An automatic analysis device includes a processing unit 3 which performs the treatment on a specimen before analysis of the specimen, supply equipment which supplies a reagent to a reaction vessel 11 disposed in the processing unit 3, a liquid temperature adjusting unit 1 which adjusts a temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel 11 by the supply equipment, a control unit 201, and a first temperature detection unit 4 which detects at least one temperature of a temperature of the air within the processing unit 3 and a temperature of the reagent supplied to the reaction vessel 11, in which the liquid temperature adjusting unit 1 and the control unit 201 execute temperature adjustment of the reagent based on a first temperature detected by the first temperature detection unit 4.

Disclosed herein are solvent reservoir systems for steady flow delivery and simultaneous monitoring of solvent level and solvent density within the solvent reservoir systems and methods for monitoring the solvent reservoir systems and providing feedback to a user or adjusting the systems in response to the monitored characteristics.

The invention provides a passive fluidics circuit for directing different fluids to a common volume, such as a reaction chamber or flow cell, without intermixing or cross contamination. The direction and rate of flow through junctions, nodes and passages of the fluidics circuit are controlled by the states of upstream valves (e.g. opened or closed), differential fluid pressures at circuit inlets or upstream reservoirs, flow path resistances, and the like. Free diffusion or leakage of fluids from unselected inlets into the common outlet or other inlets at junctions or nodes is prevented by the flow of the selected inlet fluid, a portion of which sweeps by the inlets of unselected fluids and exits the fluidics circuit by waste ports, thereby creating a barrier against undesired intermixing with the outlet flow through leakage or diffusion.

An analysis system may perform operations on an analyte that may be combined with multiple regents prior to being introduced into a flow cell. The instrument may include a volume into which the reagents to be combined with the analyte are aspirated one-by-one. The volume may be formed as a serpentine channel in a valve manifold associated with sippers for aspirating the reagents. The reagents may then be mixed by cycling a pump to move the reagents within the mixing volume or channel. For this, the reagents may be aspirated from a recipient into the volume or channel, ejected back into the recipient, and this process may be performed repeatedly to enhance mixing.

There are provided an apparatus capable of treating biological particles in a sterile state, and a treatment apparatus. An apparatus for forming a liquid flow including biological particles includes: a chamber member; a sample liquid supply portion; a sheath liquid supply portion; and a vibrating electrode member. The chamber member includes a chamber and a flow cell extending from an interior to an exterior of the chamber. The sample liquid supply portion is configured to supply a sample liquid including the biological particles into the chamber. The sheath liquid supply portion is configured to supply a sheath liquid into the chamber. The vibrating electrode member extends from the interior to the exterior of the chamber, is made of an electrically conductive material, and is configured to be capable of supplying an electric charge to the sheath liquid and the sample liquid in the chamber and propagating an ultrasonic vibration.

Contamination detection systems, kits, and techniques are described for testing surfaces for the presence of analytes of interest, including hazardous contaminants, while minimizing user exposure to these contaminants. Even trace amounts of contaminants can be detected. A collection device provides a swab that is simple to use, easy to hold and grip, allows the user to swab large areas of a surface, and keeps the user's hands away from the surface being tested. The collection device also includes a test strip, and provides a closed fluid transfer mechanism to transfer the collected fluid from the swab to the test strip while minimizing user exposure to hazardous contaminants in the collected fluid. Contamination detection kits can rapidly collect and detect hazardous drugs, including trace amounts of antineoplastic agents, in healthcare settings at the site of contamination.

A cartridge comprises a housing; a sample mixing compartment disposed within the housing, the sample mixing compartment comprising: an activation pouch, and a sample collection region; and a gas transporter tube having a first end and a second end, the tube being disposed within the housing adjacent to the sample mixing compartment, wherein the sample mixing compartment is partially defined by a moveable door of the housing, the moveable door providing access to the sample mixing compartment when the door is in an open position and preventing access to the sample mixing compartment when the door is in a closed position; and wherein the door is configured to release contents of the activation pouch upon movement from the open position to the closed position.

The present invention provides methods and devices for simple, low power, automated processing of biological samples through multiple sample preparation and assay steps. The methods and devices described facilitate the point-of-care implementation of complex diagnostic assays in equipment-free, non-laboratory settings. The invention includes a microfluidic device comprising a reagent-dispensing unit, a sample extraction device and a specimen processing unit.

Since a detergent is a consumption article, it is desirable that a use amount of the detergent be as small as possible in a limit that the washing effect is not substantially reduced. Provided is an automatic analyzer which includes a syringe pump which is connected to a probe and performs the body aspiration and discharge, a feed pump which feeds washing water for washing the inside of the probe to the probe via the syringe pump and a controller which controls the dispensing mechanism and the syringe pump, in which the controller, in a case of washing the probe by sucking a detergent in the probe a plurality of times, controls the syringe pump so as to discharge the detergent after sucking the detergent and to suck the next detergent without feeding the washing water to the probe by the feed pump.

The present invention is directed to a cartridge device for a measuring system for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular a blood sample, comprising a cartridge body having at least one measurement cavity formed therein and having at least one probe element arranged in said at least one measurement cavity for performing a test on said sample liquid; and a cover being attachable on said cartridge body; wherein said cover covers at least partially said at least one measurement cavity and forms a retaining element for retaining said probe element in a predetermined position within said at least one measurement cavity. The invention is directed to a measurement system and a method for measuring viscoelastic characteristics of a sample liquid.