FLUID LOADING INTO A MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE

A fluid loader (18) is provided for loading fluid into a microfluidic device (10), the microfluidic device having upper and lower spaced apart substrates (17,16) defining a fluid chamber (12) therebetween and an aperture (14) for receiving fluid into the fluid chamber. The fluid loader comprises a fluid well communicating with a fluid exit provided in a base of the fluid loader. The base of the fluid loader is shaped, in use, to locate the fluid loader (18) relative to the aperture (14), and to direct fluid leaving the fluid loader via the fluid exit preferentially in a first direction in the fluid chamber (12) of the microfluidic device. In one embodiment the base of the fluid loader comprises a protruding portion (23) having at least first and second legs (23a,23b), the first leg being shorter than the second leg. In use, the fluid loader is positioned such that the first leg of the fluid loader is between a fluid loading area (32) associated with the aperture (14) and an operating area (33) of the device.