Various embodiments include methods and systems to dilute a sampled particle-laden aerosol stream in a recirculating type of aerosol diluter system. In one embodiment, a system to dilute a sampled aerosol stream includes an aerosol sample inlet. A primary diluter device includes a first inlet to receive the aerosol stream and a second inlet to receive a filtered portion of the aerosol stream and combining the filtered portion with an additional sampled aerosol stream. A flow diverter device splits at least the sampled aerosol stream into a first portion of the sampled aerosol stream and a remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream. A filter receives the remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream and provides a filtered aerosol stream to the second inlet of the primary diluter device. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

An apparatus and method of analysis including at least one microscope means operable to characterize the surface of a sample in use, at least a first conduit to convey one or more solvents to the sample and a further conduit to convey at least part of the solution from the sample. At least one pump means delivers solvent to the sample and/or removes solution from the same.

Certain embodiments are directed to methods for preparing or processing FFPE samples for subsequent analysis of antibodies or other proteins contained within the FFPE sample. In certain aspects, preparing or processing a FFPE sample can include, but is not limited to (i) deparaffinizing a portion of the FFPE specimen, (ii) decrosslinking the deparaffinized sample portion, (iii) homogenizing the decrosslinked portion, and (iv) fractionating the homogenized portion, wherein isolated antibodies or proteins having a higher order structure that can be bound by capture agents, e.g., immunoglobulin capture agents.

Various embodiments include methods and systems to dilute a sampled particle-laden aerosol stream in a recirculating type of aerosol diluter system. In one embodiment, a system to dilute a sampled aerosol stream includes an aerosol sample inlet. A primary diluter device includes a first inlet to receive the aerosol stream and a second inlet to receive a filtered portion of the aerosol stream and combining the filtered portion with an additional sampled aerosol stream. A flow diverter device splits at least the sampled aerosol stream into a first portion of the sampled aerosol stream and a remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream. A filter receives the remaining portion of the sampled aerosol stream and provides a filtered aerosol stream to the second inlet of the primary diluter device. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

Systems, and methods that facilitate the performance of an assay of a sample substantially in real-time. Thus, the assay can be performed, and the desired result obtained, much more quickly than allowed by conventional systems and methods.

An apparatus and method of analysis including at least one microscope means operable to characterize the surface of a sample in use, at least a first conduit to convey one or more solvents to the sample and a further conduit to convey at least part of the solution from the sample. At least one pump means delivers solvent to the sample and/or removes solution from the same.

Various embodiments include methods and systems to dilute a sampled particle-laden aerosol stream. In one embodiment, a system to dilute a sampled aerosol stream includes an aerosol sample inlet. A filter is coupled in fluid communication with and in parallel with a flow-monitoring device to receive the sampled aerosol stream from the aerosol sample inlet. The flow-monitoring device is configured to allow for a passage of particles contained in the sampled aerosol stream. A pressure sensor and a temperature sensor monitor the filter and the flow-monitoring device. An output from the filter and the flow-monitoring device may be directed to particle measurement or particle sizing instrumentation. An actual dilution ratio of the output sent to the particle measurement or particle sizing instrumentation is determined based on a nominal flowrate of the flow-monitoring device and thermodynamic properties of a gas comprising the aerosol stream. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

In one embodiment, the invention is to a sample metering device, comprising a sample holding chamber oriented between a sample entry port and a sample extraction unit, wherein a portion of said extraction unit defines a metered volume of a sample. A diluent may be transported over and/or through the extraction unit to form a diluted sample for sample analysis. In another embodiment, the invention is to an apparatus and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature, capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided. The devices and methods of the invention preferably are well-suited for high range sample dilution.

The present invention may provide a kit for sampling and preserving a specimen, the kit comprising: a specimen sampling swab; a specimen preserving container for accommodating and storing the specimen sampling swab; a specimen container cover which is coupled to one opened side of the specimen preserving container to be attachable/detachable and opens/closes an accommodation space; and an insertion/coupling portion which protrudes from the inner bottom surface of the specimen container cover toward the accommodation space and has an inner space formed therein, so that a plurality of stick portions are inserted and fitted into the inner space. According to the above statement, when the saliva in the oral cavity and nasal cavity of an examinee are sampled by using respective sampling swabs, the sampling sticks can be simultaneously stored in one sealed container without being stored in separate sealed containers.

Systems, and methods that facilitate the performance of an assay of a sample substantially in real-time. Thus, the assay can be performed, and the desired result obtained, much more quickly than allowed by conventional systems and methods.