A plastic body including a generally cylindrical upper portion having an open end configured for engagement with an automated pipettor. The plastic body further includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented ribs disposed on an inner surface of the open end of the upper portion and a plurality of concave recesses disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion. Each of the recesses is disposed directly opposite an associated one of the ribs, and each of the recesses extends along at least part of the length of the associated rib.

A reagent well having a capillary insert that contains a lyophilized reagent therein.

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.

System, apparatuses, and methods for performing automated reagent-based analysis are provided. Also provided are methods for automated attachment of a cap to a reaction receptacle, and automated removal of a cap from a capped reaction receptacle.

The purpose of the present invention is to stably hold the lid of a reagent container in an open state without being influenced by reagent container lid opening and closing operations. An automated analyzer is provided with reagent containers 116-118, a cassette 100, a reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism, and a lid holding mechanism 131. The reagent containers 116-118 accommodate the reagent and have lids 101a-101c that pivot about a pivot point. The reagent containers 116-118 are mounted on the cassette 100. The reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism opens and closes the lids 101a-101c. The lid holding mechanism 131 holds the lids 101a opened by the reagent container lid opening and closing mechanism.

A microplate reader comprises a housing; at least one optical measuring/detection device; a microplate support; a moving unit; and an integrated lid holding apparatus. The lid holding apparatus is arranged to move the microplate lid and/or the microplate support is arranged to move the microplate in one respective, in an at least approximately vertical direction for moving the microplate lid away from the microplate. The lid holding apparatus is arranged inside the housing as a magnetic lifter and comprises a non-array arrangement of at least one permanent magnet, or at least three electromagnets, or at least one switchable permanent magnet. Each microplate lid to be moved away from the microplate comprises magnetizable material.

Sample tube adapters dimensioned to fit into one or more sample tubes in order to prevent carryover or contamination between sample tubes that are adjacent to one another during one or more stages of sample preparation. Methods for use of such sample tube adapters and methods for preventing carryover or contamination between sample tubes that are prepared adjacent to one another are also described. The apparatus described herein was developed to mitigate or eliminate cross-well contamination identified in high-throughput assays, e.g., 96-well based assays. In one embodiment, the apparatus is designed to fit onto the top of a standard 96-well plate and is kept in place during one or more stages of sample preparation, e.g., the entire forced-air drydown portion of sample preparation.

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.

A cassette removably holds assay strips. The cassette includes a cover and a base. The base includes a first face and a second face, the second face opposed across a thickness of the base from the first face. The base has at least a first channel in the first face that extends along at least a portion of the base, the at least first channel having a width, a length and a depth, at least the width and the depth of the first channel sized to at least partially receive an assay strip therein. The cover has a first face and a second face, the second face opposed across a thickness of the cover from the first face. The cover is releasably securable to the base in at least two orientations to alternatively expose a first set of markings and a second set of markings. The first and the second set of markings are carried by at least one of the cover or the base. The first set of markings is indicative of a first type of assay strip and the second set of markings is indicative of a second type of assay strip; the second set of markings being different from the first set of markings. The two different orientations include a first orientation in which the first face of the cover is exposed and the second face of the cover is adjacent one of the first or the second faces of the base, and a second orientation in which the second face of the cover is exposed and the first face of the cover is adjacent one of the first or the second faces of the base.

The Benchtop Laboratory Apparatus Automation System, hereafter referred to as BLAAS, is designed for automation of common laboratory benchtop devices such as pipette tip boxes, waste containers, sample tubes and trays, and reagent or solvent containers. The BLAAS consists of a microprocessor, sensor and physical actuator attached to the benchtop device. A user's hand approaching the device will be detected and the system will respond by opening the device, allowing hands-free access to the contents. After a short delay, the top closes again after the hand clears the device. A light will illuminate to indicate when the device is actively opening, and parameters like the speed of the movement, the stop positions of the servo and the time the device remains open can be adjusted.