A point-of-care diagnostics system , comprising: a cartridge comprising a sample chamber including a first portion that stores a pre-loaded dilutant and a second portion to store a patient blood sample , the first and second portions being separated by a barrier to prevent and/ or control the flow of the blood sample between the first and second portions; a magnetic field source structured to selectively apply a magnetic field to the patient blood sample; a light source positioned to selectively transmit light through the patient blood sample; a light detector positioned to sense one or more characteristics of the light transmitted through the blood sample, the one or more characteristics including a relative intensity of the transmitted light that represents an intensity difference between the transmitted light with the magnetic field applied to the patient blood at a first intensity and the magnetic field applied to the patient blood sample at a second intensity that is lower than the first intensity, the light detector configured to generate light detection data that includes said relative intensity of the transmitted light; and processing circuitry electrically coupled to the light detector and configured to: receive the light detection data; analyze the received light detection data to identify whether at least one compound that is sensitive to the applied magnetic field is present in the patient blood sample based at least in part on the relative intensity of the sensed light; generate interpretative data that indicates presence or absence of a parasite now or in the recent past in the patient blood sample based, at least in part, on the analyzed light detection data; and output the interpretative data. a cartridge comprising a sample chamber including a first portion that stores a pre-loaded dilutant and a second portion to store a patient blood sample , the first and second portions being separated by a barrier to prevent and/ or control the flow of the blood sample between the first and second portions; a magnetic field source structured to selectively apply a magnetic field to the patient blood sample; a light source positioned to selectively transmit light through the patient blood sample; a light detector positioned to sense one or more characteristics of the light transmitted through the blood sample, the one or more characteristics including a relative intensity of the transmitted light that represents an intensity difference between the transmitted light with the magnetic field applied to the patient blood at a first intensity and the magnetic field applied to the patient blood sample at a second intensity that is lower than the first intensity, the light detector configured to generate light detection data that includes said relative intensity of the transmitted light; and processing circuitry electrically coupled to the light detector and configured to: receive the light detection data; analyze the received light detection data to identify whether at least one compound that is sensitive to the applied magnetic field is present in the patient blood sample based at least in part on the relative intensity of the sensed light; generate interpretative data that indicates presence or absence of a parasite now or in the recent past in the patient blood sample based, at least in part, on the analyzed light detection data; and output the interpretative data. receive the light detection data; analyze the received light detection data to identify whether at least one compound that is sensitive to the applied magnetic field is present in the patient blood sample based at least in part on the relative intensity of the sensed light; generate interpretative data that indicates presence or absence of a parasite now or in the recent past in the patient blood sample based, at least in part, on the analyzed light detection data; and output the interpretative data. <EOS>