The present disclosure is directed to a thin-film element that enables analytes to be analyzed on separate surfaces. In an example, a thin-film element includes a first layer for processing a fluid sample to generate a first analyte and a second analyte. The thin-film element also includes a second layer configured to be impermeable to the first analyte to enable the first analyte to be retained by the first layer and permeable to the second analyte to enable the second analyte to pass through the second layer. The thin-film element further includes a third layer configured to retain the second analyte. The second layer includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface to provide reflectance signals indicative of analytes present in the first and third layers to sensors located on opposite sides of the thin-film element.

The invention relates to methods for estimating a bilirubin level of a neonate, comprising the steps of acquiring a series of bilirubin levels estimated at different time points from a sample obtained from a neonate; acquiring a plurality of covariates from the neonate, each comprising an information about a neonatal property; providing a pre-defined bilirubin model function; determining a plurality of model parameters of the bilirubin model function; and determining from the series of acquired bilirubin levels and the bilirubin model function with the determined model parameters an expected bilirubin level of the neonate for a time particularly later than a lastly acquired bilirubin level of the series of bilirubin levels.

A Quality Control (QC) material for performing a QC procedure with respect to at least one detector is introduced. The QC material comprises at least one first QC substance and at least one second QC substance, wherein the first QC substance is interferable with the second QC substance or with the performance and/or lifetime of the detector and wherein the first QC substance is entrapped by carrier particles that prevent the first QC substance to interfere with the second QC substance or with the performance and/or lifetime of the detector. An in-vitro diagnostic system comprising a first detector and a second detector and the QC material is also introduced. An in-vitro diagnostic method comprising performing a QC procedure with respect to a first detector and/or to a second detector comprising providing the QC material is also introduced, as well as a method of manufacturing the QC material.

Sensor for the optical detection of free hemoglobin (96) in a whole blood sample (99), the sensor comprising a translucent slab (2) with a front side (3) and a back side (4) facing away from the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) is adapted for being contacted with a whole blood sample (99); a reflective layer (5) at the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2), the reflective layer (5) being adapted to reflect light reaching the reflective layer (5) from the translucent slab (2); an optical probing device comprising a light source (10) and a detector (20), wherein the light source (10) is adapted to illuminate at least pores in the translucent slab, wherein the detector (20) is arranged to receive light (21) emerging from the pores (6) in response to an illumination (11) by the light source (10), and wherein the detector (20) is adapted to generate a signal representative of the detected light. The translucent slab (2) is provided with dead-end pores (6) extending from the front side (3) into the translucent slab (2) in a direction towards the backside (4). Each of the pores (6) has a respective opening (7) in the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2) penetrating the reflecting layer (5). A cross-sectional dimension of the openings (7) of the pores (6) is dimensioned so as to prevent red blood cells (98) from entering the pores (6), while allowing free hemoglobin (96) to enter the pores (6).

A porous mirror (1) for detection of an analyte (96) in a fluid (99) by optical probing, comprising a translucent slab (2) with a front side (3), and a backside (4) facing away from the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) is adapted for being contacted with a fluid (99), and a reflective layer (5) at the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2), the reflective layer (5) being adapted to reflect light reaching the reflective layer from the backside (4) of the translucent slab (2), wherein the translucent slab (2) comprises pores (6), wherein the pores (6) are dead end pores (6) extending from respective openings (7) at the front side (3) into the translucent slab (2), through the reflective layer (5), wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the openings (7) of the pores (6) is dimensioned so as to prevent larger particles or debris, if any included the fluid, from entering the pores (6), while allowing the analyte (96) in the fluid (99) to enter the pores (6) via diffusion.

The present invention provides hydrophilic bilirubin derivative particles containing a metal, a use thereof, and a preparation method therefor. The bilirubin derivative particles of the present invention form coordinate bonds with various metals, and thus can be used in MR diagnosis, CT diagnosis, photo-acoustic diagnosis, PET diagnosis, or optical diagnosis. The bilirubin derivative particles of the present invention can release an anticancer drug encapsulated therein to the outside by the combination with a platinum-based anticancer drug and the degradation by a stimulation of light/reactive oxygen species, and exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, and thus the bilirubin derivative particles of the present invention have a concept of theranostics in which the bilirubin derivative particles can be for therapeutic uses as well as diagnostic uses.

In alternative embodiments are provided methods, devices and systems that use clinical data to determine whether bilirubin binding is normal in a newborn infant with hyperbilirubinemia in order to detect in vivo neurologically toxic levels of bilirubin and to determine whether treatment is needed to prevent a bilirubin-induced neurological injury (e.g. encephalopathy). In alternative embodiments, also provided are devices and systems comprising automated micro-fluid handling technologies such as zone fluidics systems to obtain a bilirubin binding panel. In alternative embodiments, also provided are methods for using the bilirubin binding panel to determine if treatments are needed to ameliorate, reverse, or prevent a bilirubin-induced neurological injury (e.g. encephalopathy) in an individual in need thereof such as a newborn with hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice), and for commencing the treatment, if needed.

A porous mirror (1) for detection of an analyte (96) in a fluid (99) by optical probing, comprising a translucent slab (2) with a front side (3), and a backside (4) facing away from the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) is adapted for being contacted with a fluid (99), and a reflective layer (5) at the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2), the reflective layer (5) being adapted to reflect light reaching the reflective layer from the backside (4) of the translucent slab (2), wherein the translucent slab (2) comprises pores (6), wherein the pores (6) are dead end pores (6) extending from respective openings (7) at the front side (3) into the translucent slab (2), through the reflective layer (5), wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the openings (7) of the pores (6) is dimensioned so as to prevent larger particles or debris, if any included the fluid, from entering the pores (6), while allowing the analyte (96) in the fluid (99) to enter the pores (6) via diffusion.

The present invention relates to a container comprising haemoglobin fractions, wherein said container comprising at least two compartments, wherein a first compartment comprises O2Hb (oxyhaemoglobin) and a second compartment comprises MetHb (methaemoglobin), optionally wherein O2Hb is stabilized. The invention also relates to a kit for determining the reliability of a CO-oximetry device, wherein said kit comprises said container and to a method for determining the reliability of a CO-oximetry device using said container.

A method for measuring bilirubin concentration in a sample includes preparing a sensing element, where the sensing element may include a plurality of carbon dots, adding the sample to the sensing element, where the sample may include a plurality of bilirubin molecules, obtaining a first grayscale image of the sensing element under ultra-violate (UV) irradiation, irradiating visible light with a wavelength between 470 nm and 490 nm on the sensing element, obtaining a second grayscale image of the sensing element under ultra-violate (UV) irradiation, calculating a light intensity difference by calculating a difference between a first average light intensity of the first grayscale image and a second average light intensity of the second image, and determining the bilirubin concentration based on a correlation between the bilirubin concentration and the light intensity difference.