A method to handle tubes in a diagnostic laboratory automation system comprising a control device and a tube-analyzing device is presented. The tube-analyzing device comprises a tube identification reader, a tube type recognition unit, a sample color determination unit, and a tube consistence unit. The tube identification reader reads tube identification device. The tube type recognition unit identifies tube type. The sample color determination unit determines sample color. The tube consistence unit determines sample consistency. The sample tube type, the tube type, the sample color, the sample consistency are send to the control device. The control device determines a construed tube type from one or more of the information of the tube type, the sample color, and the sample consistency. The control device checks whether the tube type matches the construed tube type and changes a used tube type from the tube type to the construed tube type.

Systems and methods are described for indirect detection of a missed sample from an autosampler. A method embodiment includes, but is not limited to, drawing a fluid through operation of an autosampler; directing the fluid via a fluid line to a valve of a fluid handling system, the valve including or being adjacent to a sensor to detect a presence or absence of liquid sample; directing the fluid from the valve into a holding line coupled to the valve; determining whether a threshold amount of liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line; and when it is determined that liquid sample is present in the fluid in the holding line in an amount less than the threshold amount, transferring a carrier fluid having a marker component to an analytic detector, the marker component present in the carrier fluid in an amount indicative of a missed sample.

The present invention relates to a method and a system (400) for filling a closed container (200) with a fixative solution. The system comprises a container (200) comprising a container body (230) for receiving a biological specimen, a lid (220) for selectively closing the container body (230) and a port (100) forming a unidirectional barrier in a direction from the inside (IC) to the outside (OC) of the closed container (200). The system further comprises a dispensing apparatus (500) having a filling nozzle (300) for dispensing the fixative solution. The filling nozzle (300) is relatively moveable with respect to the container (200) between a retracted position and a filling position to fill the container (200) with the fixative solution.

Device (100) for attesting the operations of an in-vitro diagnostic device (50) comprising: a block (101) for capturing a plurality of frames of the tip (51); a block (102) for storing the plurality of frames; a block (103) for evaluating the right hooking of the tip (51) to the in-vitro diagnostic device (50); a block (104) for evaluating the volume of a liquid contained in the tip (51); a block (105) for carrying out verification before the operation of dispensing the liquid; a block (106) for carrying out a post-dispensing verification; blocks (107, 108) for emitting electronic signals; a block (109) for integrating a system for managing the errors; a block (110) for saving the data; a block (111) for communicating with the in-vitro diagnostic device (50).

A method for adaptive signal processing of each trace originating from the photosensor. The method comprises an automatic detection of the voltage level of the target signal and the background noise. Based on the determined voltages advantageous decision limits are calculated. Such decision limits can be used to detect, for example, the temporal length of the signal. Due to a dynamic calculation of the decision limits, these limits are optimal for each measured voltage curve. The system is also able to detect a measurement with only noise and mark it as incomplete.

An automatic analyzer includes: a diluted sample holding unit configured to hold dilution containers into which a diluted sample is dispensed; a reaction container holding unit configured to hold reaction containers; a dispensing device configured to dispense the diluted sample from the dilution containers to the reaction containers; a measuring unit configured to perform optical measurement of the diluted sample reacted with reagents corresponding to test items in the reaction containers; a storage unit configured to store information on the diluted sample associated with each of the dilution containers; and a dispensing control unit. The dispensing control unit extracts a dilution container for collecting the diluted sample for retest by searching for the information on the diluted sample stored in the storage unit, and causes the dispensing device to perform a retest dispensing process.

An automatic analyzer has a supply unit that stores and supplies a liquid to be used by the analyzer, an analyzer circulation system that circulates the liquid within the analyzer, and a supply unit circulation system that circulates the liquid within the supply unit. An analysis controller switches a flow rate of the liquid circulated by at least one of the analyzer circulation system and the supply unit circulation system between a first flow rate in a normal state and a second flow rate different from the first flow rate. Consequently, by suppressing fungal propagation within a circulation flow path for a liquid, compared to conventional techniques, the frequency with which a liquid is replaced and the frequency with which the inside of a reaction tank is cleaned are reduced and a time period for a maintenance operation by an operator is reduced.

A pipette module 10 has a pipette-module frame 12 attachable to the z-axis frame 120 of a liquid handling system 100. A translatory-motion frame 14 attached to the pipette-module frame 12 is movable with respect thereto by a motor 16. A pneumatic aspirator assembly 18 including a cylinder 20, tube 24, tube tip 26 and pressure sensor 28 is attached to the translatory-motion frame 14. A piston 22 disposed in the cylinder 20 is fixedly attached to the frame 12. A controller 30 for the pipette module 10 has a liquid surface detection mode which enables a pressure feedback control algorithm causing the motor 16 to move the translatory-motion frame 14 in a z-axis translator motion until a change in a pressure in the tip 26 as sensed by the pressure sensor 28 indicates that the tip 26 has made contact with the liquid surface 110.

An intermediate storage dosing unit for taking samples of a fluid. The intermediate storage dosing unit includes a container with an inlet and a two-way outlet. The two-way outlet has a riser as a first outlet and a drain as a second outlet. A system and a method for taking samples of a fluid. In particular, the system includes a sample acquisition unit and at least one sample vessel, the sample acquisition unit is configured to provide a fluid and the at least one sample vessel is configured to receive and store a fluid. A fluid transfer is also possible between the sample acquisition unit and the at least one sample vessel. The intermediate storage dosing unit of the type mentioned is connected between the sample acquisition unit and the at least one sample vessel.

A pipetting apparatus and method capable of detecting a liquid within an intermediate section of a pipette tube of the pipetting apparatus. The intermediate section is located between an upper section of the pipette tube at which a first electrode is arranged and a lower section at which a second electrode is arranged. The first and second electrodes form a measurement capacitor and are operationally connected to an impedance measurement unit, which is adapted to detect whether liquid, such as a portion of a sample liquid or system liquid, is present within the intermediate section based on the measured impedance or change of impedance, e.g. an increase of the capacitance and/or a decrease of the resistance, of the measurement capacitor caused by a presence of the liquid within the intermediate section.