Fiducial markers are provided on patterned arrays of the type that may be used for molecular analysis, such as sequencing. The fiducials may have configurations that enhance their detection in image or detection data, that facilitate or improve processing, that provide encoding of useful information, and so forth. Examples of the fiducials may include features and materials that are provided on or in the support of the array and that return at least a portion of incident light by reflection. The fiducials may form gratings or other encoding configurations that assist in image processing, alignment, or other aspects of processing of the array.

A method to correct signal light intensities measured by a detector of a detection unit in a laboratory instrument is presented. The detection unit comprises a light source, a sample plane comprising a sample holder configured to hold at least one sample vessel comprising a test sample to be illuminated, a reference light sensor, and the detector. Based on a basic light intensity of a newly manufactured light source and an initial light intensity measured by the reference light sensor the sensitivity of the reference light sensor can be determined. And signal light intensities measured by the detector can be corrected based on the determined sensitivity and subsequently measured reference light intensities of the reference light sensor in order to generate comparable test results.

The present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods, for performing biological and chemical assays.

Systems and methods provide for detection and controlled interaction with one or more objects. The system can include an imaging subsystem (20), a tool subsystem (26) containing one or more tools, a stage subsystem (16) and a control system (40). The control system (40) can integrate controls for each of the other subsystems, which controls can be implement desired functions over a variety of process parameters to perform the controlled interaction.

A system is disclosed for measuring head framing and tip straightness in a liquid handler. The present system uses a test plate, having an upper surface formed of clay or other impressionable material. The test plate may be placed at a liquid handling station. Pipette tips may then be loaded onto the head, and the head positioned at the station including the test plate. The head may be actuated in the z-direction so that he tips leave an imprint in the upper surface of the test plate. The imprint of the tips on the test plate may then be analyzed using any of a variety of measurement techniques to determine head framing alignment or misalignment.

The presently described techniques relate generally to providing motion feedback (e.g., motion system calibration and/or sample alignment) in the context of an imaging system (such as a time delay and integration (TDI) based imaging system). The architecture and techniques discussed may achieve nanoscale control and calibration of a movement feedback system without a high-resolution encoder subsystem or, in the alternative embodiments, with a lower resolution (and correspondingly less expensive) encoder subsystem than might otherwise be employed. By way of example, certain embodiments described herein relate to ascertaining or calibrating linear motion of a sample holder surface using nanoscale features (e.g., sample sites or nanowells or lithographically patterned features) provided on a surface of the sample holder.

Small batch packaging for vial seals and vial stoppers is provided. The packaging includes a vial tray having a plurality of individual spaced-apart vial receptacles for receiving respective vials. The packaging also includes a vial seal tray having a plurality of individual spaced-apart seal receptacles for receiving respective vial seals. The packaging further includes a stopper tray having a plurality of individual spaced-apart stopper receptacles for receiving respective vial seals. A seal channel may extend through the plurality of individually spaced-apart seal receptacles to form a clearance for facilitating grasping of each vial seal. Similarly, a stopper channel may extend through the plurality of individually spaced-apart stopper receptacles to form a clearance for facilitating grasping of each vial stopper.

A carrier support moveable between a first position and a second position is configured to hold a carrier for holding a plurality of receptacles. The carrier support includes a carrier locking mechanism to lock the carrier with respect to the carrier support when the carrier support is in the second position and to release the carrier when the carrier support is in the first position to permit the carrier to be removed from the carrier support when the carrier support is in the first position. The carrier locking mechanism includes a pivoting latch configured to pivot between a first position not engaged with a portion of the carrier and a second position engaged with a portion of the carrier and a slide latch configured to translate linearly between a first position not engaged with a portion of the carrier and a second position engaged with a portion of the carrier.

An input module includes a carrier shelf for supporting a receptacle carrier, a retrieval dock configured to receive one receptacle from a carrier supported on the carrier shelf and present the receptacle for removal by a receptacle transport apparatus, and a pusher configured to push receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier and to push one receptacle at a time off the end of the carrier and onto the retrieval dock. A method for determining a number of receptacles on a carrier includes placing the carrier on a carrier shelf, pushing receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier with a packer, detecting a position of the packer the receptacles have been pushed to the end of the carrier, and determining the number of receptacles on the carrier from the position of the packer. A method for packing receptacles supported by a carrier comprises placing the carrier on a carrier shelf, contacting an end-most one of the receptacles on the carrier with a packer comprising a packer carriage and a contact portion projecting from the packer carriage, and pushing the receptacles to one end of the carrier with the packer.

An improved system, method and interface for automated rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is disclosed which includes, in one aspect, a carrier population station comprising a workstation having a graphic user interface (GUI). The GUI accepts information from a lab technologist, including information related to a scope of testing to be performed on a microorganism containing sample. The GUI controls intelligent assignment of microorganism containing samples to test panels in a manner that maximize utilization of the test carrier by grouping together samples of similar tests scopes and advantageously testing those samples using one multiplexed test panel. Customizing workflow in accordance with test scope to facilitate parallel processing of multiple samples advantageously reduces laboratory waste, decreases test latencies, increases AST system throughput and efficiency, and thus lowers the costs to the AST lab.