RNA and a labeling agent. The plurality of beads including the complexes may be transported through a density media, wherein the density media has a density lower than a density of the beads and higher than a density of the fluid sample, and wherein the transporting occurs, at least in part, by sedimentation. Signal may be detected from the labeling agents of the complexes.

The invention relates to devices, methods and kits for separating biological materials, particularly populations of cells of different densities. The invention finds particular utility in the separation of blood into its different component parts or cellular populations. An insert for a centrifuge tube is disclosed that facilitates the effective separation of blood fractions by achieving a sharp and distinct interface between the density gradient medium and the blood sample. Methods and kits involving the use of the insert in separating cells are described.