A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath. The apparatus and method further allow for the use of a swab disposed in a swab holder that is aseptically and removably sealable to a swab cap to protect the swab against decontamination vapors.

A waste disposal system for the disposal of consumables through a waste chute into a waste container includes a waste chute having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is situated outside the waste container and the second opening opens toward the waste container. The first opening and the second opening are arranged at a first distance from one another, wherein the waste chute includes a plurality of self-resetting lamellae for the partial or complete closure of the openings. The lamellae form at least two lamella annuli arranged at a second distance above one another, wherein at least one first lamella annulus closes the first opening and at least one second lamella annulus closes the second opening, and the second distance between the lamella annuli is at least one third, preferably at least half and particularly preferably at least three quarters of the first distance.

The present invention lies in the field of automated analyzers and relates to an automated warning system for potentially erroneous measurement results, which may be caused by the loss of a liquid container during a transport process.

Disclosed is a specimen processing method of processing, by using a specimen processing device, a urine specimen contained in a specimen container having an opening. The method includes: sealing, with a seal, the opening of the specimen container containing the urine specimen; aspirating the urine specimen in the specimen container by using an aspiration tube, of the specimen processing device, which has penetrated through the seal; and processing the aspirated urine specimen.

Described is a testing system for performing specimen testing, such as residual seal force (RSF) testing and/or compression friction (CF) measurement testing. The testing system comprising a column supported by a base structure, a load cell supported by said column, a specimen plate configured to receive a plurality of specimens, a motor, and controller. The load cell is configured to move along the column toward and away from the base structure via a crosshead coupled to an actuator. The plurality of specimens comprising a first specimen and a second specimen. The controller is configured to control the motor to adjust a position of said specimen plate.

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 and device are provided for detecting a target in a biological sample. The target binds to a solid phase substrate. First and second cavities in a plate are filled with an oil. The first and second cavities are in fluid communication with each other. The solid phase substrate is magnetically drawn sequentially from a drop of the biological sample in the first cavity, through the oil, into a drop of the reaction solution in the second cavity. A change in a parameter of the drop of the reaction solution indicates the presence of the target.

A reaction cuvette according to an embodiment is used for measurement performed by an automatic analyzing device, and is a reaction cuvette that houses a mixed liquid of a reagent and a sample to be measured. The reaction cuvette includes a cuvette main body and an aspiration port. The aspiration port is disposed on the cuvette main body, and allows a fluid to flow into an inner part of the cuvette main body from a bottom surface side of the cuvette main body.

Examples described herein also provide a substrate conveyance system. The substrate conveyance system may include a conveyor surface to convey a number of substrates, and a number of apertures defined in the conveyor surface between the substrates as positioned on the conveyor surface. The location of the apertures is based on a location at which at least one reagent module dispenses a reagent.

After disposable pipette tips are used by an automated pipettor, they are released by the pipettor and fall into a waste container. When the waste container is removed to be emptied, the pipette tips are temporarily sequestered in a pipette tip holding station so that the automated pipettor may operate uninterrupted. After the waste container is replaced, the sequestered pipette tips are released by the holding station into the waste container.