Abstract: A microbial sample collection apparatus includes a double-sided attachment member having opposed attachment surfaces such as adhesive surfaces. A sampling member adheres to one of the opposed surfaces of the double-sided attachment member. A remaining surface of the double-sided attachment member is attachable to a face covering, i.e. face mask, of a test subject. A sample collector adheres the sampling member to a selected location on a face mask interior surface via the double-sided adhesive attachment therebetween. In this manner, microbial samples are cumulatively collected from the exhalation breath path of the test subject wearing the face mask.

Abstract: A self-contained biological sample processing cartridge includes top and bottom portions that close together to form a sealed chamber therein. The chamber is configured to enable one of one or more biological sample staining procedures appropriate for a biological sample. The top portion includes a chamber top section and valve control elements. The bottom portion includes a chamber bottom section and fluidic valves. One of the fluid valves evacuates the contents of the chamber. One of the valve control elements couples to a respective fluidic valve to control fluid flow for the chamber. The cartridge includes a preloaded reagent component to supply the chamber with the reagent component appropriate for a particular biological sample staining procedure. A user desiring to conduct a particular biological sample staining procedure may select a particular cartridge that is preloaded with the preloaded reagent fluidic valves component appropriate for the particular biological sample staining procedure.

Abstract: A self-contained sample processing cartridge, is disclosed. The sample processing cartridge includes a first member that includes a receiver to receive a sample specimen slide. The cartridge may also include a second member that closes on the first member to form a chamber inside the cartridge. The sample specimen slide forms a surface of the chamber. Placing the slide in the cartridge effectively completes the chamber of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the receiver of the first member includes an open region adjacent which the specimen slide is received. The second member includes a plurality of fluid inputs and at least one fluid output. The plurality of fluid inputs couples to the chamber by a plurality of channels respectively therebetween. In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of channels may include a reagent reservoir and at least one of the plurality of channels includes a dissolvable blocking reservoir.

Abstract: A test instrument includes multiple receptacle bays for testing specimens contained in specimen receptacles. The test instrument processes different specimens in different specimen receptacles in the respective receptacle bays in parallel. Different tests may be conducted in the receptacle bays at the same time. Each receptacle bay couples to one or more common bulk reagent stores and to one or more small volume reagent stores. This arrangement may provide a dramatic increase in specimen processing efficiency by enabling different tests to be conducted in each receptacle bay at the same time.

Abstract: A self-contained sample processing cartridge, is disclosed. The sample processing cartridge includes a first member that includes a receiver to receive a sample specimen slide. The cartridge may also include a second member that closes on the first member to form a chamber inside the cartridge. The sample specimen slide forms a surface of the chamber. Placing the slide in the cartridge effectively completes the chamber of the cartridge. In one embodiment, the receiver of the first member includes an open region adjacent which the specimen slide is received. The second member includes a plurality of fluid inputs and at least one fluid output. The plurality of fluid inputs couples to the chamber by a plurality of channels respectively therebetween. In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of channels may include a reagent reservoir and at least one of the plurality of channels includes a dissolvable blocking reservoir.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for staining of one or more samples, including providing one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to be inserted into an auto-staining instrument; and enabling one of one or more staining procedures appropriate for the one or more samples as a function of a choice of self-contained sample processing receptacle, each of the one or more self-contained sample processing receptacles configured to process each inserted sample of the one or more samples within the self-contained sample processing receptacle.