An inspection result of a specimen inspection automation system can be reported within a prescribed time, even if a large number of urgent specimens have been input. An instruction reception unit receives turn around time (TAT) information and a discharge instruction. The necessity of discharging a specimen for which the instruction was issued with the discharge instruction is determined and a discharge instruction unit creates a discharge destination and a conveyance route to the discharge destination for the specimen. A discharge mechanism discharges the specimen for which the instruction was issued. Even for a specimen which is caused to wait for processing due to the occurrence of specimen congestion and for which there is a risk of an inspection result reporting delay, an inspection result can be reported within a prescribed time by switching from automatic processing by the system to manual processing by an operator.

Devices and methods for automated liquid handling and reagent processing to provide labelling and detection of bacteria and viruses are provided. Labelling reactions are performed rapidly and with essentially no generation of hazardous waste or use of consumables. Highly sensitive detection is performed by measuring fluorescence on a rotating sample plate.

Methods and devices for continuous flow monitoring of a liquid sample for presence of an airborne microbial pathogen are provided. The liquid sample can be derived from environmental air. The methods and devices provide for continuous labeling of a targeted pathogen in the liquid sample with a fluorescent probe. A customized fluorescence detector is provided that can detect labeled pathogens during continuous flow.

Disclosed is a fluid disposing system including a centrifugal separator that centrifugally separates a liquid that is supplied, a reagent supply module provided on one side of the centrifugal separator and that supplies a reagent to the centrifugal separator, a pipetting module provided at an upper portion of the centrifugal separator and that feeds a fluid to the centrifugal separator, a feeding module coupled to one side of the pipetting module, and that moves the pipetting module in an X axis direction and a Y axis direction corresponding to a horizontal direction, and a Z axis direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal direction, and a separation module including a magnetic bead for magnetically separating a material that has been primarily separated by the centrifugal separator.

Provided herein are devices and methods of processing a sample that include, in several embodiments, rotating one or more microfluidic chips that are mounted on a support plate using a motor driven rotational chuck. By spinning one or more of the microfluidic chips about a common center of rotation in a controlled manner, high flow rates (and high shear forces) are imparted to the sample in a controlled manner. Each microfluidic chip can be rotated 180° on the support plate so that the sample can be run back-and-forth through the microfluidic devices. Because the support plate can be driven at relatively high RPMs, high flow rates are generated within the microfluidic chips. This increases the shear forces on the sample and also decreases the processing time involved as the sample can quickly pass through the shear-inducing features of the microfluidic chip(s).

The sample preparation apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a sample containing particles acquired from a sample container and detect measurement target particles in the sample, a sample preparation unit capable of adjusting the concentration of measurement target particles in a sample acquired from a sample container and configured to prepare a measurement sample by mixing a sample and any of a plurality of types of particle detection reagents including a particle labeling substance, and a control unit for controlling the sample preparation unit so as to generate concentration information of the measurement target particles in the sample in the sample container based on the measurement data of the measurement unit and adjust the concentration of the measurement target particles in the sample acquired from the sample container according to the generated concentration information and the type of particle detection reagent used for preparing the measurement sample.

Provided is a centrifuge cassette assembly (800) for separating a fluid and related method of manufacture. The cassette assembly includes a first chamber, a second chamber (308), a fluidic channel (808) creating a fluid connection between the first chamber and the second chamber, at least one molded insertion valve (600, 700) configured to control the flow of fluid in the fluidic channel and a heating element (802) for actuating the at least one molded valve. Further provided are Normally Open Valves (NOVs) (700) and Normally Closed Valves (NCVs) (600) which are capable of insertion into, and which control the fluid flow of, the centrifuge cassette assembly.

A sample pretreatment apparatus includes: a plurality of sample pretreatment sections, each of which executes a sample pretreatment prior to a measurement; and a robotic arm including: an articulated arm member; and a hand attached to the articulated arm member. The plurality of sample pretreatment sections includes a sample dispenser that dispenses a sample in a first sample container into a second sample container. For a first measurement, the robotic arm holds the second sample container with the hand and transports the second sample container to a pretreatment group of the plurality of sample pretreatment sections, the pretreatment group including the sample dispenser. For a second measurement, the robotic arm holds the second sample container with the hand and transports the second sample container to another pretreatment group of the plurality of sample pretreatment sections, the another pretreatment group including the sample dispenser.

Automated liquid handling system for processing a plurality of samples in at least one microscope sample carrier, wherein the microscope sample carrier comprises a plurality of sample deposition wells, wherein each sample deposition well is defined on its lateral sides by one or more lateral walls and on its bottom side by a sample deposition surface, the automated liquid handling system comprising: a centrifuge adapted to centrifuge the microscope sample carrier; an automated transportation device adapted to transfer the plurality of samples and/or a plurality of liquids into and/or out of each of the plurality of sample deposition wells of the microscope sample carrier, and adapted for transporting the microscope sample carrier across the automated liquid handling system, wherein the automated transportation device is configured to couple with a coupling section of the microscope sample carrier; one or more storage containers for receiving and/or storing the plurality of samples and/or the plurality of liquids.

Blood separation systems and methods are provided for separating blood under conditions of reduced plasma clarity. The system may assess plasma clarity by monitoring light transmissivity of plasma or comparing an actual plasma flow rate to an ideal plasma flow rate, with a low flow rate indicating decreased clarity, which may be addressed by increasing the plasma flow rate. For extracorporeal photopheresis, plasma clarity may be a factor in determining the dosage of irradiating light to apply to mononuclear cells. A fluid processing assembly for mononuclear cell collection may include visual indicium, which an operator may use to determine when to end mononuclear cell collection. The system may detect red blood cells flowing toward a mononuclear cell collection container and reverse the direction of flow to prevent red blood cells from entering the container. An operator may also be enabled to selectively begin and/or end harvesting of mononuclear cells.