A microscope slide holder comprising a slide support member and at least one acoustic source for introducing acoustic waves to a microscope slide in communication with the slide support member such that one or more fluids present on the surface of the microscope slide are contactlessly mixed.

In the case of adopting a configuration in which reagent bottles are radially disposed on a reagent disk and a reagent dispensing mechanism is rotated to access the reagent bottles, one reagent bottle includes a plurality of suction ports in which suction positions are different from each other, resulting in prolonging a step of dispensing a reagent. The invention is directed to an automatic analyzer including: a reagent disk that accommodates a plurality of reagent bottles including a plurality of suction ports and conveys the reagent bottles to a desired position by rotating in a circumferential direction around a central axis; and a reagent dispensing mechanism that rotates around a rotational axis and sucks a reagent of the reagent bottle placed at a predetermined position on the reagent disk. The reagent bottle is accommodated in the reagent disk such that the central axis of the reagent bottle and a diameter of the reagent disk form a predetermined inclination.

Embodiments of systems and methods for automated sample handling are disclosed. In an example, a system for automated sample handling includes reaction wells, a magnet, a magnetic manipulator, and a punch. The reaction wells are configured to each hold a reagent and collectively move horizontally. A first reaction well holds magnetic beads, and a second reaction well is partitioned by a seal. The magnet is configured to move vertically and capture the magnetic beads on a bottom surface of the first reaction well when moving to an upper position beneath the first reaction well. The magnetic manipulator is configured to manipulate the magnetic beads and includes a magnetic rod configured to move vertically to be above or in the first reaction well and a sheath below the magnetic rod and configured to move vertically and receive the magnetic rod. The punch is configured to move vertically and break the seal of the second reaction well when moving to a lower position in the second reaction well.

A fully-automatic feces analyzer includes an automatic controller; at least one sample box for containing a feces sample; and a sample box support. A dilution and stirring unit is provided for adding diluent into the feces sample and stirring to obtain feces sample liquid. The analyzer has a physical detection unit for performing a physical detection on the feces sample liquid and at least one chemical detection unit for performing a chemical detection on the feces sample liquid. Each chemical detection unit includes a driving roller and a driven roller, a reagent strip roll wound on the driven roller, an end portion of the reagent strip roll fixed on the driving roller.

A fully-automatic feces analyzer includes an automatic controller; at least one sample box for containing a feces sample; and a sample box support. A dilution and stirring unit is provided for adding diluent into the feces sample and stirring to obtain feces sample liquid. The analyzer has a physical detection unit for performing a physical detection on the feces sample liquid and at least one chemical detection unit for performing a chemical detection on the feces sample liquid. Each chemical detection unit includes a driving roller and a driven roller, a reagent strip roll wound on the driven roller, an end portion of the reagent strip roll fixed on the driving roller.

Provided are a compact mixing system capable of reducing a use amount of a mixing agent and reducing a volume of a utility that supplies the mixing agent, and a measurement system using the mixing system. The mixing system includes: a mixing agent discharge nozzle through which a mixing agent to be mixed with a sample is to be discharged; and a movable mechanism configured to adjust a gap between the mixing agent discharge nozzle and a sample collection port that opens to an inside of a sample tube through which the sample is to flow so as to collect the sample.

The invention herein relates to conducting assays with an apparatus including a substantially transparent assay cartridge loaded with magnetic beads, and a magnets positioned in a platform above and below the assay cartridge. The assay cartridge includes magnetic beads, sample and control solutions in some wells, and assay reagents in others. A microcomputer controls a linear actuator which moves the magnet platform causing the magnetic beads to travel from one well to another and to oscillate within a well. At assay completion, the cartridge will generate a signal representing a test result, which is then sent to a server through a wireless transmission system.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

There is provided a piston of a cartridge for extracting nucleic acids comprising: a cylindrical upper body having a hollow; a lower body having two ports; a control rod module combined to the other end of the upper body to seal the other end and move up and down along the hollow; and a rotation control module that is combined to the shaft of the lower body to transmit a driving force to the lower body.

Disclosed is a blood sample analyzer, including: a sample conveying device for conveying a sample rack loaded with a sample container; a first agitating device having a sample stirring component for stirring a blood sample in the sample container and being capable of driving the sample stirring component to uniformly agitate the blood sample in the sample container; a second agitating device capable of picking up the sample rack or a second sample container on the sample rack, and driving the second sample container containing a common-volume blood sample on a second agitating position to uniformly agitate the blood sample; and a controller configured to communicate with the sample conveying device, the first agitating device and the second agitating device, and control the sample conveying device, the first agitating device and the second agitating device. In addition, the present application further discloses a blood sample agitating device, a blood sample analysis method, and a computer storage medium.