REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION DURING TEMPLATE EMULSIFICATION

1 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . A sample preparation method, the method comprising the steps of

preparing a first emulsion comprising cells in aqueous droplets surrounded by an immiscible fluid;

preparing a second emulsion comprising one or more lytic agent in a surfactant-based partitioning fluid;

mixing the first emulsion and the second emulsion together such that the first and second emulsions combine but the droplets in the first emulsion do not combine with each other; and

analyzing the contents of the cells.

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the monodisperse aqueous droplets are pre-templated instant partitions.

33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the second emulsion partitioning fluid is a fluorosurfactant.

34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein second emulsion produces one or more micellar structures comprising said lytic agents.

35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the first emulsion comprises a surfactant-based partitioning fluid.

36 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising a fluorosurfactant.

37 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the second emulsion comprises micelles.

38 . The method of claim 31 , wherein said mixing step comprises vortexing.

39 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the agent is selected from a detergent, an enzyme, a buffer that causes cell lysis upon merger of the first and second emulsions, or any combination of the foregoing.

40 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the mixing step comprises inversion, rotation or gentle mixing.

41 . The method of claim 38 , wherein the vortexing step comprises simultaneous formation of the templated partitions.

42 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the mixed first and second emulsions are partitioned.

43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the partitions contain, on average, one or no cells.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the partitions are droplets.