The present invention relates to a lab-on-a-chip (LOAC)-system for the rapid detection of e.g. pathogens. The system comprises a tabletop detection apparatus and a portable optical detection cartridge for being received in the inner of the detection apparatus, the cartridges comprising a plurality of test wells for detecting a desired chemical reaction taking place within a respective test well. In embodiments of the invention, the optical detection cartridge is pre-loaded with suitable respective reagents selective for a disease pathogen such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

A method for sex sorting of mosquitoes generally comprises the steps of: providing a plate that includes multiple wells, with each of the multiple wells configured to receive a mosquito; filling each of the multiple wells with a predetermined volume of water; placing a mosquito in each of the multiple wells; capturing an image of each mosquito in each of the multiple wells; and analyzing each image to determine if each mosquito is male or female. Mosquitoes have distinct anatomical areas for identification, which are captured in the images and are used to determine if a mosquito is male or female. Furthermore, in some implementations, there is an additional step of exterminating each mosquito that is determined to be female.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a box-shaped package, comprising: a base, and a cover configured to be placed on the base to close the package, wherein in a closed configuration of the package, the interface between the base and the cover is gas-tight; the base and/or the cover comprise one or more gas-permeable zones which are capable of passing gases, such as air, into and out from the package, particularly in the closed configuration.

A sample testing apparatus includes a sample tray defining a planar surface and a plurality of wells recessed relative to the planar surface, and a lid member configured to be sealed about the planar surface of the sample tray. The lid member includes an adhesive layer configured to be sealed to the planar surface of the sample tray, a breathable film layer disposed about the adhesive layer, and a backing layer disposed about the breathable film layer. Methods of using the sample testing apparatus for testing a sample and kits to facilitate such testing are also provided.

A culturing device includes a microplate including a plurality of vessels, each of the vessels having a bottom surface having light transmittance and an opening at an upper portion, a lid having light transmittance, and an intermediate plate having light transmittance sandwiched between the lid and the microplate. The intermediate plate has a plurality of convex portions on a surface thereof facing the microplate and provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the convex portions that are disposed so that when the intermediate plate and the microplate are overlapped, each of the plurality of convex portions is inserted into each of the plurality of vessels and each of the plurality of through holes coincides with the opening of each of the plurality of vessels. The lid comes into contact with the intermediate plate so as to close the plurality of through holes provided in the intermediate plate.

Methods for forming arrays of droplets, and associated arrays of droplets, are generally provided.

Apparatus and method for removing liquid from exterior surfaces of sample wells in a well plate. Wells that have water or other liquid on an exterior surface, e.g., after acoustic energy treatment in a water bath, may have the liquid removed by contacting the exterior surfaces of the sample wells with an absorbent material. A pad made of absorbent material may have a plurality of openings arranged to receive an array of sample wells inserted into the openings so that liquid can be removed from each of the sample wells.

Techniques are described for reducing the number of angles needed in structured illumination imaging of biological samples through the use of patterned flowcells, where nanowells of the patterned flowcells are arranged in, e.g., a square array, or an asymmetrical array. Accordingly, the number of images needed to resolve details of the biological samples is reduced. Techniques are also described for combining structured illumination imaging with line scanning using the patterned flowcells.

The equipment item for automatically managing a plurality of biological samples placed in a respective sample jar includes a storage container for sample jars having a plurality of housings, an apparatus with a reader of encoded identification data affixed on the sample jars placed in the container, a device for determining data representative of the position of each sample jar within the container, and a device for rotating the container, and a computer processor connected to the apparatus. The container includes, in the immediate vicinity of each housing, a shape appearing recessed or raised, while the device for determining data representative of the position of each sample jar is defined by a detector for the shape.

An x-ray minerology analysis system includes a sample assembly for an x-ray microscopy system. It comprises an outer tube and a bottom plug sealing an inner bore of the outer tube, wherein the outer tube contains powder to be analysed by the x-ray microscopy system.