The present invention provides a method and means useful for recovering an extracellular vesicle. More specifically, the present invention provides the following (I) and (II).

(I) A method for recovering extracellular vesicle, the method including: (1) mixing whole blood with a nonionic surfactant and a chelating agent to give a mixture solution containing the extracellular vesicle, the nonionic surfactant and the chelating agent; and (2) separating the extracellular vesicle from the mixture solution.

(II) A blood collection vessel containing a nonionic surfactant and a chelating agent.

A hand-held applicator (10) for collecting, mixing, diluting and discharging a sample liquid, comprising a main body (20) having an inlet-aperture (24), an outlet-aperture (26) and a chamber (22) for storing a liquid solution, wherein the chamber is connected to the inlet-aperture and the outlet-aperture, a lid (12) for covering the inlet-aperture and a tube (40), moveably supported in the inlet-aperture when the lid is covering the upper portion of the main body, wherein the tube (40) is moveable between a predetermined position outside the chamber and a position, in which the tube is at least partly located in the chamber.

A secure specimen sample bottle includes a base container for receiving a specimen. The base container has a plurality of locking protrusions formed along an inner surface of the base receptacle. A bottle includes a lock ring that has an upright spire structure that has a closed top end and the opposing open bottom end including a plurality of flexible fins that are configured to interlockingly mate with the locking protrusions so as to prevent removal of the lock ring relative to the base container upon engagement of the flexible fins to the locking protrusions. A removable cap is coupled to the lock ring.

In one embodiment, a mixing device includes a sleeve that forms an inner space configured to receive a sample container, a housing associated with the sleeve, a mixing element contained within the housing that is configured to mix liquid contained within the sample container, and an activation element configured to activate the mixing element when the activation element is triggered.

A blood collection tube for physically separating the plasma and red blood cell fractions of a centrifuged sample is described. The blood collection tube has an elastomeric sleeve with rigid tube segments at both ends. Following blood collection and centrifugation, the elastomeric sleeve may be twisted to constrict its inner diameter and physically separate the two fractions. The blood collection tube may be secured in this position with a pin and a clamp, and further with an adhesive tape with pH paper. This enables blood samples to be transferred over long distances to a central lab facility without spoiling.

Samples, systems for collecting samples, and methods of preserving samples from menstrual fluid are provided.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a removable cartridge. The collected fluid is supplied to substrate for drying, storage and transport.

In accordance with the present disclosure, exposure of a sample to one or more electric pulses via capacitive coupling is described. In certain embodiments, the sample may be a biological sample to be treated or modified using the pulsed electric fields. In certain embodiments, the electric pulses may be delivered to a load using capacitive coupling. In other embodiments, the electric pulses may be bipolar pulses.

A blood collection device for the self-collection of a blood sample by a user, wherein, a base element has a width of more than 1.75 in and including an upstanding wall which defines a receive opening, the upstanding wall having a height of less than 1.75 in; a collection container is configured for placement in said receive opening in a substantially upright orientation; the finger portion comprising a blood collection hole that provides a fluid channel between the collection container and the finger portion; wherein at least the base element is a separate part, configured to be shipped in a de-assembled state with respect to the other parts of the blood collection device, wherein the blood collection device is configured to be assembled by a user after receiving said blood collection device.

A method of training a model of a diagnostic apparatus includes providing one or more first tube assemblies of a first type and one or more second tube assemblies of a second type in a diagnostic apparatus; capturing one or more first images of at least a portion of each of the one or more first tube assemblies and the second tube assemblies using the imaging device. Training the model includes identifying tube assemblies of the first type and tube assemblies of the second type based on the one or more first images and the one or more second images. Tubes assemblies of the first type are grouped into a first group and tube assemblies of the second type are grouped into a second group. Other methods and apparatus are disclosed.