The present disclosure relates to an automated system for sampling an egg that includes an egg manipulator to hold and orient one or more eggs in a defined position; an opener for opening the outer shell of the egg; an extractor for removing a sample from the allantois of the egg, and which preferably includes a system to apply increased gas pressure to the extractor up to the moment of contact with the egg; a system to clean the opener or extractor before or after removing a sample from the egg; and a sealing unit for closing the opening of the egg with a sealer.

An inspection system for a plurality of separable inspection objects, including a feed device for the plurality of inspection objects, a conveying device for the plurality of inspection objects, an inspection unit and an ejecting device. The feed device is configured and disposed such that the plurality of inspection objects can be fed by the feed device to a feed position of the conveying device. The conveying device includes a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle is configured and disposed such that exactly one inspection object of the plurality of inspection objects can be conveyed along a conveying path in said receptacle and that two respective inspection objects from the plurality of inspection objects have a spacing along the conveying path that is defined by the plurality of receptacles. The inspection unit is disposed at an inspection position on the conveying path.

Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection kit provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The kit also provides open and closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid to a detection device while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

A method for fills and/or cleans the measurement cell of a measuring instrument, namely a viscometer and/or density measuring instrument, in particular of a rotational viscometer. A sample is introduced via a sample line into the measurement cell by a pump, and wherein a dynamic viscosity and/or density of the sample is determined in the measurement cell. A funnel-shaped, reversibly openable receiving container, in particular a filling funnel, for the sample, is arranged in the sample line, between the pump and the measurement cell. The receiving container is opened and the sample is introduced into the receiving container. The receiving container is connected to the pump via a pressure line in such a way that, when pressure is applied into the receiving container, a proportion of the sample is dispensed out of the receiving container and introduced into the measurement cell.

A specimen collection device and a method of using the specimen collection device are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the specimen collection device allows for the individual collection of specimens via a removable specimen tray that can easily be swapped during a procedure. The specimen collection device includes a flexible sealing element for the continual use of suction during the procedure even when the specimen tray is not inserted.

An automatic analysis device includes: a factor storage unit 12b which stores each factor previously specified as a factor that could affect measurement accuracy of each of measurement items, while associating each factor with each measurement item; an abnormality judgment unit 103a which judges the presence/absence of an abnormality in a measurement value of each measurement item on the basis of an approximation formula and approximation formula parameters stored in an approximation formula storage unit 12a; and a factor judgment unit 103b which refers to the results of the judgment by the abnormality judgment unit 103a in a preset order, and would judge as an abnormality factor a factor stored in the factor storage unit 12b in association with a measurement item as an abnormality factor in a case where a plurality of measurement values regarding the measurement item have consecutively been judged to be abnormal. The operator is informed of the abnormality factor on the basis of the result of the judgment by the factor judgment unit 103b. With this configuration, deterioration in the measurement accuracy can be reduced through the detection of an abnormality in the measurement result and the determination of the causative factor.

A sample analysis cup assembly, system and method for purging including a cell body, including a top end; a bottom end; a cell body wall extending axially from the top end to the bottom end; a transverse wall adjacent the top end, including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; and a raised portion on the transverse wall including a central aperture extending therethrough; a rotatable cap, including a top surface; a bottom surface; and a series of apertures extending from the top surface through the bottom surface, the rotatable cap being structured to engage with the top end of the cell body; and a ring member structured to couple with the bottom end of the cell body are provided.

A mixing device for operating biological, chemical or biochemical materials used in an assay includes a mixing member formed with a plurality of chambers, each having a sealable port provided along an edge of the mixing member. The mixing device also includes one or more compartments that are movable along the edge of the mixing member between selected ones of the sealed chambers. This compartment is operable to receive materials from and transfer materials between the chambers. Selected ones of the chambers include associated processing elements, for example, including heating and cooling elements, magnetic elements, membranes and lateral flow devices. The mixing device is also pivotable, for example, to facilitate the application of gravity force in the transfer of materials between the chambers and one or more compartments. The mixing device may operate manually by hand-held unit. Also, this mixing device may operate automatically with at least one driving unit.

A sampler for taking samples from a molten metal bath includes a carrier tube having an immersion end; sample chamber assembly comprising a cover plate and a housing, wherein the housing comprises an immersion end having an opening; an inflow conduit having a first end for receiving molten metal and a second end, opposite the first end, wherein the second end is in communication with the opening, and the opening is configured to receive the molten metal from the inflow conduit; a measuring head, wherein the sample chamber and the second end of the inflow conduit are at least partly arranged in the measuring head; and a metal bushing, wherein the metal bushing coupling the inflow conduit to the sample chamber.

In a general aspect, microorganisms [e.g., bacteria, etc.) are identified and detected. In some examples, a liquid solvent is supplied through a first channel of a sampling probe to an internal reservoir of the sampling probe; a fixed volume of the liquid solvent in the internal reservoir is held in direct contact with a sample surface for a period of time to form a liquid analyte; gas is supplied to the internal reservoir through a second channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is extracted from the internal reservoir through a third channel of the sampling probe; the liquid analyte is transferred to a mass spectrometer; the mass spectrometer processes the liquid analyte to produce mass spectrometry data; and the mass spectrometry data are analyzed to detect and identify a microorganism [e.g., acteria, fungi, or another type of microorganism) present at the sample surface.