A computer implemented method to allocate control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is provided. The laboratory system comprises a storage, a transport system, and at least two analyzers. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. Information is presented for distributing the total control sample volume into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. Information is also presented for distributing the control sample aliquots to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

The purpose of the present invention is to constantly keep a state in a flow cell steady by filling a detection flow channel with a liquid. The configuration of the present invention for solving the aforementioned problem is as follows. Specifically, the present invention is an automatic analysis apparatus provided with a detection unit including a flow cell that accommodates a liquid serving as an analysis subject; a suction nozzle that is positioned upstream of the flow cell and that sucks the liquid to be introduced into the flow cell; a pump that is positioned downstream of the flow cell and that supplies the liquid to the flow cell; flow channels that connect the flow cell, the suction nozzle, and the pump; a power source; and a power-cutting instructing unit that gives an instruction to cut the power supply at least to the pump. The automatic analysis apparatus is characterized by being provided with a control unit that performs first liquid supply processing when the power-cutting instruction from the power-cutting instructing unit is not received, and that performs second liquid supplying processing when the power-cutting instruction from the power-cutting instructing unit is received, thus supplying the liquid to the flow cell.

A laboratory instrument for processing at least one sample is disclosed. The laboratory instrument includes at least one housing having at least one sample processing device disposed therein, at least one reagent storage compartment reversibly removable from the housing, and at least one safety indicator. The safety indicator is configured for indicating if the reagent storage compartment has been removed from the housing and reinserted into the housing. The laboratory instrument is configured for automatically altering a detectable state of the safety indicator during the process of removing and reinserting the reagent storage compartment.

Method and apparatus for electronic detection and determination includes detecting a signal T0 in a detection zone and a signal R0 in a reference zone before a sample is added; adding a sample and detecting the signals in each of the detection zone and the reference zone at an interval of a second preset period; calculating a judgement value based on 2k immediately previous signals in each of the detection zone and the reference zone, the signal T0 in the detection zone before the sample is added, and the signal R0 in the reference zone before the sample is added, each time when k successive signals are detected in each of the detection zone and the reference zone; and determining a judgement result based on m successive judgement values and a preset result threshold corresponding to a current detection time.

Provided are an automatic analyzer and a maintenance method for an automatic analyzer that can reduce an operation of a user relating to maintenance in a plurality of maintenance operation processes. The automatic analyzer includes an analysis unit 111 including a plurality of components and configured to analyze a specimen, and an overall control unit 134 configured to control an operation of the analysis unit 111. The analysis unit 111 is provided with a sensor that monitors states of the components, and when the sensor detects that an operator executed a specific operation on the components, the overall control unit 134 requests confirmation as to whether execution status of a maintenance operation needs to be updated.

Work, such as status confirmation, in a plurality of automatic analyzers is efficiently performed. In an automated analysis system, a tablet terminal 114 has a terminal information management unit 210 and a terminal display unit 208. A terminal information management unit 210 acquires device information showing the state status of a device from automatic analyzers 101a to 101d, and generates a status confirmation screen showing the device status of the automatic analyzer. A terminal display unit 208 displays the status confirmation screen. The status confirmation screen has a status information screen showing the device status of one automatic analyzer and a device switch button configured to switch the status information screen to a status information screen corresponding to another other automatic analyzer. When the switch button is selected, the terminal information management unit 210 generates a status confirmation screen for an automatic analyzer corresponding to the selected switch button, and displays the status confirmation screen on the display unit.

An automatic analyzer achieves both restraining unnecessary usage of a consumable supply and reducing burdens on an operator in a re-execution processing in a case where pipe functions are suspended/stopped, and is capable of completely efficiently performing an analysis preparation processing or an analysis terminating processing. In the automatic analyzer, a storage unit stores information on pipe functions, and information on re-execution setting for setting a re-execution maintenance item from which re-execution is started with respect to a suspended maintenance item if pipe functions of a plurality of maintenance items are suspended halfway, and a computer sequentially executes the plurality of maintenance items, based on the information on pipe functions, and re-executes maintenance from the re-execution maintenance item associated with a suspended maintenance item, based on the suspended maintenance item and the information on re-execution setting, if the pipe functions of the plurality of maintenance items are suspended halfway.

A quality control support method for displaying a control chart of quality control related to an analyzer that measures a subject sample, the method comprising: generating a first control chart showing results of measured quality control substances by the analyzer in a first period; receiving a designation of a second period different from the first period, the second period being shorter than the first period and at least partially overlapping with the first period; generating a second control chart showing results of the measured subject samples by the analyzer in the second period; displaying the generated first control chart; and displaying the generated second control, is provided.

An object of the invention is to provide a method by which failure or performance deterioration of a temperature adjustment unit can be detected while specifying a cause part in a state where a nucleic acid amplification process is being performed. In order to achieve said purpose, an initial value of the level of control signals input to a temperature adjustment element during temperature maintenance, temperature rise, and temperature fall is set in advance and an error determination threshold is set on the basis of this value. Errors (malfunctions, performance deterioration) in the temperature adjustment unit are diagnosed and components causing said errors are identified, by comparing current control signal levels and threshold values monitored in a state in which the nucleic acid amplification process is being undertaken.

An example system to monitor lab equipment includes: lab devices configured to perform sectioning, grinding, mounting, polishing, imaging, and/or hardness testing, of specimens; and an equipment monitoring system configured to: receive the data from the lab devices, the data comprising identifiers of the lab devices, operating statuses of the lab devices, current operating cycle information for the lab devices, error codes, and parameters of the operating cycles performed by the lab devices, wherein the lab devices are configured to transmit the data to the equipment monitoring system via a network; based on the error codes, output operator-readable information associated with the lab devices from which the error codes were received; and in response to at least one of the operating statuses, the current operating cycle information, the error codes, or the parameters satisfying an event definition, output an operator-readable notification identifying an operator action item based on the event definition.