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 device for the extraction of an analyte from a fecal sample, the device comprising a housing comprising a detachable cap with an integral spatula, within the housing is an extraction buffer that solubilizes feces into a liquid phase and a solid phase and a separation gel that is submerged within the extraction buffer and positioned at a bottom of the housing, wherein the separation gel when under a sufficient centrifugal force has a separating density that is equal to or greater than a liquid phase density of the liquid phase and less than a solid phase density of the solid phase, thereby permitting separation of the liquid and solid phases, further wherein the separating density is between 0.098 and 1.08 g/cm.sup.3.

A separator for separating a first from a second phase of a liquid in a tubular container has an elastic float with a circular sealing edge for sealing engagement with the inside of the tubular container in a sealing position. At the underside of the float, a ballast is attached. The density of the ballast is greater than the density of the float and the density of the entire separator is in a range between the density of the first phase and the density of the second phase of the liquid. The float has a local constriction and, in the area of the constriction, a membrane.

A dual piston centrifuge tube includes an elongate tubular receptacle having upper and lower ends interconnected by a sidewall. First and second common inlet/outlet ports are formed respectively in the upper and lower ends of the tubular receptacle. First and second liquid impermeable pistons are mounted within an interior chamber of the tubular receptacle for sliding longitudinally therein. The first piston is interconnected to the first port by a flexible fluid-conducting pipe that extends through the first piston to communicate with a region of the chamber between the first and second pistons. Blood or other biological fluid is introduced through the first port and pipe into the tubular receptacle to drive the first piston upwardly. The tube is centrifuged to separate the fluid into a plurality of constituent component levels between the first and second pistons. One of the layers is aspirated through the pipe and first port and re-introduced into the receptacle through the second port. The tube is centrifuged a second time to separate the re-introduced fluid into constituent components, which are then aspirated through the second port.

Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for separating components of a sample; as well as methods of using compositions prepared by same. In one aspect, the apparatus can comprise a tubular body for receiving sample, a thixotropic material, and a float. The system comprising the apparatus can be configured to separate the component of the sample using centrifugation. The float can have a specific gravity less than or equal to the specific gravity of the thixotropic material. The thixotropic material can be positioned along a bottom inner surface of the tubular body, and a portion of the float can be embedded in the thixotropic material. The float can be made of a single, integral piece or a plurality of pieces that are configured to be fixed and immobile relative to each other during centrifugation. The float can be solid, nonporous and without any aperture.

A device and method for separating serum or plasma from blood cells in a whole blood specimen. The present invention uses a cap with a reservoir, such that blood cells are packed into the cap when the specimen container is centrifuged. When the cap is removed, the blood cells are also removed, and the serum or plasma is left in the specimen tube where it can be readily extracted by a pipette which is able to reach all the way to the bottom of the specimen tube minimizing the dead volume.

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel, a displacement fluid, and a tube. The tube includes a funnel, a cannula, and a cavity. The cannula allows for fluid communication between the funnel and the cavity, such that the processing vessel is inserted into the cavity, and the cannula extends into the processing vessel.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a separator for separating blood plasma and blood cells in a blood collection tube. The separator comprises a float with a first density and at least one passage opening. In addition to the float, the separator comprises a ballast with a second density that is greater than the first density. The total density of the separator, that is, the float and the ballast together, lies between the density of the plasma and the density of the cells in the blood. The float forms a valve together with the ballast. The float and the ballast are arranged so as to be movable relative to each other. In accordance with the invention, the ballast has at least one valve element for opening or closing a passage opening in the float.