A system for sampling a liquid includes a sample fluid conduit including a membrane having pores. The membrane prevents the passage of the sample liquid through the pores at a first pressure of the sample liquid in the sample fluid conduit. A surface sampling capture probe has a distal end. The capture probe includes a solvent supply conduit and a solvent exhaust conduit. A solvent composition flowing at the distal end of the capture probe establishes a liquid junction with the membrane and establishes a second pressure within the liquid junction at the membrane. The second pressure is lower than the first pressure. Sample liquid will be drawn through the pores of the membrane by the second pressure at the liquid junction. A method for sampling a liquid and for performing chemical analysis on a liquid are also disclosed.

Provided herein are automated apparatus for the identification of microorganisms in various samples. The disclosure solves existing challenges encountered in identifying and distinguishing various types of microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria in a timely, efficient, and automated manner by sequencing.

A unique fiber core sampler composition, related systems, and techniques for designing, making, and using the same are described. The sampler is used to interface with existing field instrumentation, such as Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) equipment. Desired sampler characteristics include its: stiffness/flexibility; thermal mass and conductivity; specific heat; trace substance collection/release dependability, sensitivity and repeatability; thickness; reusability; durability; stability for thermal cleaning; and the like. In one form the sampler has a glass fiber core with a thickness less than 0.3 millimeter that is coated with a polymer including one or more of: polymeric organofluorine, polyimide, polyamide, PolyBenzlmidazole (PBI), PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene (PFSA) and Poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene Oxide) (PPPO). Multiple polymer coatings with the same or different polymer types may be included, core/substrate surface functionalization utilized, and/or the core/substrate may be at partially filled with thermally conductive particles.

A self-sampling device used for collecting a homogenized sample of cells from different areas within the vaginal canal by a user. The device, comprises a hollow, cylindrical elongated tubing, a cell collecting area which is covered by an adhesive collecting element is disposed at one end, a channel disposed along the length of the cell collecting area for collecting the cells from different areas along length of the vaginal canal via one insertion, so as to mix the cells within the channel resulting in the homogenized collection of cells, further the collecting element has plurality of organized ridges arranged along the length of the cell collecting area to facilitate cell collection and a handle comprising an ergonomically shaped finger grip, wherein one end of the finger grip having a design or marking to facilitate easy counting of the complete rotations of the device, the handle and the tubing is designed to form a unitary structure.

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a probe having a conductive proximal portion coupled to a porous material at a distal portion of the probe that is configured to retain a portion of a sample that has contacted the porous material, and a mass spectrometer having an inlet. The system is configured such that the porous material at a distal portion of the probe is aligned over the inlet of the mass spectrometer.

There is provided a sample processing cartridge comprising a. a sample entry location; b. a closed sample processing chamber; c. a sample analysis location comprising a sample analysis well; d. a first channel fluidly connecting the sample entry location and the sample processing chamber; e. a second channel connecting the sample analysis location and the sample processing chamber, the second channel comprising a closed or closable second channel valve; wherein the sample processing chamber comprises a second channel port providing fluid connection between the second channel and the sample processing chamber, the second channel port being positioned in a sample accumulating region of the sample processing chamber. There is also provided a sample processing system comprising the cartridge, and methods of use of the cartridge and processing system in a sample processing assay.

An interactive living entity automatic sampling system includes a structure supporting components including a first sensor, a second sensor, a robotic arm, a camera, and a touchless interface, wherein the structure and the components are adapted for use in a clean room. The first sensor is adapted to sense the interactive living entity in response to the interactive living entity being at a predetermined position relative to the structure for a predetermined time. The second sensor is adapted to sense an indicia associated with the interactive living entity. In response to the second sensor sensing the indicia, the sampling system initiates an operating cycle, or continues the previously initiated operating cycle, for collecting a sample from the interactive living entity. During the operating cycle, the touchless interface provides positioning instructions to the interactive living entity in combination with the robotic arm handling a partially enclosed container for collecting the sample from the interactive living entity.

A system for collecting tissue samples, such as meat tissues on carcasses, for example in the food industry. Also provided are methods for collecting tissue samples, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions to execute at least one step of the method for collecting tissue samples.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a liquid collector that collects liquid, the liquid collector including: a flow passage member including a flow passage that connects one end and other end of the flow passage member; a contact member that is disposed at the one end of the flow passage member, that includes an elastic material, and that is configured to come into contact with a target from which liquid is to be collected; and a container that receives the liquid discharged from the flow passage at the other end of the flow passage member.