Abstract: An apparatus for testing of a biological or environmental sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a vessel defining an interior chamber and an opening to the chamber, with the opening being the only means of entry and exit from the chamber; one or more dried beads disposed within the chamber, and wherein the opening is configured to allow a fluid containing the biological or environmental sample to enter the chamber for testing of a reaction with the one or more dried beads therein; and a retaining component disposed between the opening and the one or more dried beads within the chamber; and wherein the retaining component is configured to prevent the one or more dried beads from exiting the vessel through the opening when open, and to allow fluid in the vessel to flow past and/or through the retaining component to interact with the one or more dried beads therein.

Abstract: A diagnostic test device to perform a test on a biological or environmental sample is provided. In one aspect, the diagnostic test device includes a chamber configured to receive a fluid from a sample preparation reservoir at a first section of the chamber, and one or more capillary grooves along an inner surface of the chamber. The capillary grooves are configured to promote flow of the fluid toward a second section of the chamber. Embodiments of the diagnostic test reservoir can increase an amount of sample available to an assay reaction, which in one example embodiment occurs within a volume of fluid in the second section of the chamber.

Abstract: A fluidic cartridge kit, including: a fluidic cartridge having an analysis portion and a sample reservoir sealed with a removable shipping closure to contain contents of the sample reservoir during transport: and a dispensing cap; wherein the dispensing cap includes: a closure and dispensing component configured to engage the dispensing cap to the fluidic cartridge and close an opening of the sample reservoir of the fluidic cartridge following removal of the shipping closure from the sample reservoir; a compressible sealing component configured to form a seal between the closure and dispensing component and the sample reservoir and thereby seal the sample reservoir; and a sample release component coupled to the closure and dispensing component and configured to make an opening in a wall of the sealed sample reservoir; and wherein the closure and dispensing component is operable to engage the fluidic cartridge, close the sample reservoir, and compress the compressible sealing component therebetween to seal the

Abstract: A multi-modal diagnostic test reading apparatus, comprising: a diagnostic test assembly receiving component; at least one image sensor; a plurality of light sources having respective different spectral properties; and a controller; wherein the controller is configured to: (i) control operation of the light sources and the at least one image sensor to acquire a plurality of images, each of the acquired images representing at least a corresponding portion of the diagnostic test assembly as illuminated by a corresponding one of the light sources; and (ii) process the acquired images to determine a diagnostic test result of the diagnostic test, the diagnostic test result being dependent upon the processed images representing illumination by respective ones of the light sources having respective different spectral properties.

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification and detection apparatus, including: a support configured to receive a plurality of reaction vessels containing respective samples of one or more nucleic acids to be amplified, the support being rotatable about an axis of rotation and the reaction vessels being received in the support at respective receiving locations distributed about the axis of rotation; a temperature control component thermally coupled to the support and configured to control the temperature of the support in order to amplify the nucleic acids contained in the reaction vessels while received in the support; one or more measurement components configured to measure one or more characteristics of the nucleic acids within the reaction vessels at respective measurement locations distributed about the axis of rotation; an actuator coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support about the axis of rotation; and a sample position controller coupled to the actuator and being configured to rotate the support a

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification and detection apparatus, including: a support configured to receive a plurality of reaction vessels containing respective samples of one or more nucleic acids to be amplified, the support being rotatable about an axis of rotation and the reaction vessels being received in the support at respective receiving locations distributed about the axis of rotation; a temperature control component thermally coupled to the support and configured to control the temperature of the support in order to amplify the nucleic acids contained in the reaction vessels while received in the support; one or more measurement components configured to measure one or more characteristics of the nucleic acids within the reaction vessels at respective measurement locations distributed about the axis of rotation; an actuator coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support about the axis of rotation; and a sample position controller coupled to the actuator and being configured to rotate the support a

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification and detection apparatus, including: a support configured to receive a plurality of reaction vessels containing respective samples of one or more nucleic acids to be amplified, the support being rotatable about an axis of rotation and the reaction vessels being received in the support at respective receiving locations distributed about the axis of rotation; a temperature control component thermally coupled to the support and configured to control the temperature of the support in order to amplify the nucleic acids contained in the reaction vessels while received in the support; one or more measurement components configured to measure one or more characteristics of the nucleic acids within the reaction vessels at respective measurement locations distributed about the axis of rotation; an actuator coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support about the axis of rotation; and a sample position controller coupled to the actuator and being configured to rotate the support a

Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification and detection apparatus, including: a support configured to receive a plurality of reaction vessels containing respective samples of one or more nucleic acids to be amplified, the support being rotatable about an axis of rotation and the reaction vessels being received in the support at respective receiving locations distributed about the axis of rotation; a temperature control component thermally coupled to the support and configured to control the temperature of the support in order to amplify the nucleic acids contained in the reaction vessels while received in the support; one or more measurement components configured to measure one or more characteristics of the nucleic acids within the reaction vessels at respective measurement locations distributed about the axis of rotation; an actuator coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support about the axis of rotation; and a sample position controller coupled to the actuator and being configured to rotate the support a

Abstract: The invention concerns a portable device for reading a fluorescent-labelled, membrane based assay, to detect the presence of an analyte in a sample. The portable device comprises a light sealed housing which includes a receiving member to receive a membrane based assay. The light sealed housing comprises a first light source for illuminating a first portion of the membrane with light, a first photodetector, a light guide and a microprocessor. The first photodetector is operable to detect fluoresced light emitted by an excited fluorescent label captured by a reagent laid down in the first portion of the membrane and to measure an intensity of the fluoresced light. The light guide guides illuminated light from the first light source to the first portion of the membrane and guides fluoresced light emitted by the excited fluorescent label to the first photodetector. The microprocessor is operable to process the measured intensity of the fluoresced light to determine whether the analyte is present.