A method is provided for testing for presence of a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a microorganism, a fungus, a bacteria, a spore, a virus, a mite, a biological cell, a biological antigen, a protein, a protein antigen, and a carbohydrate antigen. The method includes (a) collecting, in a tube (22), fluid that potentially contains the particulate, (b) using a plunger (24) to push the fluid through a filter (26) disposed at a distal portion of the tube or at a distal end of the plunger, and subsequently, (c) while the filter is inside the tube, ascertaining if any of the particulate was trapped by the filter by applying a particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution to the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

A method is provided for testing for presence of a particulate selected from the group consisting of: a microorganism, a fungus, a bacteria, a spore, a virus, a mite, a biological cell, a biological antigen, a protein, a protein antigen, and a carbohydrate antigen. The method includes (a) collecting, in a tube (22), fluid that potentially contains the particulate, (b) using a plunger (24) to push the fluid through a filter (26) disposed at a distal portion of the tube or at a distal end of the plunger, and subsequently, (c) while the filter is inside the tube, ascertaining if any of the particulate was trapped by the filter by applying a particulate-presence-testing-facilitation solution to the filter. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for restoring normal microbiota in pre-term newborns or newborns delivered by Cesarean section and methods for preventing or ameliorating diseases associated with delivery by Cesarean section or pre-term birth comprising administering to said newborns at the time of birth or shortly thereafter an effective amount of a vaginal microbiota inoculum obtained from the newborn's mother or a donor or an effective amount of a probiotic composition. The invention also relates to a device for collecting maternal vaginal microbiota from the vaginal canal of a patient. The device can have a housing forming a cavity, an absorbent material removable disposed within the cavity, and a deployment element disposed in the housing and movable along a length of the housing. The movement of the deployment element can displace the absorbent material out of the cavity and in to the vaginal canal.

The invention relates to methods and compositions for restoring normal microbiota in pre-term newborns or newborns delivered by Cesarean section and methods for preventing or ameliorating diseases associated with delivery by Cesarean section or pre-term birth comprising administering to said newborns at the time of birth or shortly thereafter an effective amount of a vaginal microbiota inoculum obtained from the newborn's mother or a donor or an effective amount of a probiotic composition. The invention also relates to a device for collecting maternal vaginal microbiota from the vaginal canal of a patient. The device can have a housing forming a cavity, an absorbent material removable disposed within the cavity, and a deployment element disposed in the housing and movable along a length of the housing. The movement of the deployment element can displace the absorbent material out of the cavity and in to the vaginal canal.

An assembly for optical preconditioning of an optically activatable biological sample comprising of cells suspended in a liquid, with a reservoir which stores the sample from which the sample are conveyed a conveying unit through a hollow channel sequentially one after the other. An illumination unit illuminates the cells contained in the sample which flow through the hollow channel at a flow rate that can be specified by the conveying unit as set by a controllable illumination intensity and illumination period and at least one of a cell analysis and sorting device in fluid communication downstream of the hollow channel.

An assembly for optical preconditioning of an optically activatable biological sample comprising of cells suspended in a liquid, with a reservoir which stores the sample from which the sample are conveyed a conveying unit through a hollow channel sequentially one after the other. An illumination unit illuminates the cells contained in the sample which flow through the hollow channel at a flow rate that can be specified by the conveying unit as set by a controllable illumination intensity and illumination period and at least one of a cell analysis and sorting device in fluid communication downstream of the hollow channel.

An aqueous stabilizing composition for preserving a bodily fluid at ambient temperature is provided. The aqueous stabilizing composition comprises: a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, or a combination thereof; a buffering agent; a C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkanol; boric acid, a salt of boric acid, or a combination thereof; and a chelating agent; wherein the composition has a pH of from 4.5 to 5.2. A method for preserving a bodily fluid using the aqueous stabilizing composition is also provided, the method comprising: a) obtaining a sample of the bodily fluid; b) contacting the bodily fluid with the aqueous stabilizing composition to form a mixture; c) mixing the mixture of (b) to form a homogeneous mixture; and d) storing the homogeneous mixture at ambient temperature.

Methods and devices are provided for pretreatment of a sample containing microbial cells. In some embodiments, the pretreatment of the sample is performed via the initial selective lysis, within a sample pretreatment vessel, of non-microbial cells (such as blood cells) and the subsequent centrifugal separation of the sample to remove the resulting debris and concentrate the microbial cells. An immiscible and dense cushioning liquid may be included for collecting the microbial cells adjacent to the liquid interface formed by the cushioning liquid upon centrifugation of the pretreatment vessel. After removal of a substantial quantity of the supernatant, resuspension of the collected microbial cells, and re-establishment of the cushioning liquid interface, at least a portion of the remaining suspension may be removed without substantially removing the cushioning liquid. One or more intermediate wash cycles may be performed prior to extraction of the remaining suspension, which provides a “pretreated” sample.