A display method according to one or more aspects may be a method used in a sample analyzer comprising holders configured to hold reagent containers of reagents used for an analysis of a sample. The display method may include: displaying, on a display unit, icons respectively associated with the holders; receiving selection of icons from the icons displayed on the display unit; and receiving an instruction for a predetermined operation relevant to the selected icons.

The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

A method for compensating defective partitions of a microfluidic chip and a sample processing system for performing the method are disclosed. The microfluidic chip includes at least one array of partitions. The method includes generating image data of the microfluidic chip by imaging the microfluidic chip with an imaging device, providing a mask for at least one area of partitions to a data processing unit, applying the mask to (a) the image data, (b) at least one feature extracted from the image data, or (c) at least one value extracted from the image data, to generate masked data, and generating an analytical result for the sample using the masked data.

The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

The automatic analyzer includes a housing unit capable of housing a plurality of reagent bottles each of which has an IC tag on one surface of short-side side surfaces thereof, an antenna used to communicate with the IC tag, a detector that detects the presence or absence of a reagent bottles, and a control unit. The housing unit includes a housing container cooled by a cooling machine, a heat insulating material, a reagent tray provided with a plurality of reagent bottle holding portions that hold the reagent bottles, a disk rotatably holding the reagent tray, and a driving unit driving the disk, and when it is unable to communicate with the IC tag of the reagent bottle installed in the reagent bottle holding portion where the reagent bottle is detected by the detector, the control unit determines that the reagent bottle is installed in a reverse direction.

The invention relates to a pipetting device having an exchangeable pipette tip for suctioning and discharging fluid volumes for use in automated laboratory systems. The invention relates to a pipetting device having a pipette tip detection unit and for detecting a pipette tip on a pipette device of this type. A detection unit detects whether a pipette tip is connected to the pipette tube or determines a characteristic feature of the connected pipette tip. The pipette tip forms at least one portion of a first electrode when the pipette tip is in electrical operative contact with the pipette tube and, e.g., a pipette tip holder, a contact for setting down the pipette tip holder or a working table over which the pipette tube can be moved forms at least one portion of a second electrode.

A pipetting device having a lube has an opening al one end for suclioning or discharging a sample fluid and can be operatively connected to a pressure generation device at the other end, a first electrode is formed on the pipetting device and forms a measuring capacitor together with a second electrode formed by at least one part of the sample fluid that can be received in the tube and that measuring capacitor is operatively connected to a measuring unit, and the measuring unit is designed to determine a volume of the suctioned or discharged sample fluid according to the capacity of the measuring capacitor, as well as having a first electrical contact that is designed to create an electrical connection with the working fluid, the first electrical contact can be electrically connected to the measuring unit via a low-rcsistancc converter circuit.

The invention provides for an analysis system (100, 300, 400) for analyzing a biological sample (108) comprising an analyzer (102) with an analytical unit (106) for analyzing the biological sample to obtain an analysis result (140). The analyzer is configured for receiving a cartridge (110) comprising an identifier (114) and containing at least one reagent for analyzing the biological sample. The analyzer comprises an identification unit (116) for reading the identifier. The analyzer accepts the cartridge if the identifier is valid. The analysis system further comprises a protocol creation system (150, 104). Instructions cause the protocol creation system to: receive (200) analysis protocol parameters (164) from a user interface (158); generate (202) a custom analysis protocol (138) using the analysis protocol parameters; link (204) the custom analysis protocol to an invalid identifier which changes the invalid identifier into a valid identifier, and transfer (206) the user created analysis protocol associated with the now valid identifier to the analyzer controller.

A method is provided for associating an RFID tag to an RFID reader antenna in a laboratory device with a number N RFID reader antennae, the method including the steps of reading a unique identifier corresponding to each of a number M of RFID tag(s); registering received signal strength indications by each of the N RFID reader antennae of corresponding response signals from each RFID tag(s) and associating each RFID tag with the reader antenna having received the strongest received signal strength indication corresponding to the RFID tag. A laboratory device is also provided which is configured to perform the disclosed method.

The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.