The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating assay information with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system includes a reader adapted to read/erase/write information from/to an assay consumable identifier associated with the assay consumable. Various types of assay information are described, as well as methods of using such information in the conduct of an assay by an assay system.

An analysis device management system manages one or a plurality of analysis devices and includes a first generator that one-to-one corresponds to each analysis device and manages state information of a corresponding analysis device, a storage that stores the module, a receiver that receives an analysis execution request for using the one or plurality of analysis devices, and a state manager that updates the state information of one or a plurality of modules corresponding to the one or plurality of analysis devices designated by the received analysis execution request.

A computer-implemented method for determining failures in laboratory equipment comprising: a) receiving a desired probability of false rejection ({hacek over (P)}.sub.fr) and a desired error detection rate ({hacek over (E)}.sub.D), such as a desired probability of error detection ({hacek over (P)}.sub.ed), relating to one or more QC levels (J) of quality control (QC) samples to be processed by the equipment; b) setting a number of runs (R) to one; c) calculating an error detection rate (Ê.sub.D) based at least partially on R; d) determining if Ê.sub.D is below {hacek over (E)}.sub.D, and if so: increase R by one, and repeat steps c) to d), and if not: define a rule for determining failures in the laboratory equipment based, at least partially, on R; e) receiving or collecting standardized QC results; f) applying the rule defined in step d) to the standardized QC results; g) determining failures in the equipment, if the standardized QC results comply with the rule.

Carriers are provided for microbiological laboratory use, as are methods for their use. The carriers may be used to transport patient samples between laboratory stations and can be loaded into automated AST systems. In an aspect, a method of performing AST may include loading a tube comprising a patient sample onto a carrier. An AST panel may be loaded onto the carrier. The carrier may be conveyed to an automated inoculation assembly. The patient sample may be inoculated from the tube into the AST panel. The AST panel may be loaded into an automated AST system.

A method of controlling a blood analyzer for measuring platelets is provided. The method comprises: determining a relationship between at least one first measurement value obtained by detecting platelets in at least one previous test by an electrical type detector of the blood analyzer and at least one second measurement value obtained by detecting the platelets in the at least one previous test by an optical type detector of the blood analyzer, and controlling the blood analyzer to prepare the first and/or second measurement sample for a current test according to the determined relationship.

To reduce the risk of mistaken operation and improve convenience in an automatic analysis device. Information about types of measurement inputted from an input device is combined in an examination mode creation screen image 301 on a display device of an automatic analysis device that performs analysis of specific types of measurement on a specimen container accommodating a specimen, the information about types of measurement including biochemistry examination items 303, immunology examination items 304, ISE examination items 304, blood clotting examination items 306, etc. This information is associated with an examination mode name 302, which comprises discretionary setting information, and is stored in a table of a storage unit. Information which is to be displayed on the display device and for which a change in settings is to be enabled is limited on the basis of the stored information about types of measurement associated with the examination mode name 302.

Provided is an automatic analyzer that has a plurality of mechanisms including a mechanism that suctions reaction waste liquid and a mechanism that suctions cleaning liquid, etc. on a sample and a probe surface, the automatic analyzer reducing pressure in a vacuum tank using a pressure-reducing pump, etc., and suctioning waste liquid by negative pressure in the vacuum tank. A contact point of a vacuum switch that is provided in the vacuum tank is closed when the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches a specified negative pressure, and then the analyzer becomes ready for analysis. If any flow path portion of any mechanism that connects with the vacuum tank becomes clogged, suctioning operation cannot be performed properly and analysis performance is affected. The vacuum pump is switched off at a timing at which each solenoid valve connecting to the vacuum pump is individually opened, and the time that elapses before the pressure in the vacuum tank reaches the specified negative pressure is measured. The measured time is compared with parameters in a normal case, and the presence or absence of an anomaly is determined.

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.

A system for managing modular analyzing devices 110a-c includes: a means 161 for acquiring the serial number of modules included in each analyzing device; a means 161 for acquiring information on an expendable part included in each module; a storage section 152 for storing the acquired serial number and expendable-part information in the state of being associated with a system controller to which the module corresponding to the serial number is connected; a transfer detector 164 for detecting a transfer of an operation module based on the serial numbers associated with each system controller; and an information manager 163 for changing the association of the expendable-part information in the storage section, from the state of being associated with the system controller on the giving end of the transfer, to the state of being associated with the system controller on the receiving end of the transfer, when the transfer is detected.

A sample is measured using a cartridge from a batch comprising a plurality of cartridges of the same type. The measurement results measured in the process are evaluated. In order to evaluate the measurement results, reference results are used in addition, which reference results were measured previously, separately, during measurements of reference samples, using a plurality of cartridges of the same batch. An analyte of the sample is determined from the measurement results. During the evaluation, the reference results and/or measurement results are preferably normalized.