Abstract: Disclosed is a method for concentrating extracellular vesicles, comprising preparing a mixture comprising a first fraction and a second fraction by mixing a liquid sample comprising extracellular vesicles, a polysaccharide, and a polyether having an average molecular weight of 20,000 or less, wherein the first fraction comprises a higher concentration of extracellular vesicles than the second fraction, and the first fraction comprises a higher concentration of extracellular vesicles than the liquid sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid sending method for sending liquid to a sample processing chip having a flow path formed therein, the method including: measuring a flow of a second liquid which is different from a first liquid which is introduced into the flow path in the sample processing chip; controlling the flow of the second liquid on the basis of the measured flow; and introducing the first liquid into the flow path in the sample processing chip by means of the second liquid of which flow is controlled.

Abstract: This specimen treatment chip includes: a first fluid module having a first flow channel for performing a first treatment step on an object component in a specimen; a second fluid module having a second flow channel for performing a second treatment step on the object component subjected to the first treatment step; a substrate; and a connection flow channel for connecting the first fluid module and the second fluid module disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: A sample processing method comprises storing a processing liquid (11) containing a target component (10) and a diluent (12) for diluting the processing liquid (11) in a reservoir (110) of a sample processing chip (100), and agitating the processing liquid (11) and the diluent (12) in the reservoir (110) by introducing a gas into the reservoir (110). The processing liquid (11) is diluted in order to prepare a droplet forming sample (13) for forming droplets (14) individually encapsulating the target component (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a sample processing method for processing a target component in a sample by use of a sample processing chip having a storage portion and a droplet forming flow path, the sample processing method including: storing, in the storage portion, a mixture of the target component and a predetermined amount of a diluent for causing the target component to be encapsulated by one molecule or by one particle into a droplet; heating the mixture in the storage portion to cause thermal convection in the storage portion thereby to mix the target component and the diluent together; and in the droplet forming flow path, forming droplets in a dispersion medium, each droplet containing the diluted target component and a reagent that reacts with the target component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for concentrating extracellular vesicles, comprising preparing a mixture comprising a first fraction and a second fraction by mixing a liquid sample comprising extracellular vesicles, a polysaccharide, and a polyether having an average molecular weight of 20,000 or less, wherein the first fraction comprises a higher concentration of extracellular vesicles than the second fraction, and the first fraction comprises a higher concentration of extracellular vesicles than the liquid sample.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid sending method for sending liquid to a sample processing chip having a flow path formed therein, the method including: measuring a flow of a second liquid which is different from a first liquid which is introduced into the flow path in the sample processing chip; controlling the flow of the second liquid on the basis of the measured flow; and introducing the first liquid into the flow path in the sample processing chip by means of the second liquid of which flow is controlled.

Abstract: The present specimen treatment chip includes: a first flow channel for forming a droplet containing a mixed liquid of a nucleic acid, a reagent for an amplification reaction of the nucleic acid, and a carrier to which a primer for binding to the nucleic acid is added, in a dispersion medium; a second flow channel for amplifying the nucleic acid in the droplet; and a third flow channel for mixing the droplet containing the carrier with the primer having bound to an amplification product of the nucleic acid, and a reagent for breaking down the droplet, to break down the droplet.

Abstract: This specimen treatment chip includes: a first fluid module having a first flow channel for performing a first treatment step on an object component in a specimen; a second fluid module having a second flow channel for performing a second treatment step on the object component subjected to the first treatment step; a substrate; and a connection flow channel for connecting the first fluid module and the second fluid module disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a specimen treatment apparatus that treats a specimen by using a specimen treatment chip including a flow channel and a connecting port communicating with the flow channel, the specimen treatment apparatus including: a placement part in which the specimen treatment chip is placed; a connector provided to be engaged with the connecting port to allow a sample containing a specimen to be injected into the flow channel through the connector; and a heating unit that is pressed on the specimen treatment chip and heats the specimen treatment chip while the connector is connected to the connecting port of the specimen treatment chip placed in the placement part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sample processing method for processing a target component in a sample by use of a sample processing chip having a storage portion and a droplet forming flow path, the sample processing method including: storing, in the storage portion, a mixture of the target component and a predetermined amount of a diluent for causing the target component to be encapsulated by one molecule or by one particle into a droplet; heating the mixture in the storage portion to cause thermal convection in the storage portion thereby to mix the target component and the diluent together; and in the droplet forming flow path, forming droplets in a dispersion medium, each droplet containing the diluted target component and a reagent that reacts with the target component.