The invention relates to a method for preparation of a sample (10) of a formulation (11) for subsequent endotoxin determination, the formulation (11) suspected of comprising an endotoxin, the formulation (11) preferentially being a pharmaceutical formulation. The method comprises the following steps: application of the sample (10) to an endotoxin-free centrifugation column (2) containing a size exclusion chromatography matrix (5) that has been equilibrated with a suitable equilibration buffer (6) and elution of a flow through (15) of the sample by centrifugation, which flow through (15) can then be used for endotoxin determination. The equilibration buffer (6) is selected according to a subsequently used method of endotoxin determination, the equilibration buffer (6) only containing components not interfering with subsequently used method of endotoxin determination. Furthermore, the invention relates to a kit (20) for preparation of a sample (10).

In a pretreatment method, in a first step, a sample is dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol to prepare a first solution. In a second step, an organic base that has a lower boiling point than that of HFIP is added to the first solution to prepare a second solution. In a third step, the second solution is heated to obtain a substance in which an anhydrous oxide structure in the sample has been decomposed. In a fourth step, chloroform is added to the second solution to prepare a third solution.

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

In a pretreatment method, in first step, a sample is dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol to prepare a first solution. In second step, an organic base is added to the first solution to prepare a second solution. In third step, the second solution is heated to obtain a substance in which an anhydrous oxide structure in the sample has been decomposed. In a fourth step, an organic solvent that has a higher boiling point than that of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and is compatible (miscible) with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol is added to the second solution to prepare a third solution.

An inline filter housing with a biodegradable, hydrophilic material that operates in conjunction with a field sampling apparatus to both concentrate field sampled environmental DNA particles from water samples and to automatically preserve the captured DNA via desiccation, thus avoiding filter membrane transfer steps, chemicals or cold storage preservation requirements. The hydrophilic filter housing is capable of rapidly preserving the field sampled environmental DNA captured on the filter membrane at ambient field temperatures.

A device and method for increasing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample. The device may include: a housing defining a chamber therein for receiving a fluid sample, a membrane associated with the housing; and a pressure generator operatively connected to the housing to create a pressure gradient across the membrane. When the pressure generator is operated to create the pressure gradient, this causes at least a portion of the fluid sample to move across the membrane. As a result, the fluid sample is separated into a first portion of fluid and a second portion of fluid including said analyte on opposite sides of the membrane. This second portion of fluid by having the analyte present in an amount of fluid that is reduced as compared to the fluid sample prior to the application of pressure - is thus the resulting analyte-concentrated fluid sample.

Systems and methods for determining regions of proteins that contribute to self-association of the protein are provided. Methods for modifying the self-association of concentrated protein formulations are also provided.

There is provided a multi-layered membrane for separating components in an aqueous sample. There is also provided a method of preparing said multi-layered membrane, a method of separating blood plasma from a whole blood sample and a diagnostic device for separation of blood plasma from a whole blood sample.

An in vitro intestinal drug disposition device (1) comprises a donor chamber (2) for a donor solution and having a bottom end (18) and a top end (19). The device (1) also comprises a receiver chamber (3) for an absorption solution and an absorption membrane (4) arranged in between and separating the chambers (2, 3). A first side (5) of the absorption membrane (4) is to be in contact with the donor solution and a second side (6) of the absorption membrane (4) is to be in contact with the absorption solution. A ratio of an internal volume of the donor chamber (2) to an area of the first membrane side (5) is equal to or smaller than 3 ml/cm.sup.2. A cross-sectional area of the donor chamber (2) at the bottom end (18) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the donor chamber (2) at the top end (19).

A method for separating and enriching sperm from a tissue sample comprises: obtaining a microfluidic separating system having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a membrane filter (e.g., hollow fiber membrane filter) fluidly connected to the outlet end; separating the tissue sample via the microfluidic separating system into a debris fluid volume and a sperm fluid volume; and enriching the sperm fluid volume by removing excess media via the membrane filter. A two-stage tissue sample separation system comprising: a microchannel structure defining a separation fluid channel to form a separation stage; an inlet end of the microchannel structure; an outlet end of the microchannel structure; and a membrane filter fluidly connected to the outlet end for removal of at least a portion of excess media in the tissue sample.