A method of manufacturing an outlet section of a microfluidic device configured to sample, meter and collect a metered volume of body fluid for analysis by means of capillary transport; the method comprising: providing a microfluidic device having an outlet section in fluid communication with a metering section comprising a metering channel configured to receive body fluid from an inlet section with an inlet port, wherein the outlet section comprises a cavity between an outlet part of the metering channel and an outlet orifice of the device; providing a hydrophilic porous bridge element arranged to conform to the shape of the cavity; inserting the bridge element into the cavity, such that the bridge element substantially fills the cavity and the outlet orifice; and attaching a capillary means to the outlet section, thereby establishing contact between the capillary means and the bridge element.

A microfluidic device configured to sample, meter and collect a metered volume of body fluid for analysis by means of capillary transport, comprises: an inlet section, for receiving a sample of body fluid, the inlet section comprising an inlet port; a metering section configured to receive body fluid from the inlet section and comprising a metering channel, wherein the metering section is arranged to separate a metered volume of body fluid filled in the metering channel; and an outlet section configured to receive and transport the separated metered volume of body fluid for collection in a capillary means having a predetermined surface geometry. The metering channel has an outlet part with a dimensional change configured to cause a fluid front meniscus of the separated metered volume of body fluid, when transported to the outlet section, to assume a shape which substantially conforms to the surface geometry of the capillary means.

Assay cartridges are described that have a detection chamber, preferably having integrated electrodes, and other fluidic components which may include sample chambers, waste chambers, conduits, vents, bubble traps, reagent chambers, thy reagent pill zones and the like. In certain embodiments, these cartridges are adapted to receive and analyze a sample collected on an applicator stick. Also described are kits including such cartridges and a cartridge reader configured to analyze an assay conducted using an assay cartridge.

Methods and systems for processing polynucleotides (e.g., DNA) are disclosed. A processing region includes one or more surfaces (e.g., particle surfaces) modified with ligands that retain polynucleotides under a first set of conditions (e.g., temperature and pH) and release the polynucleotides under a second set of conditions (e.g., higher temperature and/or more basic pH). The processing region can be used to, for example, concentrate polynucleotides of a sample and/or separate inhibitors of amplification reactions from the polynucleotides. Microfluidic devices with a processing region are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a test system or an assay system (detection system) and test method preferably for use in the Point-of-Care (PoC) field.

A method of performing an optical measurement of an analyte in a processed biological sample using a cartridge is provided. The cartridge is operable for being spun around a rotational axis. The method comprises: placing the biological sample into a sample inlet; controlling the rotational rate of the cartridge to process a biological sample into the processed biological sample using a fluidic structure; controlling the rotational rate of the cartridge to allow the processed biological sample to flow from the measurement structure inlet to an absorbent structure via a chromatographic membrane, and performing an optical measurement of a detection zone on the chromatographic membrane with an optical instrument. An inlet air baffle reduces evaporation of the processed biological sample from the chromatographic membrane during rotation of the cartridge.

A liquid handling device having an axis of rotation about which the device can be rotated to drive liquid flow. The device includes a vented upstream chamber having an outlet port and an unvented chamber including an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the upstream chamber and an outlet port radially outward the inlet port. The device further includes a vented downstream chamber having an inlet port to receive liquid from the outlet port of the unvented chamber. A downstream conduit connects the outlet port of the unvented chamber to the inlet port of the downstream chamber and includes a bend radially inward of the outlet port of the unvented chamber. An upstream conduit connects the outlet port of the upstream chamber to the inlet port of the unvented chamber.

A microfluidic system comprising a chamber closed by movable elements and connected to at least one channel. The system has at least one structured component and at least one component attached to the structured component. The chamber is used such that the movable element can be moved into the chamber as well as out of the chamber by a movement of the movable element. Liquids or gases can be moved via one or more channels connected to the chamber by the movement and dispensed or received out of the structured component via a connection of the channel. A liquid reagent reservoir is connected to the pump chamber via the sample supply channel. Thus, the system can be used to receive, pump, dilute, mix, and dispense liquids or gases.

A saliva test system for performing an ELISA or ELONA test comprises: a narrowing, such as a constriction, of an inlet channel, the narrowing for limiting a volume of collected saliva; and a vent hole to assist flow of the collected saliva through the saliva receiver toward an incubation chamber, the vent hole coupled downstream of the narrow-ing and/or the incubation chamber and openable to enable flow of the collected saliva through the narrowing toward the incubation chamber.

A microfluidic detection chip for multi-channel rapid detection, including a chip body. A chip sampling port, a plurality of independent detection chambers, and a microfluidic channel are disposed on the chip body, and the chip sampling port is connected to the detection chambers by means of the microfluidic channel. The chip body further includes an electrode. The detection chambers are connected to the electrode. The microfluidic channel includes a main flow channel and a plurality of branching microfluidic channels. A tail end of the main flow channel is divided into the plurality of branching microfluidic channels, and the plurality of branching microfluidic channels are connected to the plurality of independent detection chambers in a one-to-one corresponding manner. And, the other end of the main flow channel is connected to the chip sampling port.