A microfluidic device, comprising: a first channel having a sequence of (n) chambers each having a first volume (v), wherein said first channel comprises valves at opposing ends of said first channel that fluidically isolate said first channel; and a second channel in fluid communication with said first channel, wherein said second channel includes at least one second chamber having a second volume that is at least equal to a total volume of said chambers of said first channel (n ∗ v), wherein said second channel comprises valves at opposing ends of said second channel that fluidically isolate said second channel from said first channel; and at least a fluidic layer (300, 600), an actuation layer (315, 605), and an elastic layer (320, 610) sandwiched between said fluidic layer (300, 600) and said actuation layer (315, 605), characterized that at least one of said valves (635, 645) comprises: a) a diaphragm (320, 610) in said elastic layer; b) a valve seat that selectively isolates an inlet and an outlet of said at least one of said valves; c) a chamber in said actuation layer (315, 605), which chamber supplies positive or negative fluidic or pneumatic pressure to move said diaphragm (320, 610) towards or away from said valve seat, and d) a pin that is movable within said chamber relative to said diaphragm (320, 610), wherein said diaphragm (320, 610) is configured to be actuated upon (i) movement of said pin towards or away from said diaphragm (320, 610), and (ii) application of positive or negative pressure to said diaphragm (320, 610). a first channel having a sequence of (n) chambers each having a first volume (v), wherein said first channel comprises valves at opposing ends of said first channel that fluidically isolate said first channel; and a second channel in fluid communication with said first channel, wherein said second channel includes at least one second chamber having a second volume that is at least equal to a total volume of said chambers of said first channel (n ∗ v), wherein said second channel comprises valves at opposing ends of said second channel that fluidically isolate said second channel from said first channel; and at least a fluidic layer (300, 600), an actuation layer (315, 605), and an elastic layer (320, 610) sandwiched between said fluidic layer (300, 600) and said actuation layer (315, 605), characterized that at least one of said valves (635, 645) comprises: a) a diaphragm (320, 610) in said elastic layer; b) a valve seat that selectively isolates an inlet and an outlet of said at least one of said valves; c) a chamber in said actuation layer (315, 605), which chamber supplies positive or negative fluidic or pneumatic pressure to move said diaphragm (320, 610) towards or away from said valve seat, and d) a pin that is movable within said chamber relative to said diaphragm (320, 610), a) a diaphragm (320, 610) in said elastic layer; b) a valve seat that selectively isolates an inlet and an outlet of said at least one of said valves; c) a chamber in said actuation layer (315, 605), which chamber supplies positive or negative fluidic or pneumatic pressure to move said diaphragm (320, 610) towards or away from said valve seat, and d) a pin that is movable within said chamber relative to said diaphragm (320, 610), wherein said diaphragm (320, 610) is configured to be actuated upon (i) movement of said pin towards or away from said diaphragm (320, 610), and (ii) application of positive or negative pressure to said diaphragm (320, 610).