Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing and analysing a biological sample; the apparatus comprising: a. an apparatus housing; b. a sample extraction system to receive and hold the biological sample, and to extract the biological sample into a microfluidic chip; c. a thermal system to control the temperatures of the biological sample in the sample extraction system, and the extracted biological sample in the microfluidic chip; d. an optical system to illuminate the processed sample in the chip and to generate fluorescence from the sample in the chip, and an optical detector configured to detect the fluorescence; and e. at least one controller to control the sample extraction system, the thermal system and the optical system, and to determine one or more properties of the sample. The apparatus is configured to be handheld, and to extract and analyse the sample in situ, without requiring laboratory equipment.