System configured to detect a pattern on a microfluidic device and determine that the microfluidic device has not been normally loaded in a test apparatus

A system for testing a sample received in a microfluidic device, comprising:

• the microfluidic device;
• and
• a test apparatus including:
• an optical sensor configured to photograph an image at a position corresponding to the microfluidic device;
• and
• a controller configured to detect a pattern formed on a surface of the microfluidic device based on the photographed image, and to determine whether characteristics of the detected pattern are identical to characteristics of a pre-stored pattern, and to determine that the microfluidic device has not been normally loaded in the test apparatus, when the characteristics of the detected pattern are different from the characteristics of the pre-stored pattern;
• wherein when the microfluidic device has been normally loaded in the test apparatus, an inlet formed at the microfluidic device for injection of the sample is facing upward;
• and
• wherein when the microfluidic device has been loaded in the test apparatus, but has not been normally loaded in the test apparatus, the controller is configured to cause ejection of the microfluidic device from the test apparatus,
• wherein the pre-stored pattern is a pattern corresponding to normal loading of the microfluidic device,
• wherein the controller is configured to compensate for a difference between a brightness value of a pattern exhibited in the photographed image and a reference brightness value applied for detection of the pattern,
• wherein the pattern formed on the microfluidic device comprises a plurality of pattern elements;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to detect a reference element from among the plurality of pattern elements in the photographed image, and to adjust a threshold value corresponding to the reference brightness value based on a representative brightness value of the detected reference pattern element.

A system for testing a sample received in a microfluidic device, comprising:

• the microfluidic device;
• and
• a test apparatus including:
• an optical sensor configured to photograph an image at a position corresponding to the microfluidic device;
• and
• a controller configured to detect a pattern formed on a surface of the microfluidic device based on the photographed image, and to determine whether characteristics of the detected pattern are identical to characteristics of a pre-stored pattern, and to determine that the microfluidic device has not been normally loaded in the test apparatus, when the characteristics of the detected pattern are different from the characteristics of the pre-stored pattern;
• wherein when the microfluidic device has been normally loaded in the test apparatus, an inlet formed at the microfluidic device for injection of the sample is facing upward;
• wherein when the microfluidic device has been loaded in the test apparatus, but has not been normally loaded in the test apparatus, the controller is configured to cause ejection of the microfluidic device from the test apparatus, and
• wherein the pattern has a vertically or laterally asymmetrical shape.