Systems and assemblies for point-of-care fluidic assays

A fluidic assay assembly comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• an inlet opening,
• an outlet opening, and
• at least one fluid chamber formed within the housing, wherein the fluid chamber is configured to hold a fluid intended for mixing with an assay sample;
• an assaying assembly comprising a receptacle for receiving a fluid-assay sample mixture, the receptacle of the assaying assembly is in fluid communication with the outlet opening;
• an inspiration actuator configured to draw the assay sample from the inlet opening into a region of the housing where the assay sample contacts the fluid from the fluid chamber to form the fluid-assay sample mixture;
• an expulsion actuator configured to expel the fluid-assay sample mixture through the outlet opening to the receptacle of the assaying assembly;
• a plunger disposed within the housing, and wherein said plunger is within one or both of the inspiration actuator and the expulsion actuator, wherein the plunger is configured such that:
• movement of the plunger in a first direction implements an inspiration stroke for drawing the assay sample from the inlet opening into the region of the housing where the assay sample contacts the fluid from the fluid chamber;
• and
• continued movement of the plunger in the first direction implements an expulsion stroke for expelling the fluid-assay sample mixture through the outlet opening to the receptacle of the assaying assembly.