Apparatuses with fluidic channel geometries for sample to answer pcr analysis and methods of using same

A cartridge and chip assembly, comprising:

• a cartridge including at least one fluid reservoir;
• a chip disposed beneath the cartridge with an inlet and a port corresponding to the at least one fluid reservoir;
• and
• an elastic membrane disposed on top of the cartridge.

A method of using a cartridge and chip assembly, comprising:

• collecting and inserting a sample into a sample reservoir of a cartridge of the cartridge and chip assembly;
• pushing the sample from the sample reservoir into a chip of the cartridge and chip assembly by way of an inlet and a port of the chip;
• mixing the sample with magnetically active beads and then trapping the beads in the chip;
• retracting the sample from the chip back into the reservoir;
• pushing at least one wash fluid from at least one wash fluid reservoir in the cartridge;
• retracting the at least one wash fluid from the chip back into the at least one wash fluid reservoir;
• pushing an elution buffer into the chip,
• from an elution reservoir of the cartridge by depressing an elastic membrane, or
• from a PCR reservoir of the cartridge;
• retracting the elution buffer by,
• retracting the elastic member, or
• retracting the elution buffer into the PCR reservoir, thereby creating a purified sample;
• recovering the purified sample and pulling the purified sample into at least one heated region of the chip;
• setting a temperature for the at least one heated region;
• cycling the purified sample past an optical inspection region of the chip;
• and
• measuring a signal taken from the purified sample at the optical inspection region.