Provided is an antibacterial agent-containing dried plate having no cracks on an observation surface (a part of the plate corresponding to an observation visual field of a microscope). According to the present embodiment, an antibacterial agent-introduced plate obtained by introducing an antibacterial agent and performing vacuum drying has a recess at an edge of a well, and a microscopic observation portion, which has a surface substantially parallel to a well bottom surface, near the center of the well. The recess is provided between the microscopic observation portion and a side wall of the well, and is lower in height than the microscopic observation portion. Further, at least the bottom surface of the well and the microscopic observation portion are made of a material having a light-transmitting property in order for optical measurement (FIG. 1).

Embodiments allow for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) at a low cost. Embodiments may use changes in the pixel intensity from reflected light to determine microorganism growth and antimicrobial resistance. Dilutions of an antimicrobial are added to a standard well plate or other array. A pathogen or other microorganism may be added to the dilutions in the well plate. The well plate may be incubated for a time period less than 3 hours. The well plate may then be imaged and the resulting image data may be analyzed. Wells where the microorganism is able to grow may appear darker than wells where the microorganism did not grow. Differences pixel intensity of the wells is used to determine the susceptibility or resistance of the microorganism to the antimicrobial. The image data may be used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the lowest dilution concentration of antimicrobial that inhibits growth.

The present disclosure is, in one aspect, directed to a locking assembly for securing a sample tube assembly to a sample manifold of a measurement system. The locking assembly includes a ramp block having one or more slots defined therein and configured to at least partially receive a portion of the sample tube assembly. The ramp block also includes a plurality of surface features defined therealong and configured to engage and move the sample tube assembly toward and into engagement with the sample manifold. The ramp block further is movable between a plurality of positions including an open position for allowing the sample tube assembly to be received through the one or more slots or openings, and a closed position substantially sealing the sample tube assembly against or within the sample manifold. Other aspects also are described.

In one example, a dispenser platform can include an enclosure that includes a first actuator to move a support in a first plane, wherein a portion of the support extends outside the enclosure, and a second actuator coupled to the portion of the support that extends outside the enclosure to move a stage coupled to the support in a second plane.

An optical measurement device is provided. The device includes first and second optical fibers; first and second reaction vessels, and a light guide stage coupled to the first and second optical fibers. The light guide stage is driven to simultaneously optically connect the first and second optical fibers with the first and second reaction vessels. The device includes a measurement device for receiving emissions from the first and second reaction vessels, and a connecting end arranging body that supports the first and second optical fibers along a path. The arranging body is driven along the path between a first position, in which the first optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the first reaction vessel, and a second position, in which the second optical fiber is optically connected with the measurement device so that light is transmittable from the second reaction vessel.

An ultrasound generation member according to an aspect of the present invention includes an ultrasound generation element configured to emit ultrasound in a direction of a target object in one specific container of a plurality of containers. An ultrasound emission device according to an aspect of the present invention includes the ultrasound generation member, and a drive power supply configured to apply voltage across the ultrasound generation element of the ultrasound generation member. An ultrasound emission device according to an aspect of the present invention includes the ultrasound generation member that includes, as the ultrasound generation element, a plurality of ultrasound generation elements, and a drive power supply configured to apply voltage across the plurality of ultrasound generation elements of the ultrasound generation member.

The present invention relates to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system which can perform analysis of various biological samples, and more particularly to an automatic real-time quantitative amplification system in which a plurality of decks for respectively accommodating biological samples are put in a deck storing/transferring device, whereby it is possible to automatically analyze an amount or existence of a target substance containing a target nucleic acid in the biologic sample, such as a particular gene, a particular, a particular pathogenic bacterium and a particular protein, by amplifying the target nucleic acid purified by some processes of purification, purification after culture, or purification after reaction of the target substance contained in the biological sample and then checking an amount of the amplified target nucleic acid.

The invention provides systems, compositions, kits and methods for automated processing of biological samples and analysis using a flow cytometer.

A method of testing an antibiotic susceptibility includes dispensing and cultivating sample solution into culture wells including one or more comparative wells and a plurality of antibiotic wells receiving two or more kinds of antibiotics, respectively, receiving the sample solution into a plurality of preprocessing wells each including magnetic particles and fluorescent particles that bond to one or more kinds of bacteria such that the bacteria and the magnetic particles and fluorescent particles bond to each other, receiving the sample solution into a plurality of image wells having magnetic members thereunder such that the magnetic particles bonding to the bacteria are arranged on the bottoms of the image wells, removing the sample solution from the image wells that have undergone the planarizing step, taking fluorescent images of the image wells washed in the washing step, and determining an antibiotic tolerance/susceptibility of the sample solution by analyzing the fluorescent images.

A vacuum manifold for filtration microscopy includes a manifold top having multiple openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top, where the capture membrane is configured to deflect into contact with a surface of the manifold top when a negative pressure is applied to the multiple openings. A method for filtration microscopy includes the steps of providing a vacuum manifold including a manifold top having a plurality of openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top; applying sample drops to sample spots on the membrane, the sample spots positioned above the plurality of openings; applying a negative pressure to the openings such that the capture membrane contacts a surface of the manifold top; and optically imaging particulates on the capture membrane.