A process and system for handling biological tissue samples through work stations in which at least one work stations includes a plurality of independent work locations. The handling system includes a main transport apparatus operatively connected to input and output stations and to the work stations for moving bidirectionally the samples among these; a plurality of secondary transport apparatuses operatively connected to the main transport apparatus and each respectively operatively connected to independent work locations of one of the work stations and configured to move bidirectionally the samples among these; and a control arrangement of the transport apparatuses for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work stations according to a work protocol associated with the samples and for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work locations according to a workload of the work locations and the work protocol associated with the samples.

A smear system includes smear preparing apparatus that prepares a smear slide and a smear transporting apparatus that transports the smear slide to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear preparing apparatus includes: a smear preparation part that smears a sample on a slide; and a smear arrangement part that places smear slides in a smear container. The smear transporting apparatus includes: a smear-container transport part that transports the smear container with the smear slides; an identification-information acquisition part that acquires identification information on whether image capturing by the smear-image capture apparatus is necessary, from each of the smear slides accommodated in the smear container positioned on a transport path of the smear-container transport part; and a smear transfer part that transfers the smear slide whose image is to be captured to the smear-image capture apparatus on the basis of the identification information acquired by the identification-information acquisition part.

The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for handling slides. The apparatus includes a carrier comprising a retention hole and a cartridge having a case coupled to one or more separators that together define a plurality of compartments each configured to accept the carrier. At least one of the separators comprises a guide hole, with all guide holes are disposed on a first axis. The retention hole of the carrier is aligned with the first axis when the carrier is disposed in a seated position within one of the compartments. The cartridge also comprises a plurality of spacers each partially disposed within at least one of the guide holes.

A microscope system may comprise a plurality of microscope modules, a cassette for holding a plurality of slides, a slide loader configured to move the plurality of slides between the cassette and the plurality of microscope modules, and a processor coupled to the slide loader. The processor may be configured with instructions which, when executed, cause the slide loader to move a slide into or from a selected microscope module among the plurality of microscope modules. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

The invention concerns a device and a method for generating an image of a biological sample on a glass slide for generating an inventory in an image database. The device comprises a receiving unit configured for receiving the biological sample on the glass slide, a camera configured for generating an image of the biological sample while being received by the receiving unit, a releasing unit configured for automatically releasing the glass slide from the receiving unit after generating the image by the camera. The camera is configured to generate the image such that the image of the biological sample on the glass slide comprises an overall image of the glass slide and the biological sample on the glass slide, wherein the releasing unit is configured for applying a mechanical force onto the glass slide received by the receiving unit for releasing the glass slide from the receiving unit.

A fully automated microfluidic system (100) for detecting multiple different analytes in a single run comprises: a remote computer system (102), a microfluidic analyzer (300) having an illumination source and a detection module; and a cartridge (200) having a plurality of lightbulbs (224), a sample tank (204) and at least one reagent tank (210), wherein each lightbulb (224) is sealable by the microfluidic analyzer (300).

An analysis device employs an analysis kit including a chip provided with a capillary through which a sample flows and a cartridge superimposed on the chip and provided with a liquid reservoir. The analysis device includes a guide-in section into which the analysis kit is guided, a placement section on which the analysis kit placed so as to be supported, a pusher member that pushes the analysis kit from one side face of the analysis kit, contact members that oppose another side face on an opposite side in the horizontal direction to the one side face of the analysis kit placed on the placement section, and contact the other side face of the analysis kit being pushed in by the pusher member so as to position the analysis kit in the horizontal direction, and a measurement member that measures a component present in the sample in the analysis kit.

Methods of evaluating the antimicrobial efficacy of a hard surface disinfectant or sanitizer and test articles are disclosed. An example method may include removing a preserved antimicrobial test article from a sealed container. The preserved antimicrobial test article may comprise a non-water soluble substrate and a thin microbial layer attached to the substrate comprising viable microbial material, a stabilizing mixture, and a residual water content of less than 5.0%. The method may also include contacting the preserved antimicrobial test article with a predetermined amount of the test substance without rehydrating the preserved microbial article and without detaching the layer comprising the viable microbial material from the substrate prior to contact with the test substance.

Some embodiments are directed to a method for tracking lysis progress in an automated lysing device. For example, the lysing device may be configured to execute multiple iterations of lysing at a defined location on the tissue section and imaging the defined location on the tissue section using a camera. From the images a lysing parameter may be determined to improve lysing.

A test strip container includes: an accommodating member in which a test strip is accommodated; a moving member moving the test strip therein; a door member opening and closing at a side surface of the accommodating member to discharge the test strip out of the accommodating member, and cutting the interior and the exterior of the accommodating member off from each other when closed; a door accommodating portion covering the door member, in which the door member can open and close; and a discharge opening cutting the interior and an exterior of the door accommodating portion off from each other when closed, and is provided at the door accommodating portion so as to open and close to discharge the test strip to the exterior of the door accommodating portion, the discharge opening being able to open when the accommodating member is closed by the door member.