A rack for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The rack accepts complementary reagent holders, each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.

A test device is configured for diagnostic testing and includes an optical readable medium, in turn including a pattern of spots of material arranged on a surface of the device. Several patterns may be provided. The patterns accordingly formed may be human and/or machine readable. They may notably encode security information, e.g., indicating whether the device has already been used. The spots may notably be inkjet spotted. In addition, a method is provided for decoding information encoded in a pattern of such a test device. In embodiments, liquid is introduced in the device, which comprises additional spots having a substantially different solubility than spots forming the actual pattern. Thus, the additional spots get solubilized in and flushed by the liquid as the latter wets them, and an initially hidden pattern may be read, which is formed of the remaining spots (not solubilized). Encoding methods are also provided.

Sample traceability device and method for medical research and/or diagnosis. The invention relates to a sample traceability device for medical research and/or diagnosis, comprising a one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical code, the device comprising a system for reading one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical codes and a sample tracing control device comprising a sample tracing database manager, and a user interface screen. Said traceability device also comprises: an area for depositing at least two samples, a system for illuminating the deposit area, at least one digital camera oriented towards said deposit area, and a device for processing the image, said image processing device comprising: a module for locating said optical codes, and a module for reading the located optical codes, the sample tracing control device automatically receiving the information generated by the module for reading the located optical codes.

An automation system for an in vitro diagnostics environment includes a plurality of intelligent carriers that include onboard processing and navigation capabilities. A central scheduler can communicate wirelessly with the carriers to direct the carriers to carry a fluid sample to testing stations along a track within the automation system. The carriers can utilize landmarks and distance encoding to reach destinations accurately and quickly, including, for example within less than the time for a single operation cycle of an automated clinical analyzer. The distance encoding can include optical marks repeated at regular intervals (pitch), where the intervals are conveyed to the carriers wirelessly or via optical encoding. The pitch of the encoding can differ for different sections of track depending on the position precision desired.

A printer for printing on histology-laboratory consumable articles (16) includes an optical reading device (13), which reads an image pattern of a histology-laboratory consumable article (16) to be printed on by means of the printing device (4), generates analog or digital image-pattern image signals with regard to the read image pattern and transfers the image-pattern image signals to a control device (8) of the printer, and/or which reads an overprint (18) printed onto a histology-laboratory consumable article (16) by the printing device (4), generates analog or digital overprint image signals with regard to the read overprint (18) and transfers the overprint image signals to a control device (8) of the printer, which control device determines at least one quality parameter with regard to the overprint (18).

Sample traceability device and method for medical research and/or diagnosis. The invention relates to a sample traceability device for medical research and/or diagnosis, comprising a one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical code, the device comprising a system for reading one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical codes and a sample tracing control device comprising a sample tracing database manager, and a user interface screen. Said traceability device also comprises: an area for depositing at least two samples, a system for illuminating the deposit area, at least one digital camera oriented towards said deposit area, and a device for processing the image, said image processing device comprising: a module for locating said optical codes, and a module for reading the located optical codes, the sample tracing control device automatically receiving the information generated by the module for reading the located optical codes.

A control method and a control apparatus for a paraffin dispenser in an embedder, a paraffin dispenser and an embedder are provided. The control method includes: collecting information of a current mold so as to acquire an identification of the current mold; determining whether the identification of the current mold is correct; and controlling the paraffin dispenser to pour paraffin into the current mold, when it is determined that the identification of the current mold is correct.

A method of obtaining and analyzing at least one tissue sample includes forming, in a tissue container, first tracking data associated with the at least one tissue sample. Second tracking data is formed, in a transport container. The second tracking data is associated with the at least one tissue sample. The at least one tissue sample is placed in the tissue container. The first and second tracking data from the tissue container and the transport container are scanned with an electronic scanning system to ensure that the first and second tracking data are both associated with the removed tissue sample.

A blood testing apparatus includes an analyzer configured to analyze blood components of an animal that are included in a test medium; an output device configured to display analysis results of the blood components; and a controller configured to determine a species of the animal based on at least one from among types of the blood components and the analysis results of the blood components and control the output device to display the determined species of the animal.

Provided is a technique for increasing discriminating ability, preventing human error, and improving efficiency of discrimination in a discrimination operation for extracting a sample satisfying a specific condition from among a plurality of samples. A sample discrimination system according to the present disclosure is provided with a plurality of sample retaining devices for retaining samples, and a sample information query device for querying a sample retaining device that matches predetermined query information from among the plurality of sample retaining devices. The sample information query device has a query information input unit for inputting of predetermined query information, and a query information transmission unit for transmitting predetermined query information to the sample retaining devices. The sample retaining devices are each characterized by having a storage unit for storing sample information, a comparison unit for comparing predetermined query information and sample information, and a first display unit for outputting the result of comparison by the comparison unit.