A milking system with a milking device, a milking control, a milk line in fluid connection with the milking device, and a sampling and analysis device to take a sample of the milk from the milk line and to analyse milk from the sample are disclosed. The milking control is arranged to control the milking device on the basis of the analysis. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape reel provided with a tape that is lengthwise provided with a series of consecutive reagent pads that provide a detectable response in the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move the tape, a dosing device to supply a part of the sample onto a reagent pad on the tape, and a camera to obtain an image of the reagent pad supplied with the droplet, and an analysis device to analyse the obtained images to provide to the milking control device an indication of a presence or concentration of said substance. The camera has a field of view that contains a plurality of reagent pads of the series of consecutive reagent pads. This allows to observe the reaction in the reagent pad for a much longer time. In turn, this allows to use much less reagent material, such as expensive enzymes, in the pads. It is particularly useful when observing double layer reagent types.

A tape for collecting tissue samples in a manner compatible with imaging in a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) system, includes a tape substrate having two side walls forming a trough. The trough is defined by a bottom surface of the tape substrate and internal surfaces of the side walls, with an open side therebetween. A support film is attached to a top surface of the tape substrate, and a plurality of apertures is spaced at predetermined locations along the length of the tape substrate, each aperture being covered by the support film. The tape includes a stacked configuration in which the tape substrate is wound in layers, the bottom surfaces of the side walls in one layer being in contact with the support film in an immediately adjacent layer. The apertures in the second layer are aligned within the trough of the first layer, between the side walls.

Tissue sample cassettes for receiving tissue samples include an upper tray including compartments separated by dividers, a lower tray coupled to the upper tray and having a central recess, and an absorbent material located in the recess of the lower tray. Related systems and methods for automated gross processing of tissue samples are also disclosed.

Sample preparation system and method which enable electron microscope observation of a sample slice with simple structure and process are provided. The sample preparation system includes at least one of a plasma treatment apparatus and a sputtering apparatus, as well as a slice collecting apparatus. The plasma treatment apparatus is configured to feed a resin tape in a plasma irradiation area to irradiate the resin tape with plasma, thereby continuously hydrophilizing the resin tape. The sputtering apparatus is configured to feed the resin tape in a sputtering area to continuously perform sputtering on the resin tape, thereby imparting conductivity to the resin tape. The slice collecting apparatus is configured to serially collect slices cut out from a sample onto the resin tape having been subjected to plasma treatment or sputtering.

The invention is based on a method, particularly a locally fixed method, for measuring a contamination of drinking water by microorganisms (16) in a drinking water conduit (12).

It is proposed that a contamination of drinking water is predicted in at least one prediction procedure (88) by means of at least one contamination risk parameter, and an actual contamination of drinking water is measured in at least one measuring procedure (90).

A robotic milking system includes a milking control, a milk line, and a sampling and analysis device for the milk, wherein the milking control controls the robotic milking device based on the analysis of the milk sample. The sampling and analysis device includes a control unit, a tape reel with a tape with reagent pads that detect the presence of a substance in the sample, a tape mover, a dosing device to provide a sample onto a reagent pad, a camera to image of the reagent pad with said sample, and to analyse the images to indicate a presence or concentration of said substance. The lengthwise consecutive substantially rectangular reagent pads are separated by a hydrophobic line, and the control unit recognises said line in the image and determines a position thereof. The control unit controls the tape mover on the basis of the obtained image and line position.

A method of producing a reagent tape, that includes a base tape layer and a series of consecutive and separate reagent pads of a reagent, is provided for use in a milk sampling device. The milk sampling device is arranged to supply a droplet of a milk sample onto one of the reagent pads on the tape in order to produce a response in the reagent to detect a presence or concentration of a substance in the milk sample. The method includes providing the base tape layer of the reagent tape, applying onto the base tape layer a continuous layer of the reagent, dividing the supplied continuous reagent layer into separate reagent pads by providing a hydrophobic barrier line between said pads. This may be done by laser ablating thin lines of reagent material, or by providing additional hydrophobic material into the layer. Thus, a simple and fast way of providing a tape with pads is obtained, in which a narrow spacing between pads is possible. A tape made by the method, and a milking device with a sampling device with such a tape are disclosed.

A cassette for loading into a bay of an analyzer device, the cassette having a supply chamber for a test tape, an uptake chamber to receive used tape and a test zone between the chambers, where the tape is positioned at a test site for testing purposes, wherein the cassette includes a frame that extends across the test zone on a loading side of the tape, the frame being in a protective position relative to the tape, parallel to and aligned with the tape in the test zone, to protect the tape as the cassette is inserted into the bay of the analyzer device.

A carrier strip having a plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens may have a backing, a cover coupled to the backing along side regions located along opposite longitudinal edges of the carrier strip and along lateral intermediate regions positioned between each of the plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens. The carrier strip may be configured to individually retain each of the anatomical pathology specimens in one of the plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens between the backing and the cover. Diagnostic studies of anatomical pathology specimens may be facilitated by distributing a digital copy of an image of the specimen may be to a pathologist. A diagnosis may be received from the pathologist based on the digital image of the specimen.

Methods, apparatuses and systems for facilitating automated or semi-automated collection of tissue samples cut by a microtome. In one example, a collection apparatus may be moved back and forth between respective positions at which the collection apparatus is operatively coupled to a microtome so as to collect cut tissue samples, or routine access to the microtome is provided. Relatively easy movement and positioning of the collection apparatus is facilitated, while at the same time ensuring structural stability and appropriate alignment and/or isolation between the collection apparatus and the microtome. A fluid reservoir receives samples cut by the microtome, and the collection apparatus may collect samples via a conveyor-like substrate disposed near/in the reservoir. A linear movement of the substrate may be controlled based on a cutting rate of the microtome, and the fluid level in the reservoir may be automatically maintained to facilitate effective sample collection.