The present technology provides liquid quality assessment systems and methods for their preparation and use. The systems can include a light source configured to illuminate a liquid sample, a reflecting surface configured to reflect light scattered by the liquid sample, and a detector configured to detect light intensity, wherein the light source illuminates the liquid sample with a first incident light when the reflecting surface is absent; the detector detects a first light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the first incident light; the light source illuminates the liquid sample with a second incident light when the reflecting surface is present; and the detector detects a second light which is a combination of light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the second incident light and light reflected by the reflecting surface of light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the second incident light.

The present technology provides liquid quality assessment systems and methods for their preparation and use. The systems can include a light source configured to illuminate a liquid sample, a reflecting surface configured to reflect light scattered by the liquid sample, and a detector configured to detect light intensity, wherein the light source illuminates the liquid sample with a first incident light when the reflecting surface is absent; the detector detects a first light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the first incident light; the light source illuminates the liquid sample with a second incident light when the reflecting surface is present; and the detector detects a second light which is a combination of light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the second incident light and light reflected by the reflecting surface of light scattered by the liquid sample in response to the second incident light.

A test device includes a specimen having a circular cross section that accommodates a test target, a specimen holding part that holds a plurality of the specimens in a row, light emitting elements in which light is incident on two adjacent specimens among the plurality of specimens, a first light guide path 46 that guides light emitted by the light emitting elements, and a second light guide path that is formed to have a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first light guide path and that guides the light emitted by the light emitting elements from the first light guide path to the specimen.

An integrated microfluidic chip, wherein at least one integrated reaction unit is provided on its substrate, and the integrated reaction unit comprises at least a sample cell (1), a mixing cell (2) and a reaction cell (3) connected through liquid channels (6). In one aspect, one end of the sample cell (1) is provided with a sample inlet (4), and the chip further comprises an internal air circulating system/circuit. One end of the internal air circulating system/circuit is connected with the mixing cell (2), while the other end comprises at least a first circulation branch circuit connected with the end of the sample cell (1) distal to the sample inlet (4).

A high-throughput automatic analyzer integrates a biochemical analysis section and a blood coagulation analysis section. The analyzer is capable of achieving a reduction in size, system cost, and lifecycle cost. The automatic analyzer includes: a reaction disk; a first reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to reaction cells on the reaction disk; a photometer that irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction cell with light; a reaction cell cleaning mechanism; a reaction vessel supply unit that supplies a disposable reaction vessel for mixing and reacting a sample and a reagent with each other; a second reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to the disposable reaction vessel; a blood coagulation time measuring section that irradiates a reaction solution in the disposable reaction vessel with light to detect transmitted or scattered light; and a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a sample to the reaction cell and the disposable reaction vessel.

A high-throughput automatic analyzer integrates a biochemical analysis section and a blood coagulation analysis section. The analyzer is capable of achieving a reduction in size, system cost, and lifecycle cost. The automatic analyzer includes: a reaction disk; a first reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to reaction cells on the reaction disk; a photometer that irradiates a reaction solution in the reaction cell with light; a reaction cell cleaning mechanism; a reaction vessel supply unit that supplies a disposable reaction vessel for mixing and reacting a sample and a reagent with each other; a second reagent dispensing mechanism that dispenses a reagent to the disposable reaction vessel; a blood coagulation time measuring section that irradiates a reaction solution in the disposable reaction vessel with light to detect transmitted or scattered light; and a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a sample to the reaction cell and the disposable reaction vessel.

A method and apparatus for monitoring and/or controlling the extent of denaturation and/or bond cleavages of proteins on any surface (e.g., biological tissues, biofilms, etc.). In one embodiment, a low power laser (e.g., a 5 mW, 362 nm diode laser) is directed through a biological sample to a photodetector. The sample is heated by a set of radiant heaters to between about 220° C. and about 250° C. in a time period of between 10 seconds to 60 seconds. The baseline transmissivity of the sample is monitored continuously throughout treatment of the biological sample via continuous monitoring of the signal voltage detected at the photodetector. Upon detection of increase in relative transmissivity in the biological sample, the heating treatment is concluded and the biological sample is removed for in situ protein identification as part of an imaging MALDI-MS measurement.

Devices and methods for the hook effect detection associated with analytes of interest in the conductance of one or more diagnostic assays, including, without limitation, immunoassays.

Devices and methods for the hook effect detection associated with analytes of interest in the conductance of one or more diagnostic assays, including, without limitation, immunoassays.

A system and method for the real time determination of microbial growth in or on perishable products. The system can predict the extent of microbial growth, e.g., whether food is spoiled, in real time by measuring chemicals released, e.g., CO.sub.2, from the perishable product during microbial growth. The output from a sensor can be correlated to the extent of microbial growth, i.e., spoilage, and provide information about the extent of microbial growth to the user, for example, through their smart devices.