A system and method for automated single cell capture and processing is described, where the system includes a deck supporting and positioning a set of sample processing elements; a gantry for actuating tools for interactions with the set of sample processing elements supported by the deck; and a base supporting various processing subsystems and a control subsystems in communication with the processing subsystems. The system can automatically execute workflows associated with single cell processing, including mRNA capture, cDNA synthesis, protein-associated assays, and library preparation, for next generation sequencing.

Reaction vessels, cartridges, devices and methods for facilitating high-level multiplexing are described herein. Such reaction vessels can include a planar frame defining a fluidic path between a first planar substrate and a second planar substrate, a fluidic interface is located at one end of the planar frame with a pair of fluidic ports, a well chamber and a pre-amplification chamber. Devices for spotting reagents in wells of high-level multiplexing reaction vessels and improved reagent solutions are also described herein.

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.

This disclosure describes single-use test cartridges, cell analyzer apparatus, and methods for automatically performing microscopic cell analysis tasks, such as counting and analyzing blood cells in biological samples. A small measured quantity of a biological sample, such as whole blood, is placed in a mixing bowl on the disposable test cartridge after being inserted into the cell analyzer. The analayzer also deposits a known amount of diluent/stain in the mixing bowl and mixes it with the blood. The analyzer takes a measured amount of the mixture and dispenses in a sample cup on the cartridge in fluid communication with an imaging chamber. The geometry of the imaging chamber is chosen to maintain the uniformity of the mixture, and to prevent cells from crowding or clumping as it is transferred into the imaging chamber by the analyzer. Images of all of the cellular components within the imaging chamber are counted and analyzed to obtain a complete blood count.

Systems and methods for conducting designated reactions utilizing a base instrument and a removable cartridge. The removable cartridge includes a fluidic network that receives and fluidically directs a biological sample to conduct the designated reactions. The removable cartridge also includes a flow-control valve that is operably coupled to the fluidic network and is movable relative to the fluidic network to control flow of the biological sample therethrough. The removable cartridge is configured to separably engage a base instrument. The base instrument includes a valve actuator that engages the flow-control valve of the removable cartridge. A detection assembly held by at least one of the removable cartridge or the base instrument may be used to detect the designated reactions.

Apparatus and methods for measuring the concentrations of organic and inorganic carbon, or of other materials in aqueous samples are described, having a reactor that is resistively heated by passing an electric current through the reactor.

Embodiments of a platelet testing system include an analyzer console device and a blood testing cartridge configured to releasably install into the console device. The cartridge device is configured with one or more measuring chambers and one or more mixing chambers that are fluidically connected within the cartridge device that enable the mixing of saline and a blood sample to a desired dilution. Additionally, the cartridge device is further configured with a cartridge slider that provides a reagent bead to the saline and blood mixture at a desired time. As such, one or more platelet activation assays can be conducted by measuring, through cartridge electrodes of the cartridge device, the detectable changes in platelet activity within the blood and saline mixture.

There is provided an assembly, useable to screen sample fluids for predefined molecules, the comprising, a needle unit comprising n hollow needles, wherein n is greater than one; a flow cell unit comprising m flow cells, wherein m is greater than one, each flow cell having an input and an output, and a test surface on which ligands can be provided; a first selector valve unit which is fluidly connected between the needle unit and flow cell unit, which is operable to selectively fluidly connect any one of the n hollow needles with the m flow cells in the flow cell unit; a pumping means which is selectively operable to provide negative pressure; a second selector valve unit which is fluidly connected between the pumping means and the output of each flow cell. There are further provided methods of screening sample fluids for predefined molecule.

A workstation for processing particles entrained in a fluid includes a consumable portion and a reusable portion. The consumable portion is mounted to the reusable portion to form a fluid chamber in which an acoustic wave can be generated. The consumable portion implements a closed, isolated fluid environment that is managed using components of the reusable portion, such as valves, sensors and pumps. The workstation can be operated to retain particles from the fluid via the acoustic wave and provide a new fluid media to the retained particles. Following processing, the consumable portion can be removed and discarded.

An analytical toilet is disclosed with a bowl adapted to receive excreta, a conduit for transporting a liquid excreta sample from the bowl, and a liquid reagent source. The analytical toilet also includes a microfluidic chip that has a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the excreta sample. The microfluidic chip also has an excreta sample path in fluid communication with the conduit and the sensor and a reagent path in fluid communication with the liquid reagent source and the sensor. The length of and number of channels in the sample path and the reagent path are selected so as to control the respective fluid resistance of the excreta sample and the reagent to thereby optimize the mixing and flow rates of the excreta sample and reagent into the sensor. There is also disclosed analytical toilet with a microfluidic chip having reagent path that includes a first and a second channel. The second channel is longer than the first channel. A valve, which is controllable so as to cause the reagent to flow through either the first channel, the second channel or both channels. As such, the fluid resistance of the reagent is controlled, to thereby optimize the flow rate of the reagent into the sensor.