Described are systems, devices, and methods which related to various aspects of assays for detecting and/or determining a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a sample fluid. In some cases, the systems employ an assay consumable comprising a plurality of assay sites. The systems, devices, and/or methods, in some cases, are automated. In some cases, the systems, devices, and/or methods relate to inserting a plurality of beads into assay sites, sealing assay sites, imaging assay sites, or the like.

An analyzer having an inner chassis surrounded by a housing includes sample and dilution probes, a mixing housing including first and second mixing chambers, a flow cytometer including a flow cell, and sample and sheath pumps configured to perform first and second pluralities of tasks, respectively. The first plurality of tasks includes: aspirating sample into the sample probe, dispensing sample from the sample probe into the first and second mixing chambers, delivering first sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell, and delivering second sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell. The second plurality of tasks includes: dispensing sheath to the flow cell in cooperation with the delivery of the first sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell, and dispensing sheath to the flow cell in cooperation with the delivery of the second sample-dilution fluid mixture to the flow cell.

A sample handling system and a process for the handling of chemical or biological samples is provided. The system includes a dosing device with a receiving plate configured in an essentially horizontal position in a plane defined by a first and a second axis. The dosing device has at least one working arm that is movable. The pipetting mechanism includes at least one pipetting channel that is movable and has a pipette tip mounted or mountable thereon. The system further includes at least one thermal cycler provided in the area of the receiving plate. The thermal cycler is configured on the receiving plate in such a way that the pipetting mechanism is movable in a position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler, in a setting that allows a pipetting step to be carried out into the sample vessels in the thermal cycler by the pipetting mechanism in the position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler.

A biological sample processing apparatus, including: a pipette block with which a plurality of pipettes for sucking or discharging a biological sample in a multi-well plate in which wells are arranged in a matrix shape along row and column directions are detachably coupled; a pipette block forward and backward transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a forward and backward direction along a process direction; a pipette block top and bottom transfer unit configured to move the pipette block along a vertical direction; a magnetic field applying unit disposed below the multi-well plate for applying a magnetic field to a well of the multi-well plate; and a heating unit disposed below the multi-well plate so as to be spaced apart from the magnetic field applying unit, for heating a well of the multi-well plate.

A vacuum assist apparatus can comprise a microplate. The microplate can comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of wells can be formed in the first surface of the microplate. Each of the plurality of wells can be sized to receive an assay therein. A support base can comprise a fluid passage. The microplate can be positioned adjacent and in contact with the support base. A pressure device, in fluid communication with the fluid passage, can exert a vacuum within the fluid passage to actively retain the microplate in the contact with the support base.

A sample handling system and a process for the handling of chemical or biological samples is provided. The system includes a dosing device with a receiving plate configured in an essentially horizontal position in a plane defined by a first and a second axis. The dosing device has at least one working arm that is movable. The pipetting mechanism includes at least one pipetting channel that is movable and has a pipette tip mounted or mountable thereon. The system further includes at least one thermal cycler provided in the area of the receiving plate. The thermal cycler is configured on the receiving plate in such a way that the pipetting mechanism is movable in a position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler, in a setting that allows a pipetting step to be carried out into the sample vessels in the thermal cycler by the pipetting mechanism in the position above the sample vessels in the thermal cycler.

A receptacle includes an upper portion having a cylindrical portion and an open end and a lower portion depending from the upper portion, where the lower portion is tapered and has a closed bottom end. The receptacle may include a radially-extending annular ring with a flat or sloped bottom surface and disposed on an outer surface of the receptacle at a transition between the upper portion and the lower portion and/or a radially-projecting lip circumscribing the open end, which may be configured for inter-locking engagement with a mated cap inserted into the open end of the upper portion. Embodiments may include one or more longitudinally-oriented grooves formed in an inner surface of the upper portion. The receptacle may be a unitary plastic structure.

A method of handling a laboratory sample container is presented. In addition, a laboratory apparatus and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory apparatus are also presented.

An automatic analysis device is provided with a storage chamber for adjusting the temperature of and storing a container in which liquid is stored, an opening provided in a portion of the storage chamber, and a loader mechanism for bringing the container in and out of the storage chamber by moving the container through the opening, and is characterized in that the loader mechanism and storage chamber are closed by an elastic body. In the present invention, attaching a sealing member for sealing to an upper part from among overlapping parts makes it difficult for debris and dust to adhere to the sealing member and makes it possible to maintain the sealed state of a reagent storage chamber over a long period of time.

An apparatus for separating an interlocked cap and receptacle comprises a top wall and a cap removal station. The cap removal station comprises an opening, a raised collar for engaging and releasing interlocking elements of the cap and receptacle, and tabs on a side of the top wall opposite the raised collar for retaining the receptacle within the opening when the cap is separated from the receptacle. A method for separating an interlocked cap and receptacle comprises moving the cap and receptacle in a first direction into a cap removal station, contacting interlocking elements of the cap and receptacle with a raised collar to thereby release the interlocking elements, retaining the receptacle within the cap removal station; and with the interlocking elements released and the receptacle retained within the cap removal station, moving the cap in a second direction opposite the first direction to separate the cap from the receptacle.