An imaging system and method for microbial growth detection, counting or identification. One colony may be contrasted in an image that is not optimal for another type of colony. The system and method provides contrast from all available material through space (spatial differences), time (differences appearing over time for a given capture condition) and color space transformation using image input information over time to assess whether microbial growth has occurred for a given sample.

A cell culture system or assembly, flask, plate and dish for growing, viewing and evaluating cells; and methods of use.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for culturing a buoyant target tissue. Embodiments include a first surface configured to culture a first layer of supporting cells, and a second surface configured to culture a second layer of supporting cells. The first layer of supporting cells may be formed on a portion of the first surface and the second layer of supporting cells may be formed on a portion of the second surface. The buoyant target tissue may be added to the first layer of supporting cells. The second layer of supporting cells may be placed on the first layer of supporting cells such that the buoyant target tissue is sandwiched between the first layer of supporting cells and second layer of supporting cells.

A continuous automated perfusion culture analysis system (CAPCAS) comprises one or more fluidic systems configured to operate large numbers of biodevices in parallel. Each fluidic system comprises an input reservoir plate for receiving media; a biodevice plate comprising an array of biodevices fluidically coupled to the input reservoir plate, configured such that each biodevice has independent media delivery, fluid removal, stirring, and gas control, and each biodevice is capable of continuously receiving the media from the input reservoir plate; and an output plate fluidically coupled to the biodevice plate for real-time analysis and sampling. The operations of the CAPCAS are automated and computer-controlled wirelessly. The CAPCAS can also be used for abiotic and biotic chemical synthesis processes.

Devices for magnetic 3d culture are described including magnetic lids/bases for single Petri plates and adjustable height cap for same. Similar devices for multi-magnet culture plates wherein multiwell plates have all adjacent magnets orientated in the opposite polarity, and methods of making same.

A personal laboratory apparatus includes a plurality of life sciences laboratory modules disposed on or in a common housing. The laboratory modules include a cooling station, a heating station, an incubator, a bioreactor, and a removable fluidic cartridge that is fluidly coupled to the bioreactor. The personal laboratory apparatus can be sold as a kit with a wetware kit that includes laboratory hardware and ingredients for performing a genetic-engineering experiment. The wetware kit includes a plurality of test tubes and a pre-measured volume or mass of a plurality of materials, each pre-measured volume or mass disposed in a corresponding test tube.

A microcavity dish (10) for cultivating cells includes a dish body including a sidewall (16) that encloses a cell culture chamber within the dish body. The dish body has a top and a bottom (12). The bottom includes a cell culturing substrate comprising an array of microcavities (46). The sidewall includes a transition portion (30) that divides the sidewall into an upper portion and a lower portion that is offset inward relative to the upper portion defining a liquid medium delivery surface (26) that extends at least partially along an interior surface (28) of the sidewall and slopes toward the bottom.

A transparent specimen slide on which the range and the magnitude of the near-surface electrostatic forces can be influenced and set during a process of producing the specimen slide. The specimen slide has a surface on the supporting side and a surface facing away from the supporting side and at least three layers: an electrically insulating first layer, a silicon-containing second layer arranged on the first layer, and an electrically insulating third layer arranged on the second layer. An interface is formed between the first and second layers and between the second and third layers with a first surface charge density. The interface between the second and third layers has a second surface charge density. The first and second surface charge densities have the same or different signs.

Disclosed is a technology for assaying individual cells, in which the identity of each individual cell in an ordered array is determined from coordinates assigned to it, and can be readout at high throughput with microscope. The method is able to test responses of millions of identical cells in multiple chemical and physical processes with superior statistics power to facilitate deep data mining.

An incubation system for gas detection of a biological specimen can include a gas or optical sensor. The sensor can be arranged to be placed in communication with at least one biological specimen vessel for generating an electrical response signal indicating a chemical characteristic associated with the specimen. The specimen can be incubated in a temperature-controlled chamber, such as within a shelf defining a plurality of receptacles. Processing circuitry can be included or used such as to place the sensor and at least one biological specimen vessel in communication with each other.