Cell lysis device and methods of lysing cells or viruses

A method of lysing at least one of a cell and a virus, the method comprising:

• contacting a sample, which comprises at least one of a cell and a virus, with a plurality of beads which are disposed in a first chamber to obtain a combination of the sample and the beads;
• and
• agitating the combination of the sample and the beads to lyse the at least one of the cell and the virus,
• wherein, in the first chamber, a liquid volume fraction is 0.6 or less, and
• wherein the liquid volume fraction is a value obtained by dividing a liquid volume of the first chamber by a pure void volume equivalent to a sum of the liquid volume of the first chamber and a void volume of the first chamber,
• wherein the contacting of the sample and the beads is performed in a cell lysis device comprising
• an upper plate with a space defining the first chamber;
• a lower plate with a space defining a second chamber;
• and a flexible membrane disposed between and separating the first chamber of the upper plate and the second chamber of the lower plate;
• and wherein the method comprises pressurizing and depressurizing the second chamber by flowing a fluid into and out of the second chamber to vibrate the flexible membrane.