Device and method for processing biological samples

A cartridge module for improving a contamination control during biological analyses or a nucleic acid analyses protocol comprising a nucleic acid extraction, a nucleic acid amplification, and a nucleic acid detection, the cartridge module comprising:

• at least one hollow tube;
• a plurality of receptacles;
• and
• at least one cover layer to isolate the plurality of receptacles from an ambience outside the at least one cover layer, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles allows the at least one hollow tube, when attached to a syringe or a pipette in use, to dispense and aspirate an in use reagent liquid or an in use biological sample to and from each of the plurality of receptacles through the at least one cover layer only from a plurality of receptacle top openings,
• the at least one cover layer substantially blocks an aerosol exchange between the ambience and each of the plurality of receptacles during a whole process of the biological analyses or a nucleic acid analyses even after the at least one hollow tube pierces the at least one cover layer and retracts,
• the at least one cover layer also substantially prevents a contamination of the ambience due to a spillage of the in use reagent liquid or the in use biological sample from the plurality of receptacles or the cartridge module,
• the at least one cover layer being attachable to the cartridge module or the plurality of receptacles while maintaining a connecting air space between the at least one cover layer and the plurality of the receptacle top openings together, the connecting air space being isolated from the ambience of the cartridge module by the at least one cover layer,
• the connecting air space facilitating a reduction in a change of an air pressure inside isolated receptacles during an aspiration or a dispensation of the in use biological sample and the in use reagent liquid by the at least one hollow tube;
• wherein a cover layer material is elastomeric at least where the at least one hollow tube pierces the at least one cover layer and retracts;
• a cover liquid pre-dispensed or provided to be dispensed at least either of on and under the at least one cover layer at least where the at least one hollow tube pierces, to form a stack or be soaked by the at least one cover layer or be sandwiched within the at least one cover layer, the cover liquid being non-reacting and immiscible with the in use reagent liquid and the in use biological sample, the cover liquid being wetting over the at least one hollow tube and the at least one cover layer;
• a scrubbing layer fixed at least either of over and under the stack such that the at least one cover layer, the cover liquid, and the scrubbing layer form a composite layer, the scrubbing layer being pierceable by the at least one hollow tube and substantially scrubbing off an excess cover liquid sticking to the at least one hollow tube when being retracted out of the plurality of receptacles;
• the syringe, providing the cover liquid between a plunger and a barrel of the syringe, the cover liquid substantially blocking an air communication between the ambience and the plurality of receptacles via the syringe, the cover liquid being immiscible and non-reacting with the in use reagent liquid and the in use biological sample;
• a rigid holding layer as positioned over or under the at least one cover layer, the rigid holding layer having holding layer apertures aligned over the plurality of receptacle top openings for the at least one hollow tube to pierce the at least one cover layer;
• at least one receptacle holder for holding at least one of the plurality of receptacles with the at least one cover layer, the at least one receptacle holder being detachable from the cartridge module;
• a liquid sealant, wherein when the liquid sealant is dispensed over or under the at least one cover layer over at least one of the plurality of receptacle top openings, a cover layer aperture created in the at least one cover layer by a piercing of the at least one hollow tube is sealed whether with or without curing, the liquid sealant being immiscible and non-reacting with the in use reagent liquid and the in use biological sample;
• the at least one cover layer is provided with pits to contain the cover liquid, and the pits are interconnected;
• over the plurality of receptacle top openings, the at least one cover layer has a recessed top having slanted sides to provide a tapering towards a base region smaller than each of the plurality of receptacle top openings, the slanted sides being for guiding a tube tip of an in use hollow tube into the base region before the tube tip pierces the at least one cover layer through the base region;
• a non-elastomeric sealing layer sealing the plurality of receptacle top openings individually or in plurality and under the connecting air space to prevent the spillage of the in use reagent liquid and the in use biological sample from the plurality of receptacles when the cartridge module is not in an upright position, the sealing layer being pierceable by the at least one hollow tube or peelable, and
• at least one tube holder for holding the at least one hollow tube and being engageable with the syringe;
• and
• a tube filter in the at least one tube holder, such that during the aspiration and the dispensation, the in use biological sample and the in use reagent liquid are accommodated in the at least one hollow tube and under the tube filter, the tube filter allowing a passage of air and substantially blocking a passage of an aerosol or the in use reagent liquid and the in use biological sample from reaching the syringe.