The present disclosure provides methods for automated slide assessments made in conjunction with digital image-based microscopy. Automated methods of acquiring patient information and specimen information from prepared slides, and digitally linking such information into patient-tagged specimen data, are provided. Also provided are methods that include automatically identifying an optimal area for morphological assessment of a blood smear on a hematological slide, including methods for triggering the analysis of such an area, e.g., using an automated digital image-based hematology system. The present disclosure also provides devices, systems and computer readable media for use in performing processes of the herein described methods.

The present disclosure provides methods for automated slide assessments made in conjunction with digital image-based microscopy. Automated methods of acquiring patient information and specimen information from prepared slides, and digitally linking such information into patient-tagged specimen data, are provided. Also provided are methods that include automatically identifying an optimal area for morphological assessment of a blood smear on a hematological slide, including methods for triggering the analysis of such an area, e.g., using an automated digital image-based hematology system. The present disclosure also provides devices, systems and computer readable media for use in performing processes of the herein described methods.

According to the sampling method of the aspect of the present invention, the coordinate (location information) of the sampling location on the sampling specimen is generated randomly by the controller, such as a personal computer, of the sampling location display. Based on the location information, the sampling location is displayed on the sampling specimen, which is a part of the recycled raw material, by laser light. Because of this, arbitrariness, in which the operator artificially selects the sampling location, during incremental sampling for setting the average quality of the sampling specimen, such as the average content of valuable metal, can be excluded reliably.

Systems and methods for automated laser microdissection are disclosed including automatic slide detection, position detection of cutting and capture lasers, focus optimization for cutting and capture lasers, energy and duration optimization for cutting and capture lasers, inspection and second phase capture and/or ablation in a quality control station and tracking information for linking substrate carrier or output microdissected regions with input sample or slide.

A method of preparing a sample may include depositing an aqueous solution comprising copies of a primer into a layer of hydrophobic liquid on a substrate with a thermal inkjet device. A sample may include: a substrate; a layer of hydrophobic liquid on the substrate, the layer of hydrophobic liquid comprising a plurality of droplets of aqueous solution distributed in the layer, wherein the plurality of droplets contain: primers; a polymerase enzyme; deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs); and a target sequence for replication; and a cover, the cover contacting and covering the layer of hydrophobic liquid.

Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for collecting laboratory specimens from laboratory specimen boxes once a specimen has been placed inside a box.

The disclosure provides a device and a method to press a QMAX-Card to form a liquid layer. A device comprises a first arm including a pressing block and a second arm including a compartment for accommodating the QMAX-Card. Each of the first arm and the second arm comprises a first end and a second end opposing the first end, and the first arm and the second arm are joined by a hinge at the first end. The first arm is capable of rotating around the hinge toward the second arm 500 from an open position to a close position. The pressing block and the compartment face each other and are disposed at the second end. The pressing block press the QMAX-Card so that the QMAX-Card changes a closed configuration to compress a liquid sample in the QMAX-Card into a substantially uniform thin layer.

A real-time imaging method and system for monitoring an assay process performed on a biological sample is described. In some embodiments, the method and system can be used to measure and control a reagent volume confined to a space between a cover and a substrate, which is particularly useful for controlling for evaporation in a thin-film staining environment. In particular embodiments, the disclosed reagent volume sensing and replenishment method and system are resistant to system noises generated during operation, for example, system noise due to vibration, field of view blockage by dispenser systems, differences in reagent colors, and changing tissue colors.

A method of electron microscopy imaging of samples, using an electron microscope (100) having a microscope column (10) and a transfer device (11) with a grid carriage (12), comprises the steps of preparing multiple samples (1) on a single electron microscopy grid (2), including dispensing the samples (1) with a dispenser device (30) on distinct positions on the grid (2), introducing the grid (1) with the transfer device (11) into the microscope column (10), and electron microscopy imaging of the samples (1), wherein the preparing step includes holding the grid (2) on the grid carriage (12) of the transfer device (11) or on a grid holder device (20) provided at the electron microscope (100) and dispensing the samples (1) on the grid (2) while holding it on the grid carriage (12) or on the grid holder device (20). Furthermore, an electron microscope (100) for electron microscopy imaging of samples is described.

Systems and methods for automated laser microdissection are disclosed including automatic slide detection, position detection of cutting and capture lasers, focus optimization for cutting and capture lasers, energy and duration optimization for cutting and capture lasers, inspection and second phase capture and/or ablation in a quality control station and tracking information for linking substrate carrier or output microdissected regions with input sample or slide.