A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

A filter sampling bag for use in a mixer for the preparation of samples for carrying out analyses and/or microbiological tests, the sampling bag formed from a plastic and having a bottom, side walls, and a mouth opening. The sampling bag is compartmentalized by a filtering partition delimiting a receiving chamber for a sample and a sampling chamber to permit a taking of samples. The sampling bag is marked with a visual indicator of a correct, predetermined closing position of the sampling bag after mixing. A sampling set or kit comprising a mixer and a filter sampling bag as disclosed, and a method of manufacturing such a filter sampling bag for use in a mixer for the preparation of samples to permit analyses and/or microbiological tests.

A cell recovery apparatus includes an observation apparatus for observing the inside of a medium in a container via an insertion section to be inserted into the medium, and a recovery apparatus that is positioned relative to a predetermined region to be observed by the observation apparatus and recovers a cell in the medium from the container.

A system for preparing a sample solution for testing includes a microorganism separation device, and prepares a sample solution for testing from an undiluted sample solution. The microorganism separation device includes a hydrodynamic separation device and a liquid feeding unit configured to supply the undiluted sample solution to the hydrodynamic separation device. The hydrodynamic separation device includes a curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section, and is configured to separate a liquid into a first segment and a second segment through use of a vortex flow generated in the liquid flowing through the curved flow channel. Particles contained in the undiluted sample solution are concentrated in the first segment.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a collection vial disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the collection vial while the collection vial is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.

An apparatus for measuring contaminants on a surface of a component is provided. An extraction vessel for holding a measurement fluid has an opening adapted to form a meniscus using the measurement fluid. An actuator moves at least one of the extraction vessel and the component to a position where the meniscus is in contact with the surface of the component. A transducer is positioned to provide acoustic energy to the measurement fluid.

A microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device, microfluidic systems, and associated methodology are described that allow for intelligently collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) and their associated metadata. Optical spectroscopy is integrated with filtration membranes on the microfluidic device. The microfluidic LOC device and systems can be used for selectively capturing targeted species based on optical characteristics and for recording relevant metadata on eDNA acquired by the filtration membranes.

The present application is directed to a system for collecting or extruding a cell-containing biological material. The system includes an extrusion/collection device comprising: an orifice and a chamber operably connected to the orifice and an electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) device, operably connected to the extrusion/collection device. The EIS device monitors biologically relevant attributes of a cell-containing biological material as it is extruded from or collected into the extrusion/collection device. Also disclosed are methods of using the system disclosed herein.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample, including a filtration assembly, which includes a tubular container and a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger head and a plunger rod that is shaped so as to define an internal plunger space having a plunger-space proximal opening through a proximal end of the plunger rod. The sampling device is configured such that a filter is removable from the tubular container via the plunger-space proximal opening while the plunger head is within the tubular container. Other embodiments are also described.

A sampling device is provided for concentrating a liquid specimen sample. The sampling device includes a filtration assembly and a filter-collection receptacle disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. The filtration assembly includes a tubular container and a plunger, which is insertable into the tubular container via a proximal container opening. The filtration assembly is configured such that movement of the plunger within the tubular container, when a liquid specimen sample is contained in the tubular container and a filter is disposed in the tubular container, pushes at least a portion of the liquid specimen sample through the filter. The sampling device is configured such that the filter is advanceable into the filter-collection receptacle while the filter-collection receptacle is disengageably coupled to the filtration assembly. Other embodiments are also described.