The method presented here is used to determine the volume dispensed by any liquid handling device (automated or manual) . A reference curve is first generated by spectroscopically reading a fixed-volume set of known, variable-concentration derivatives of a single dye. During testing the liquid handling device dispenses a yet undetermined volume of known-concentration dye into a known volume of diluent which results in a new dye concentration (resultant concentration). The absorbance of the resultant concentration is then compared to the absorbance vs concentration relationship of the earlier generated reference curve to determine the volume of dye (hence volume) dispensed by the liquid handling device. This method is an alternative to the dual dye and gravimetric volume verification methodologies. It considers and corrects for the uncertainties found in a traditional single dye approach as stated in the IWA-15 ISO standard. The system and method is distributed in bundled kits including but not limited to standardized labware, a calibrated reference pipette, a proprietary Validation Reference Plate (VRP) which automates reference curve generation, a spectrophotometer calibration plate for NIST Traceability, an environmental monitor, reference reagents, test reagents, an apparatus for quality assurance and control during manufacturing, and proprietary software for data analysis and reporting.

A method of conducting a biological assay, comprises obtaining data corelative to a temperature of a reagent, mixing the reagent with a sample to provide a mixture, receiving from the mixture a signal indicative of an amount of an analyte in the sample, and correcting the amount based on the obtained data and on a type of the reagent.

A method for validating a method for sterilizing an item, making it possible to validate the sterility assurance level achieved with this sterilization method. The method includes carrying out a first step of contaminating a container receiving the item with more than 10.sup.5 living microorganism cells, then carrying out a first sterilization cycle with the chosen method, then opening the container in order to contaminate it again with more than 10.sup.5 living microorganism cells, then carrying out a second sterilization cycle with the same method, and finally checking the sterility of the container after the first sterilization cycle and after the second sterilization cycle. The method is applicable in particular for products and devices intended for health use.

Managing reagent replacement and calibration/quality management processing for analysis devices is performed by a management device configured to manage analysis devices in a clinical laboratory having a cabinet storing a reagent used for measurement by analysis devices or a calibration/quality management sample. The management device includes a reagent detection unit configured to detect a timing to start reagent replacement preparation, based on a remaining amount of in-measurement reagents and a first preparation time required for replacing the reagent. Calibration/quality management processing preparation timing detection units are configured to detect a timing to start calibration/quality management processing preparation, based on the remaining amount of the in-measurement reagent. A notification person-in-charge determination unit notifies a laboratory technician of a request for the reagent replacement preparation or the calibration/quality management processing preparation upon receiving detection of a timing by the detection units.

A toilet for administering a product to a user is disclosed. The toilet includes a bowl, a mechanism for administering the product to the user, a storage structure for storing the product, a sensor that detects a property of the product, and a processor. The bowl is adapted to receiving excreta from the user. The processor compares the detected property with a range of values indicating the suitability of the product for being applied to a user. The processor generates an alert when the detected property falls outside the range of values.

Disclosed is a specimen analyzer configured to perform analysis on a specimen for a plurality of measurement items, the specimen analyzer including a measurement section configured to perform a specimen measurement for measuring a measurement sample prepared from a specimen and a reagent corresponding to a measurement item, and configured to perform a quality control measurement for measuring a measurement sample prepared from a quality control substance and a reagent corresponding to a measurement item; and a controller programmed to set a quality control for each measurement item, from a quality control group that includes at least two types of quality controls selected from a first quality control in which the quality control measurement is performed at a predetermined time, a second quality control in which the quality control measurement is performed every time the specimen measurement is performed a predetermined number of times of measurement, and a third quality control in which the quality control measurement is performed every predetermined time interval, the controller being programmed to control the measurement section in accordance with the set quality control.

The present invention is a sample processing apparatus. The apparatus includes: a sample processing unit configured to process a sample; a display; a memory for storing an electronic manual for the sample processing apparatus; and a controller that is capable of showing a relevant part of the electronic manual on the display when a trouble has occurred in the sample processing unit, the relevant part of the electronic manual describing an operation procedure to deal with the trouble.

A method of operating a tissue processor for processing tissue samples is provided. The tissue processor includes at least one retort for receiving tissue samples, at least one container for storing a reagent, and at least one sensor arranged for fluid communication with one or both of the at least one container and the at least one retort for measuring a measured purity level of a reagent. The method includes the steps of conducting reagent from the at least one container or the at least one retort to the at least one sensor, automatically measuring, by means of the at least one sensor, a measured purity level of the reagent, checking whether the measured purity level meets a predetermined purity level of the reagent associated with the at least one container, and automatically determining, based on a result of checking, whether the reagent is suitable for processing tissue samples in the tissue processor. A tissue processor for processing tissue samples is also provided. A container is also provided for storing tissue samples for processing in a tissue processor.

Provided is an automatic analysis device in which a step for checking the progress of deterioration of a reagent can be automated and the expiration date of the reagent can be managed. Properties in absorption spectroscopic analysis pertaining to a standard liquid during implementation of calibration are used to calibrate the automatic analysis device so as to generate a standard curve N times for each lot. A series of action are repeated, with successive results in the implementation of calibration being updated while N is increased by 1 for each instance, until a first lot is completed. The final results are displayed in a dedicated screen image. This makes it possible to preliminarily ascertain the deterioration of the reagent, therefore making it possible to preemptively prevent inferiority in terms of repeatability and linearity, as well as to contribute to freedom from complex operations, reduction of cost, improvement in quality of data, and prevention of medical malpractice caused by a delay in reporting.

The object of the invention is to avoid a decrease in dispensing accuracy of a sample, a reagent, or the like as a temperature changes. In an automatic analyzer, a dispensing nozzle sucks the sample from a sample container holding the sample and discharges the sample to a reaction container. A syringe pump controls an amount of change in a volume of water. A first pipe connects the dispensing nozzle and the syringe pump. An electromagnetic valve flows or stops the water. A second pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the syringe pump. A branch pipe branches the water. A third pipe connects the electromagnetic valve and the branch pipe. A case accommodates at least the syringe pump, the first pipe, the electromagnetic valve, the second pipe, the branch pipe, and the third pipe. Further, the third pipe includes a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange of the water.