Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reversible sealing of a microfluidic chip used for thermal incubation of an aqueous sample suspected to contain a target nucleic acid. The microfluidic chip contains a flow channel and a plurality of reaction compartments, into which the sample and a displacement fluid are introduced through an inlet port sealable by means of a sealing agent having a melting point above room temperature.

Abstract: A method for compensating defective partitions of a microfluidic chip and a sample processing system for performing the method are disclosed. The microfluidic chip includes at least one array of partitions. The method includes generating image data of the microfluidic chip by imaging the microfluidic chip with an imaging device, providing a mask for at least one area of partitions to a data processing unit, applying the mask to (a) the image data, (b) at least one feature extracted from the image data, or (c) at least one value extracted from the image data, to generate masked data, and generating an analytical result for the sample using the masked data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of forecasting future laboratory performance of a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises a plurality of laboratory instruments configured to perform tests on laboratory test samples, a laboratory middleware, a control unit, and a dashboard display communicatively connected via a network communication connection. The method comprises simulating future laboratory performance of the laboratory system by a simulation module of the control unit based on the optimized laboratory configuration provided by the optimization module and real-time laboratory inputs and test order data, and displaying the simulated future laboratory performance and actual laboratory performance on the dashboard display to the laboratory operator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a plate comprising an array of wells for chemical or biological reactions, wherein each of the wells comprises a reaction chamber with at least one opening on a surface of the plate. The array of wells consist of a plurality of adjacent blocks of wells, wherein each block of wells consists of a plurality of adjacent rows of wells, and wherein at least one void is provided in each block of wells in between the rows of wells. Here, the void is particularly part of the surface of the plate and lacks a well opening. Furthermore, a method for multiple imaging of such a plate by means of an imaging system is provided with the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method to process a laboratory carrier in a laboratory system based on a feature of a test liquid in the laboratory carrier is presented. The laboratory system comprises the laboratory carrier comprising the test liquid, a terahertz wave source, a terahertz detector, a laboratory carrier processing device, and a control unit. Using terahertz technology and data analysis, the feature of the test liquid in the laboratory carrier can be determined. In addition, the control unit controls the laboratory carrier processing device based on the determined feature of the test liquid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device (1) comprising at least one flow channel (21) connecting an inlet opening (22) with an outlet opening (23), and an array of wells (24) in fluid communication with the flow channel (21), wherein the flow channel (21) comprises an inlet portion (211) at the inlet opening (22), an outlet portion (212) at the outlet opening (23), and a middle portion (213) between the inlet portion (211) and the outlet portion (212), wherein at least the middle portion (213) comprises the array of wells (24) and is provided with a hydrophilic surface, and the flow channel (21) further comprises a transition area (214) provided at least between the middle portion (213) and the outlet portion (212), which transition area (214) is constituted by providing a hydrophobic surface. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a microfluidic device is also provided.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for thermocycling of a reaction mixture is provided. The device comprises an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a flow channel connecting the inlet opening and the outlet opening and defining a flow direction from the inlet opening through the flow channel to the outlet opening, wherein the flow channel comprises a first flow channel surface and a second flow channel surface opposite to the first flow channel surface, and an array of wells provided in the first flow channel surface for fluidic communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Further, the first flow channel surface provides a first hydrophilicity and at least a part of the second flow channel surface provides a second hydrophilicity, wherein the first hydrophilicity is greater than the second hydrophilicity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for determining the amount or concentration of a nucleic acid of interest in an unprocessed sample by analyzing a processed sample and a reference sample with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR).

Abstract: A microfluidic system (1; 1?) for dPCR of a biological sample and a respective method is provided by the present disclosure, the system (1; 1?) comprising at least one microfluidic device (2) having an inlet (23), an outlet (24), a flow channel (25) connecting the inlet (23) to the outlet (24), and an array of reaction areas (26) in fluidic communication with the flow channel (25), a flow circuit (3) connectable to the microfluidic device (2), for flowing liquid through the flow channel (25) of the microfluidic device (2), a sample liquid source connectable to the microfluidic device (2), for providing the microfluidic device (2) with a sample liquid (27), a primary sealing liquid source connectable to the microfluidic device (2), for providing the microfluidic device (2) with initial sealing liquid (28) for sealing the sample liquid (27) inside the array of reaction areas (26), a secondary sealing liquid source (4) connectable to the microfluidic device (2), for providing the microfluidic device (2) with add

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reversible sealing of a microfluidic chip used for thermal incubation of an aqueous sample suspected to contain a target nucleic acid. The microfluidic chip contains a flow channel and a plurality of reaction compartments, into which the sample and a displacement fluid are introduced through an inlet port sealable by means of a sealing agent having a melting point above room temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for determining the amount or concentration of a nucleic acid of interest in an unprocessed sample by analyzing a processed sample and a reference sample with digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device (1) comprising at least one flow channel (21) connecting an inlet opening (22) with an outlet opening (23), and an array of wells (24) in fluid communication with the flow channel (21), wherein the flow channel (21) comprises an inlet portion (211) at the inlet opening (22), an outlet portion (212) at the outlet opening (23), and a middle portion (213) between the inlet portion (211) and the outlet portion (212), wherein at least the middle portion (213) comprises the array of wells (24) and is provided with a hydrophilic surface, and the flow channel (21) further comprises a transition area (214) provided at least between the middle portion (213) and the outlet portion (212), which transition area (214) is constituted by providing a hydrophobic surface. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a microfluidic device is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a plate comprising an array of wells for chemical or biological reactions, wherein each of the wells comprises a reaction chamber with at least one opening on a surface of the plate. The array of wells consist of a plurality of adjacent blocks of wells, wherein each block of wells consists of a plurality of adjacent rows of wells, and wherein at least one void is provided in each block of wells in between the rows of wells. Here, the void is particularly part of the surface of the plate and lacks a well opening. Furthermore, a method for multiple imaging of such a plate by means of an imaging system is provided with the present disclosure.