The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for making and using a support (e.g., a sample slide) for sample analysis. The present disclosure also provides compositions, methods, and systems for processing a sample on the support for use in nucleic acid sequence detection.

Embodiments relate to methods and compositions useful for routing and tracking multiple mobile units within a microfluidic device. Mobile units may be routed through a plurality of chemical environments, and the mobile units may be tracked to determine the path and/or environments that the mobile units have routed through. Mobile units may be routed in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. Mobile units may be routed through microfluidic devices in ordered flow. Mobile units routed through the microfluidic device can be used to perform various chemical reactions uniquely associated to the units, including without limitation peptide synthesis, enzymatic gene synthesis and gene assembly.

A fluid transfer system includes a transfer carousel capable of rotational and/or translational movement; at least one holding vessel (e.g. syringe) having a plunger, wherein the syringe is connected to the transfer carousel such that the movement of the transfer carousel results in movement of the syringe and wherein the syringe is capable of translational movement relative to the transfer carousel; a drive motor connected to the syringe that is capable of controlling the position of the plunger; and a peripheral module comprising at least one vessel that is capable of containing a fluid, wherein the vessel has an opening that can be mated with the syringe to allow fluid transfer between the vessel and the syringe. Methods for transferring a fluid are also disclosed.

Provided is a method of isolating biochemical molecules on a microarray substrate, the method including providing a microarray substrate to which clusters of different kinds of biochemical molecules being classified by individual spot units are attached, the individual spots being regularly arranged thereon; obtaining location information of the individual spot in which a desired cluster among clusters of the biochemical molecules locates; locating an extraction tool for applying energy to isolate the desired cluster according to the location information; and isolating the desired cluster from the microarray substrate by applying energy in a contact or non-contact manner using the extraction tool.

The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for routing and tracking multiple mobile units within a microfluidic device. Mobile units may be routed through a plurality of chemical environments, and the mobile units may be tracked to determine the path and/or environments that the mobile units have routed through. Mobile units may be routed in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. Mobile units may be routed through microfluidic devices in ordered flow. Absolute or relative position of a unit inside a microfluidic device, e.g. within an ordered set of units, may be used to identify the routing path history of the unit.

A method for determining a presence or absence of one or more target analytes in a sample includes contacting the sample with an array of particles comprising at least first and second particle subsets disposed therein with a known particle number ratio with respect to each other. The first particle subset has at least one binding site configured to bind with a first target analyte and the second particle subset has at least one binding site configured to bind with a second, different target analyte. Changes are detected in a detectable signal emitted by the particles after contacting the sample with the array. A number of the particles that emit the change in the detectable signal are counted and this number is compared to the known particle number ratio of the subsets so as to determine the presence or absence of the one or more of the target analytes.

A method and apparatus for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier. The method comprising the steps of: (a) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier; and (b) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step. The apparatus comprising means for identification purposes such as a microscope or labelling means such as a high spatial resolution light source, and means for the positioning and orientation of the microcarriers.

A fluid transfer system includes a transfer carousel capable of rotational and/or translational movement; at least one holding vessel (e.g. syringe) having a plunger, wherein the syringe is connected to the transfer carousel such that the movement of the transfer carousel results in movement of the syringe and wherein the syringe is capable of translational movement relative to the transfer carousel; a drive motor connected to the syringe that is capable of controlling the position of the plunger; and a peripheral module comprising at least one vessel that is capable of containing a fluid, wherein the vessel has an opening that can be mated with the syringe to allow fluid transfer between the vessel and the syringe. Methods for transferring a fluid are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a reaction vessel, a device and a method for detecting specific interactions between molecular target and probe molecules. The present invention especially relates to a reaction vessel which has a shape and size typical of a laboratory reaction vessel and in which a supporting element with probe molecules immobilised thereon on predetermined regions is arranged on its base surfaces.

A method for determining a presence or absence of one or more target analytes in a sample includes contacting the sample with an array of particles comprising at least first and second particle subsets disposed therein with a known particle number ratio with respect to each other. The first particle subset has at least one binding site configured to bind with a first target analyte and the second particle subset has at least one binding site configured to bind with a second, different target analyte. Changes are detected in a detectable signal emitted by the particles after contacting the sample with the array. A number of the particles that emit the change in the detectable signal are counted and this number is compared to the known particle number ratio of the subsets so as to determine the presence or absence of the one or more of the target analytes.