Micro-biological colony counters and more particularly, systems and methods for feeding, identifying, counting, classifying, segregating and collecting organic samples such as but not limited to micro-organisms. The system can classify colonies in different classes such as bacteria and fungus present in an organic sample and also gives a digital count on the number of colonies present in each of the classes separately. The system reduces the time in counting and classification of microbes in each class separately, eliminates manual errors and requires less manual intervention. The system is reliable and can perform the counting and classification of microbes in each class separately even in absence of well-trained technician. The system can count surface colonies in petri-dish and can count colonies in different size or diameter of petri-dish.

Devices and methods used collect and transport a biological specimen are disclosed. The devices include a vial defining a specimen chamber to retain a specimen, a collection member to collect a specimen, and a cap containing a liquid medium to treat the specimen for transport. The cap includes a puncture member to puncture a seal to release the liquid medium from the cap.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) and method (2) for automatically preparing liquid-based cytology (LBC) slides (107) by means of filtration comprising of at least one substrate (101) for holding a vial (103) containing specimen, a filter (105) and a slide (107) wherein said substrate (101) is located at a first station (FS); at least one working station (WS) comprises of a working platform (109) connected to said first station (FS) wherein said first station (FS) includes a vertical rotary conveyor system (121) which is flexible, user friendly and capable of providing uniformity of the cell distribution in the homogenous thin-layer LBC slides (107) as well as increase system throughput.

A portable temperature-controlled container for receiving and housing one or more handheld carriers, each handheld carrier configured to transfer samples to and from a temperature-controlled storage environment, the handheld carrier including a handle and a tray portion, the tray portion configured to be slid into a port of a rack or tower provided in the temperature-controlled storage environment in order to withdraw a sample located in the port, the portable temperature-controlled container including a housing having an opening forming an internal cavity configured to receive one or more handheld carriers, and a lid configured to substantially close the opening, where the housing includes a recess configured to receive the handle of the handheld carrier such that closing of the lid substantially seals the internal cavity when the one or more handheld carriers are placed in the housing.

A sample collection system can include a sample collection vessel having a sample collection chamber with an opening configured to receive a sample into the sample collection chamber. The sample collection system can additionally include a selectively movable sleeve valve configured to associate with the opening of the sample collection chamber. The sample collection system can include a sealing cap that is configured to associate with the selectively movable sleeve valve and with the sample collection vessel. The sealing cap can include a reagent chamber having reagent(s) stored therein, and when the sealing cap is associated with the sample collection vessel, the selectively movable sleeve valve opens, dispensing the reagent(s) into the sample collection chamber. When the selectively moveable sleeve associates with the sample collection chamber, an outer sleeve slides relative to an inner vessel, opening the sleeve and dispensing reagent into the sample collection chamber.

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.

In some embodiments, a kit for preparing a cell suspension may include a device and a housing. The device may include a first label identifying a first reservoir of the device for use with a first portion of a tissue processing method and a second label identifying a second reservoir of the device for use with a second portion of the tissue processing method. The housing includes a first housing portion configured to store a first set of components associated with the first portion of the tissue processing method. The first housing portion includes a first visual indicator associated with the first label of the device. The second housing portion may be configured to store a second set of components associated with the second portion of the tissue processing method. The second housing portion may include a second visual indicator associated with the second label of the device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container holding member that is capable of simply, surely, and stably holding a plurality of medical containers, and that is usable efficiently for medical containers. The present invention is a container holding member capable of holding a plurality of bottomed tubular medical containers. The container holding member is provided with a flat plate-like substrate section having a plurality of through holes penetrating one surface and the other surface and a plurality of tubular housing sections each having an upper side opening end on a side of the one surface of the substrate section and a lower side opening end on a side of the other surface and each protruding upward or downward from a hole edge of each of the through holes. The tubular housing sections are each configured to be capable of holding each of the medical containers in a state where an outer bottom surface of each of the medical containers protrudes downward from the lower side opening end when the medical containers are housed in the tubular housing sections.

A plate changer includes a plate storage that includes therein a plate setting base, and is provided with a transport window for retrieving, in one direction in a horizontal plane, a sample plate set on the plate setting base; and a transport mechanism that has at least a pair of holding portions holding both side surfaces of a sample plate, and holds and transports the sample plate by the holding portions. The plate storage has a plate guide that supports a side surface of the sample plate set on the plate setting base and guides the sample plate to a predetermined setting position. When the holding portion is inserted into the plate storage from the transport window, the plate guide is configured to move to a position not interfering with the action of the holding portion.

A test tube rack of an analyzer pipeline includes multiple test tube holders for holding test tubes. The test tube rack of an analyzer pipeline comprises a light blocker configured at a side wall of the test tube rack and across multiple test tube holders. A second feature area is on the light blocker between two adjacent test tube holders, a first feature area is between two adjacent second feature areas and a step gap with a predetermined depth is between the first feature area and a second feature area.