A method and instrument for determining optical density of a solution is disclosed. A flow cell 1 having at least three light paths (4a, 4b, 4c) is provided (100), wherein each light path has a respective predetermined path length, l. Absorbance readings are taken (400), A, of the solution at the at least three light paths (4a, 4b, 4c). For each pair of light paths, a slope, αc, is calculated (500) by dividing a difference in absorbance reading, ΔA, with a difference in path length, Δl. The calculated slopes, αc, are compared (600), and a) if the calculated slopes, αc, are the same, the slope is used for determining (700) optical density of the solution, or b) if he calculated slopes, αc, are not the same, the steepest slope of the calculated slopes is used for determining (701a) optical density of the solution, or the slope of the calculated slopes being in the range of an absorbance reading of 0.01 to 2 is used for determining (701b) optical density of the solution

The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element. The reading apparatus of the present invention allows light from a specific area of the testing element to be received by the photodetector and blocks invalid light from unrelated areas from entering the photodetector, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of detection.

The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element. The reading apparatus of the present invention allows light from a specific area of the testing element to be received by the photodetector and blocks invalid light from unrelated areas from entering the photodetector, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of detection.

This determination method comprises the steps consisting of providing a reaction vessel (2) containing a blood sample (33) and a ferromagnetic ball (11) placed on a raceway (9) provided in the bottom of the reaction vessel (2), subjecting the ball (11) to a magnetic field so as to move the ball along the raceway (9) in an oscillatory motion, exposing the blood sample to an incident light beam (36), detecting a light beam (38) transmitted through the reaction vessel (2) and coming from the incident light beam (36) in such a way as to provide a measurement signal, carrying out a first processing of the measurement signal in such a way as to provide a first signal representative of the variation of at least one physical quantity representative of the movement of the ball (11), carrying out a second processing of the measurement signal in such a way as to provide a second signal representative of the variation of at least one optical property of the blood sample, determining a first value of the coagulation time of the blood sample from the first signal, and determining a second value of the coagulation time of the blood sample from the second signal.

A method to make it possible to obtain a value related to the amount of DD by FDP measurement. The method includes optically measuring a first calibration sample prepared from an FDP measurement reagent and a first calibrator containing D-dimer (DD) and having a first value relating to the ratio of the content of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product FDP to the content of DD, acquiring first calculation data based on temporal change of optical information obtained by optical measurement of the first calibration measurement sample, performing optical measurement of a second calibration measurement sample prepared from FDP measurement reagent and a second calibrator containing DD and having a second value that is different from the first value related to the ratio of the content of FDP to the content of DD, acquiring second calculated data based on a temporal change in optical information obtained by optical measurement of the second calibration measurement sample, and acquiring calibration curve information indicating the relationship between the calculation data and the value relating to the amount of DD based on the first calculation data, the second calculation data, the first value, and the second value.

A blood analyzing method includes optically measuring a first calibration sample prepared from a fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) measurement reagent and a first calibrator containing D-dimer (DD) and having a first value relating to the ratio of the content of FDP to the content of DD, acquiring first calculation data based on temporal change of optical information of the first calibration measurement sample, performing optical measurement of a second calibration measurement sample prepared from FDP measurement reagent and a second calibrator containing DD and having a second value that is different from the first value, acquiring second calculated data based on a temporal change in optical information of the second calibration measurement sample, and acquiring calibration curve information indicating the relationship between the calculation data and the value relating to the amount of DD.

A model-based method of inspecting a specimen for presence of one or more interferent, such as Hemolysis, Icterus, and/or Lipemia (HI L) is provided. The method includes generating a pixelated image of the specimen in a first color space, determining color components (e.g., an a-value and a b-value) for pixels in the pixelated image, classifying of the pixels as being either liquid or non-liquid, defining one or more liquid regions based upon the pixels classified as liquid, and determining a presence of one or more interferent within the one or more liquid regions. The liquid classification is based upon a liquid classification model. Pixel classification may be based on a trained multiclass classifier. Interference level for the one or more interferent may be provided. Testing apparatus adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element. The reading apparatus of the present invention allows light from a specific area of the testing element to be received by the photodetector and blocks invalid light from unrelated areas from entering the photodetector, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of detection.

The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element. The reading apparatus of the present invention allows light from a specific area of the testing element to be received by the photodetector and blocks invalid light from unrelated areas from entering the photodetector, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of detection.

This determination method comprises the steps consisting of providing a reaction vessel (2) containing a blood sample (33) and a ferromagnetic ball (11) placed on a raceway (9) provided in the bottom of the reaction vessel (2), subjecting the ball (11) to a magnetic field so as to move the ball along the raceway (9) in an oscillatory motion, exposing the blood sample to an incident light beam (36), detecting a light beam (38) transmitted through the reaction vessel (2) and coming from the incident light beam (36) in such a way as to provide a measurement signal, carrying out a first processing of the measurement signal in such a way as to provide a first signal representative of the variation of at least one physical quantity representative of the movement of the ball (11), carrying out a second processing of the measurement signal in such a way as to provide a second signal representative of the variation of at least one optical property of the blood sample, determining a first value of the coagulation time of the blood sample from the first signal, and determining a second value of the coagulation time of the blood sample from the second signal.