This sample rack conveying apparatus is provided with a pusher unit, a linear motion guide, and a conveyance drive mechanism. The pusher unit has a base portion, a moving member, and a base-side guide. The base portion is supported by the linear motion guide so as to be movable in a first guide direction. The moving member is provided with a pusher that pushes a sample rack. The base-side guide supports the moving member such that the moving member is movable in a second guide direction that crosses the first guide direction.

A method and automated apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and subjecting the obtained sample to a plurality of downstream tests including a test to identify the microorganism and a test to identify the susceptibility of the microorganism to antibiotics. The method includes the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of the selected colony of microorganisms; preparing a suspension of a sample of microorganisms automatically by submerging the pick tool with the sample in a suspension, after which the pick tool is vibrated in at least the vertical direction to release the sample from the pick tool in the suspension. The turbidity of the suspension is monitored to ensure that the concentration of microorganism in suspension is sufficient so that the suspension is used a source for sample for both identification and antibiotic susceptibility of the microorganisms in the sample. The apparatus and system optionally provides for downstream processing of samples prepared for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Such apparatus includes further processing after inoculation of an AST panel for the AST test. Such further processing includes capping and transferring inoculated panels to AST instrument.

The drive device includes a guide element defining a guide track, the guide element being configured to receive and guide a cuvettes strip in translation along the guide track, and a drive belt configured to displace the cuvettes strip in translation along the guide track when the cuvettes strip is received in the guide element. The drive belt is disposed below the guide track and is configured to cooperate with lower portions of the cuvettes of the cuvettes strip when the cuvettes strip is received in the guide element.

An automatic analyzer comprises a reagent storage unit, a reaction promotion unit, and an unused container providing unit. The reaction promotion unit is between the reagent storage unit and the unused container providing unit in a left-right direction, and is on a rear side from the reagent storage unit and the unused container providing unit in a front-rear direction. In the automatic analyzer, a cover covering the reaction promotion unit is with a first fitting portion, a second fitting portion, and a third fitting portion located between the first and the second fitting portion in the left-right direction and a handle that is between the first and the second fitting portion in the left-right direction and on a rear side of the third fitting portion in the front-rear direction. The first and the second fitting portion are high in positioning functionality. The third fitting portion is low in positioning functionality.

A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises recording time at which samples are first identified; retrieving an order list comprising test orders for the samples; retrieving a degradation limit to each test order; determining workflows for each sample; instructing the laboratory instruments to carry out the test orders according to the workflows. Determining the workflows comprises i) determining target instruments capable of carrying out the test orders; ii) determining a sequence/timing of the test orders; iii) calculating an estimated completion time for each test order; iv) determining a lead time for each sample and test order; v) prioritizing test orders if the lead time exceeds the degradation limit. Steps ii) to v) are repeated until the lead time doesn't exceed the degradation limit for any of the test orders; or until steps ii) to v) have been repeated for a number N of iterations.

A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

The present invention relates to the field of biological sample testing technology, and in particular, to a testing system. The testing system includes a reagent reaction vessel and a test device. A reagent storage portion and a push rod movable relative to the reagent storage portion are packaged in the reagent reaction vessel, the reagent storage portion comprises at least one reagent containing cavity, and the reagent containing cavity is sealed by a sealing element; and the push rod is connected to the sealing element, and the push rod is used for cooperation with the test device to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. The test device includes a test cassette, wherein an ejection rod is arranged in the test cassette, and the ejection rod cooperates with the push rod to separate the sealing element from the reagent storage portion. According to the present invention, when the reagent storage portion is inserted, the ejection rod can be quickly pushed to operate, and one operation completes multiple functions such as releasing the reagent, fixing the reagent reaction vessel, and focusing on a test area at the same time, thereby simplifying the reaction steps.

The invention provides analyzers that improve tests for detecting specific cellular, viral, and molecular targets in clinical, industrial, or environmental samples. The invention permits efficient and specific selection and sensitive imaging detection of individual microscopic targets at low magnification. Automated embodiments allow efficient walk-away, on-demand, random-access high-throughput testing. The analyzers perform tests without requiring wash steps thus streamlining engineering and lowering costs. Thus, the invention provides analyzers that can deliver rapid, accurate, and quantitative, easy-to-use, and cost-effective tests for analytes.

Aspects of the present disclosure include systems and methods. According to certain embodiments, provided is an integrated analysis system that includes a first module including a sample analysis component and a first internal container conveyor system. The integrated analysis system further includes a second module including a second internal container conveyor system. The first and second modules are positioned adjacent each other such that the first and second internal container conveyor systems are aligned and adapted to transport containers from the first module to the second module. Also provided are methods of analyzing and preparing samples (e.g., blood and body fluid samples), as well as components that find use within the analysis systems of the present disclosure.

Disclosed is an automated liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus used with a cuvette having a plurality of chambers containing a reagent necessary for detection of an analyte in a biological specimen. The apparatus includes a movable cuvette module equipped with the cuvette, an optical reading module for optical assaying of a material resulting from a reaction between the specimen and the reagent, and a dispenser module which is positioned on the cuvette module and which dispenses the specimen and the reagent to the plurality of chambers of the cuvette and washes the specimen and the reagent therefrom.