An object of the invention is to provide a method by which failure or performance deterioration of a temperature adjustment unit can be detected while specifying a cause part in a state where a nucleic acid amplification process is being performed. In order to achieve said purpose, an initial value of the level of control signals input to a temperature adjustment element during temperature maintenance, temperature rise, and temperature fall is set in advance and an error determination threshold is set on the basis of this value. Errors (malfunctions, performance deterioration) in the temperature adjustment unit are diagnosed and components causing said errors are identified, by comparing current control signal levels and threshold values monitored in a state in which the nucleic acid amplification process is being undertaken.

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

The automatic analysis device includes an evaporative concentration unit configured to perform a concentration process of evaporating an extract solution obtained by extracting a component to be analyzed in a sample to concentrate the component to be analyzed; an analysis unit configured to analyze the component to be analyzed of the sample; and a control unit configured to control operations of the analysis unit and the evaporative concentration unit. The control unit determines whether to perform an evaporative concentration process on a component to be analyzed in the sample, and controls the evaporative concentration unit to concentrate a component to be analyzed in a sample which is determined to be subjected to an evaporative concentration process. The sample to be subjected to the evaporative concentration process is stored, and the control unit selects whether to perform the evaporative concentration on each sample or not based on stored content.

Disclosed herein are high-throughput sample processing systems and waste management systems, and methods of using the same.

In one embodiment, a biological sample analyzer has a housing having at least one outer wall that defines a cavity therein, an air intake, and an air exhaust. A plenum is disposed within the cavity and has at least one plenum wall that defines an air duct therein. A receptacle, which can support a consumable holder containing a biological sample, is disposed within the internal cavity. At least a portion of the receptacle is supported within the air duct such that an air gap is defined between the receptacle and the at least one plenum wall. A heater applies heat to the consumable holder so as to heat the consumable holder when the consumable holder is supported by the receptacle. A fan forces air along a path that extends from the air intake, through the air gap, and to the air exhaust so as to cool the heater.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for controlling the temperature of a sample carrier (2), and to an automatable laboratory workplace comprising an apparatus (1) according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a heating device (2) having a heater (3) and a movable heating cover (6), which is arranged over the receiving region of the heater (3) and is designed to press the sample carrier (4) in a heating position (H) into the receiving region (3a) of the heater (3) with a predefinable contact pressure, and a transport device (8), which is designed to introduce the sample carrier (3) into the apparatus (1) from an insertion position (E) outside the apparatus (1). According to the invention, the transport device (8) comprises a loading unit (9), which comprises a receiving unit (10) for receiving the sample carrier (4) and is movable between an insertion position (E) and an intermediate position (Z), in which the sample carrier (4) is situated inside the apparatus (1) and above the receiving region (3a) of the heater (3). The transport device (8) is arranged and/or designed in such a way that at least the sample carrier (4) is movable from the intermediate position (Z) into the heating position (H) by means of a movement of the heating cover (6). In addition, the transport device (8) comprises at least one return element (11), which is designed to move at least the sample carrier (4) from the heating position (H) back into the intermediate position (Z).

An instrument for processing a biological sample includes a chassis. Connected to the chassis is a tape path along which a tape with a matrix of wells can be automatically advanced through the instrument, a dispensing assembly for dispensing the biological sample and a reagent into the matrix of wells of the tape to form a biological sample and reagent mixture, a sealing assembly for sealing the biological sample and reagent mixture in the tape, and an amplification and detection assembly for detecting a signal from the biological sample and reagent mixture in the matrix of wells in the tape.

A heating device having a heating element patterned into a robust MEMs substrate, wherein the heating element is electrically isolated from a fluid reservoir or bulk conductive sample, but close enough in proximity to an imagable window/area having the fluid or sample thereon, such that the sample is heated through conduction. The heating device can be used in a microscope sample holder, e.g., for SEM, TEM, STEM, X-ray synchrotron, scanning probe microscopy, and optical microscopy.

A biologic sample preparation system that prepares samples for processing includes a frame defining a horizontal plane, a pipette assembly, a sample module and an extraction module. The pipette assembly includes a first pipette. The pipette assembly is movably mounted to the frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane during operation. The sample module includes a sample plate and is movably mounted to the frame. The sample module is movable substantially parallel to the horizontal plane at least from a sample area spaced from the pipette assembly and a working area proximate the pipette assembly. The extraction module includes an extraction plate and is movably mounted to the frame. The extraction module is movable substantially parallel to the horizontal plane at least from an extraction staging area spaced from the pipette, assembly and the working area proximate the pipette assembly.

Means for determining whether or not a reagent necessary for a chemical reaction is normally discharged is provided for a liquid dispensing device that dispenses the reagent for the reaction. A liquid dispensing device as such means includes a temperature controller that controls a temperature of a reaction position to any appropriate temperature and a temperature monitor part that monitors the temperature of the reaction position, monitors with the temperature monitor part a change in the temperature of the reaction position when the dispensing device discharges a reagent, and when a temperature change amount deviates from a beforehand determined threshold range, determines abnormal dispensation.