Managing reagent replacement and calibration/quality management processing for analysis devices is performed by a management device configured to manage analysis devices in a clinical laboratory having a cabinet storing a reagent used for measurement by analysis devices or a calibration/quality management sample. The management device includes a reagent detection unit configured to detect a timing to start reagent replacement preparation, based on a remaining amount of in-measurement reagents and a first preparation time required for replacing the reagent. Calibration/quality management processing preparation timing detection units are configured to detect a timing to start calibration/quality management processing preparation, based on the remaining amount of the in-measurement reagent. A notification person-in-charge determination unit notifies a laboratory technician of a request for the reagent replacement preparation or the calibration/quality management processing preparation upon receiving detection of a timing by the detection units.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique capable of acquiring an analysis target region and color information without causing a decrease in extraction accuracy of the analysis target region due to erroneous extraction of a color of a colored label, measuring a solution volume of the specimen, and determining a specimen type. The biological specimen analysis device according to the present disclosure creates a developed view by cutting out a partial region from a color image of a biological sample tube and connecting the partial region along a circumferential direction of the biological sample tube, and extracts a detection target region from the developed view (see FIG. 6B).

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a sample analyzer and a liquid aspiration control method for a sample analyzer. When a liquid aspiration assembly is moving down toward a container, a signal acquisition and analysis assembly acquires and analyzes a first electrical signal; when the first electrical signal meets a first preset condition, the signal acquisition and analysis assembly acquires and analyzes a second electrical signal that is an electrical signal subsequent to the first electrical signal, and determines, according to at least the second electrical signal, whether the second electrical signal meets a second preset condition different from the first preset condition; and when the second electrical signal meets the second preset condition, the signal acquisition and analysis assembly sends information indicating that the liquid aspiration assembly reaches a surface of the liquid. The accuracy of liquid surface detection of the liquid in the container is improved by sending the information indicating that the liquid aspiration assembly reaches a surface of the liquid only when the electrical signal acquired by the signal acquisition and analysis assembly meets the first preset condition and the second preset condition.

A blood analyzer according to one or more embodiments may include: a specimen preparation part that prepares a measurement specimen by mixing a reagent into a blood preparation; a measurement part that measures the measurement specimen; a measurement mode selection unit that receives an input of a type of blood preparation as a measurement target selected from a plurality of types of blood preparations; and a controller. The controller may cause the specimen preparation part to prepare the measurement specimen depending on the selected type of blood preparation.

One variation of a method includes, during a calibration period: triggering collection of an initial bioaerosol sample by an air sampler located in an environment; and triggering dispensation of a tracer test load by a dispenser located in the environment; accessing a detected barcode level of a barcode detected in the initial bioaerosol sample; accessing a true barcode level of the barcode contained in the tracer test load; and deriving a calibration factor for the environment based on a difference between the detected barcode level and the true barcode level. The method further includes, during a live period succeeding the calibration period: triggering collection of a first bioaerosol sample by the air sampler; accessing a detected pathogen level of a pathogen detected in the first bioaerosol sample; and interpreting a predicted pathogen level of the pathogen in the environment based on the detected pathogen level and the calibration factor.

One variation of a method includes, during a calibration period: triggering collection of an initial bioaerosol sample by an air sampler located in an environment; and triggering dispensation of a tracer test load by a dispenser located in the environment; accessing a detected barcode level of a barcode detected in the initial bioaerosol sample; accessing a true barcode level of the barcode contained in the tracer test load; and deriving a calibration factor for the environment based on a difference between the detected barcode level and the true barcode level. The method further includes, during a live period succeeding the calibration period: triggering collection of a first bioaerosol sample by the air sampler; accessing a detected pathogen level of a pathogen detected in the first bioaerosol sample; and interpreting a predicted pathogen level of the pathogen in the environment based on the detected pathogen level and the calibration factor.

A blood analyzer according to one or more embodiments may include: a specimen preparation part that prepares a measurement specimen by mixing a reagent into a blood preparation; a measurement part that measures the measurement specimen; a measurement mode selection unit that receives an input of a type of blood preparation as a measurement target selected from a plurality of types of blood preparations; and a controller. The controller may cause the specimen preparation part to prepare the measurement specimen depending on the selected type of blood preparation.

A method of improving agricultural treatment includes identifying a mineralogical feature based on a collected soil sample, generating a soil clay characterization based on the mineralogical feature, and generating an agricultural prescription. A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to identify a mineralogical feature based on a collected soil sample, generate a soil clay characterization based on the mineralogical feature, and generate an agricultural prescription. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to identify a mineralogical feature based on a soil sample, generate a soil clay characterization based on the mineralogical feature, and generate an agricultural prescription.

An automated method for determining a coagulation result of a biological sample is presented. The method includes obtaining a time series representing measurement data of a sample. The time series spans a period in which a clotting reaction is supposed to take place. The method includes obtaining a global model function configured to model measurement data of a sample in which a clotting reaction takes place. The global model function is configured to model the measurement data as a sigmoidal shape with at least one inflection point. The absolute value of the maximum curvature of the sigmoidal shape is larger on one side of the at least one inflection point than on the other side. The method includes fitting the model function to the time series representing measurement data to obtain a fitted model function and determining a coagulation result of the sample based on the fitted model function.

A laboratory automation device (10) includes a plurality of device components (14, 16), which are controlled by digital control commands (26). The digital control commands (26) are generated by a controller (20) of the laboratory automation device (10) from assay definition data (38) defining an assay procedure for the laboratory automation device (10).