A quantitative method for diagnosing an autoimmune disease or an infectious disease comprising performing an automated diagnostic assay, comprising: incubating a capture reagent with a streptavidin-coated medium to form a solid phase complex, wherein the capture reagent is a biotinylated autoantigen or infectious disease antigen; washing the solid phase complex to remove excess capture reagent; incubating the solid phase complex with a serum sample to form an immune complex; washing the immune complex to remove any unbound sample; incubating the immune complex with a conjugate to create an immune-conjugate complex; washing the immune-conjugate complex to remove any unbound conjugate; introducing a substrate capable of generating a quantifiable response; and calibrating the response generated from introducing the substrate.

A quantitative method for performing an automated diagnostic assay, comprising: incubating a capture reagent with a streptavidin-coated medium to form a solid phase complex; washing the solid phase complex to remove excess capture reagent; incubating the solid phase complex with a serum sample to form an immune complex; washing the immune complex to remove any unbound sample; incubating the immune complex with a conjugate to create an immune-conjugate complex; washing the immune-conjugate complex to remove any unbound conjugate; introducing a substrate capable of generating a quantifiable response; and calibrating the response generated from introducing the substrate.

Various embodiments of a light detection device and a method of using the device are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the light detection device can include a housing that extends along a housing axis between top and bottom surfaces. The device can also include a port that is adapted to receive a sample, and a door connected to the housing. The door can include an actuator portion adapted to selectively move the door between a closed position and an open position, and a cover portion connected to the actuator portion and adapted to close the port when the door is in the closed position and open the port when the door is in the open position to allow external access to the port.

An optical measuring device for measuring light emitted from a sample includes a container cavity for receiving a container in which the sample is enclosed; a light detection unit for detecting light from the sample; a light guide path for guiding the light from the sample to the light detection unit; and a light absorbing unit for absorbing incident light. An end of the light guide path to receive the incident light faces the container cavity, a light exit end of the light guide path faces the light detection unit, and the light absorbing unit covers the perimeter of the light guide path other than the light-receiving-end and the light exit end thereof.

A light shield is arranged in a light shielding position with respect to a sensor or a blood leakage detector installed in a medical apparatus and monitoring for changes of transmittance in a translucent fluid carried in a tubing connected to the medical apparatus. The light shield has a non-transparent configuration and is configured to prevent environmental light from being incident on a relevant detection active sensor area. Further, a disposable kit for a medical apparatus which is arranged to be mounted to the medical apparatus and to carry pre-installed disposables to be used during a medical treatment comprises a hard-shell subassembly arranged to be positioned in a region of the medical apparatus in the vicinity of a detection active sensor area of a sensor which is sensitive to light and installed in the medical apparatus. At least one light shield element is selected from first to third light shield elements, and the at least one light shield element is mounted to the hard-shell subassembly of the disposable kit in a region where the detection active sensor area is underneath.

The present invention is one that intends to achieve improvements in both analysis efficiency and analysis accuracy without difficulty, and a biological substance analysis device that analyzes light derived from a biological substance in a sample, and the biological substance analysis device includes: a holder that holds multiple containers containing the sample; a photodetector that is fixed at a predetermined position; a holder driving mechanism that moves the holder to position each of the containers held in the holder at a detection position by the photodetector in sequence; and a light shielding mechanism that, while guiding light emitted from the sample in a container at the detection position to the photodetector, prevents light emitted from the sample in the other containers from being guided to the photodetector.

Various embodiments of a light detection device and a method of using the device are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the light detection device can include a housing that extends along a housing axis between top and bottom surfaces. The device can also include a port that is adapted to receive a sample, and a door connected to the housing. The door can include an actuator portion adapted to selectively move the door between a closed position and an open position, and a cover portion connected to the actuator portion and adapted to close the port when the door is in the closed position and open the port when the door is in the open position to allow external access to the port.

Various embodiments of a light detection device and a method of using such device are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the light detection device can include a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface, where the housing extends along a housing axis between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a support member connected to the housing and adapted to be selectively moved from a closed position to an open position. The support member is further adapted to maintain the light detection device in an upright position when the bottom surface and the support member are in contact with a working surface and the support member is in the open position.

Various embodiments of a light detection device and a method of using such device are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the light detection device can include a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface, where the housing extends along a housing axis between the top surface and the bottom surface; and a support member connected to the housing and adapted to be selectively moved from a closed position to an open position. The support member is further adapted to maintain the light detection device in an upright position when the bottom surface and the support member are in contact with a working surface and the support member is in the open position.

A method for producing seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by a combine harvester, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.