A container or consumable like a reaction tube for use in diagnostic assays. The present disclosure provides a system for fluid handling and transport, comprising a plate with at least one cavity for receiving a fluid which is surrounded by a rim, and a separate cover comprising a centrally arranged surface as a sealing element which is surrounded by a rim, wherein the plate or the cover comprise at least one snap-fit mechanism for connecting at least two plates, at least two covers or a plate and a cover, wherein the snap-fit mechanism extends upwards or downwards from the surrounding rim of the plate or the cover, and wherein the rim of the plate or cover which is to be connected is configured for accommodating the snap-fit mechanism of an upper or lower plate or cover in a retaining element arranged at the rim.

A test system for analyzing a sample of a bodily fluid is provided and comprises: at least one test strip comprising at least one capillary channel comprising an inlet opening configured to receive the sample; a vent opening configured to provide an air vent to the capillary channel; and at least one zone consisting of a detection zone and a reagent zone; at least one measuring device configured for interacting with the test strip, the measuring device comprising at least one sealing element for hermetically sealing the vent opening from an ambient atmosphere; and at least one suction device adapted to provide an underpressure to the vent opening; wherein the measuring device further comprises at least one valve or is connectable to the valve, wherein the valve is configured to vent the vent opening of the test strip when the measuring device interacts with the test strip.

Pipette tip couplers, pipette tips, coupler and tip combinations, and methods for coupling and decoupling a pipette tip to or from, respectively, a pipette tip coupler mounted on a pipette device, are disclosed. The pipette tip couplers include an elastomeric element and an annular ring shaped raceway. When the pipette tip is mounted on the pipette tip coupler, the annular ring shaped raceway abuts a first portion of the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip, and the elastomeric element abuts a second portion of the interior surface of the circumscribing sidewall of the pipette tip.

An analyzer and method of analyzing a sample are provided. The method includes providing a sample on a substrate, and irradiating the sample with at least three incident beams of light. Each of the incident beams contains light of a different frequency, and the sample is substantially transmissive at each of the different frequencies. The method also includes providing a light sensing arrangement to receive light patterns from the incident beams that have passed through the substrate, and analyzing properties of the sample through identifying properties of the light patterns arising from diffraction of the light of the three incident beams by the sample. A difference in frequency between first and second ones of the incident beams is the same as a difference in frequency between second and third ones of the incident beams.

A separation container for extracting a portion of a sample for use or testing and method for preparing samples for downstream use or testing are provided. The separation container may include a body defining an internal chamber. The body may define an opening, and the body may be configured to receive the sample within the internal chamber. The separation container may further include a seal disposed across the opening, such that the seal may be configured to seal the opening of the body, and a plunger movably disposed at least partially inside the internal chamber. The plunger may be configured to be actuated to open the seal and express the portion of the sample.

A cartridge assembly comprises a housing having an illumination chamber and a well plate. The well plate is maintained within the housing and has liquid wells to receive desired amounts of liquids. The well plate includes a fluidics analysis station aligned with the illumination chamber, and an interface window and interface ports located at the fluidics analysis station. The well plate includes a valve station and pump station. A piercer unit is provided in the housing and positioned proximate to the wells. The piercer unit includes a piercer element and is to be moved to a piercing position where the piercer element pierces a cover for the corresponding well. A pump assembly on the well plate at the pump station manages fluid flow through the channels between the pump station and the fluidics analysis station. The housing includes a flow cell chamber to receive a removable flow cell cartridge.

A receptacle includes an upper portion having a cylindrical portion and an open end and a lower portion depending from the upper portion, where the lower portion is tapered and has a closed bottom end. The receptacle may include a radially-extending annular ring with a flat or sloped bottom surface and disposed on an outer surface of the receptacle at a transition between the upper portion and the lower portion and/or a radially-projecting lip circumscribing the open end, which may be configured for inter-locking engagement with a mated cap inserted into the open end of the upper portion. Embodiments may include one or more longitudinally-oriented grooves formed in an inner surface of the upper portion. The receptacle may be a unitary plastic structure.

A container set including: a filter unit; and a closing unit that is attachable to and detachable from the filter unit. The filter unit includes: a housing having a sample introduction opening provided at one end, and a liquid discharging opening provided at the second end; and a filter fixed to the housing. The housing has a first joining part, and the closing unit has a second joining part configured to be joinable with the first joining part. The first joining part and the second joining part are configured such that the liquid discharging opening is spatially closed in a state in which the two joining parts are joined together. A space between the closing unit and the filter is made into a positive pressure relative to a pressure in the sample holding space by pushing the filter unit and the closing unit such that the distance therebetween is shortened.

A displacement device for displacing a displacement volume is disclosed. The device has a first fluid space and a second fluid space. A first piston is arranged in a movable manner within the first fluid space. The first fluid space is connectable to a pipetting device. The first piston is actuatable by an actuation volume of air or of liquid provided by the pipetting device. A second piston is arranged in a movable manner within the second fluid space. The second piston is constructed to displace a displacement volume of a fluid located within the second fluid space when the second piston is actuated. The second piston is actuated in dependence on the first piston that is actuated by the actuation volume. The actuation volume is different from the displacement volume, and a pipetting system has a displacement device and a method of displacing a displacement volume.