Abstract: A reagent dispensing apparatus includes a housing having a cavity with an opening and an aperture; and a plunger that includes a first member, that fits through the aperture, that is associated with a first seal. The plunger includes a second member associated with the first seal and a second seal that together form a first chamber, within the cavity, in which a first reagent is stored. The plunger includes a safety mechanism that controls movement of the plunger within the cavity. The apparatus includes a frangible seal that covers the opening and together with the second seal forms a second chamber, within the cavity, that stores a second reagent. When the first end is depressed and the safety mechanism is disengaged, the frangible seal is breached causing the evacuation of the first reagent or the second reagent through the opening.

Abstract: A method for determining whether bacteria in a sample obtained from a subject at a point of care in a clinical setting is susceptible to an antibiotic, within a time period associated with a point of care. The method includes measuring a bioluminescent indication from a first test sample based on released ATP to determine a characteristic associated with the bioluminescent indication and comparing the characteristic associated with the bioluminescent indication to a first threshold. The method includes determining whether a bacteria is present by comparing the difference between a characteristic associated with a first confirmatory bioluminescent signal and a characteristic associated with a second confirmatory bioluminescent signal to an confirmatory threshold.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a sample from a patient; applying, to the sample, a reagent to cause bacterial cells to release adenosine triphosphate (ATP) when the sample includes the bacterial cells; applying another reagent that reacts with the ATP to form a colorimetric agent; detecting whether the sample changes in appearance as observed by an unaided eye of a practitioner when a concentration of the agent is greater than a threshold; identifying a time period from when the other reagent is applied to when the change in appearance is detected; and determines a severity, of a bacterial infection, based on the time period. The severity corresponds to a severity level when the time period is less than a duration of a point of care visit by a first amount, or a higher severity level when the time period is less than the duration by more than the first amount.

Abstract: A reagent dispensing apparatus includes a housing having a cavity with an opening and an aperture; and a plunger that includes a first member, that fits through the aperture, that is associated with a first seal. The plunger includes a second member associated with the first seal and a second seal that together form a first chamber, within the cavity, in which a first reagent is stored. The plunger includes a safety mechanism that controls movement of the plunger within the cavity. The apparatus includes a frangible seal that covers the opening and together with the second seal forms a second chamber, within the cavity, that stores a second reagent. When the first end is depressed and the safety mechanism is disengaged, the frangible seal is breached causing the evacuation of the first reagent or the second reagent through the opening.