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.

Devices, containers, and methods are provided for performing biological analysis in a closed environment. Illustrative biological analyses include nucleic acid amplification and detection and immuno-PCR.

The invention provides systems and methods for rapid automated identification of microbes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) directly from a patient specimen, without specimen preparation. Specimens are loaded into an analytical cartridge for processing. Analytical cartridges are preloaded with species-specific labels that are used to identify and enumerate microbes in the specimen. Instruments, such as analyzers can be used to interact with analytical cartridges to carry out methods of the invention all within the cartridge.

A portable diagnostic device for performing the diagnosis of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, etc., by rapidly detecting their nucleic acids in a biological sample to be tested. Also, the use of the portable diagnostic device and the methods for detection of at least one nucleic acid sequence of interest implemented with the aid of the portable diagnostic device.

A reagent dispenser includes a housing. A container of microbial inhibitor is disposed within the housing. A dispensing system is disposed within the housing and operable to dispense the microbial inhibitor from the container. The dispensing system is calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight per water sample of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight per water sample to inner volume of a sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less.

A filter module (10) has a housing (12) which is subdivided by a membrane filter (14) into an inlet chamber (16), which is connected to an inlet connecting piece (22) arranged rigidly on the housing (12), and an outlet chamber (18), which has a filtrate outlet (20). The inlet connecting piece has two connectors, specifically a first connector (26) and a second connector (28), which connect selectively and fluidically to the inlet chamber with a 3-way valve (24) integrated into the inlet connecting piece. The valve has a first entry, which is connected to the first connector, a second entry, which is connected to the second connector, and an exit, which is connected to the inlet chamber. The first connector is configured as an adapter for outwardly sealed coupling of a culture medium bottle (30), which coupling permits a gravity-driven exchange of liquid with the first entry of the valve.

A system for collecting, growing, and analyzing biological specimens that may present a health threat. The system includes separate modules for specimen collection, sample isolation, and sample analysis that can be interconnected to safety process, culture, and analyze and unknown specimen. A decapitation module allows a user to safely collect a swab tip containing an unknown sample and transport the sample to a culture module where the sample can be washed from the swab tip and isolated in a cuvette for growth and analysis. The culture module may be coupled to a base station that can provide mixing, heating and cooling, as well as optical and spectral analysis.

The present invention aims to provide a fluid handling device which can be manufactured more conveniently, can easily open and close a channel, and can be miniaturized. The fluid handling device of the present invention includes: a first channel; a second channel; and a valve disposed between the first channel and the second channel, in which the valve includes: a groove-shaped valve seat disposed in a board, and a flat plate-shaped flexible layer covering the groove-shaped valve seat, and the valve communicates between the first channel and the second channel when the flat plate-shaped flexible layer and a bottom of the groove-shaped valve seat are spaced apart from each other, and blocks communication between the first channel and the second channel when the flat plate-shaped flexible layer and an inner wall of the groove-shaped valve seat are in contact with each other.

Novel methods and apparatus for sorting and enriching target cells of interest from a mixture.

A system, configured to facilitate processing and detection of nucleic acids, the system comprising a process fluid container and a cartridge comprising: a top layer, a set of sample port-reagent port pairs, a shared fluid port, a vent region, a heating region, and a set of detection chambers; an intermediate substrate, coupled to the top layer comprising a waste chamber; an elastomeric layer, partially situated on the intermediate substrate; and a set of fluidic pathways, each formed by at least a portion of the top layer and a portion of the elastomeric layer, wherein each fluidic pathway is fluidically coupled to a sample port-reagent port pair, the shared fluid port, and a detection chamber, comprises a portion passing through the heating region, and is configured to be occluded upon deformation of the elastomeric layer, to transfer a waste fluid to the waste chamber, and to pass through the vent region.