Abstract: A liquid chromatography (LC) system comprises an LC switching valve comprising a sample input port, aspiration pump port, needle seat port, waste port leading to a waste, LC pump port and an LC column port. A sample aspiration needle is fluidically connected to the sample input port via a sample receiving conduit, an aspiration pump is fluidically connected to the aspiration pump port. The LC system includes a needle seat fluidically connected to the needle seat port via a needle seat conduit, an LC column fluidically connected to the LC column port, and an LC pump fluidically connected to the LC pump port, for injecting the sample into the LC column when the sample aspiration needle is seated into the needle seat and when the LC pump port is fluidically connected to the needle seat port and the sample input port is fluidically connected to the LC column port.

Abstract: A bucket insert for use in a centrifuge is disclosed. The bucket insert comprises an insert body, the insert body comprising a plurality of elongated receptacles for receiving elongated sample vessels. The bucket insert is configured for orienting the elongated sample vessels in a tilted orientation. In the tilted orientation, at least some of the elongated sample vessels are oriented in a non-parallel fashion.

Abstract: A method for automatically closing an open end of a sample vessel with a closure cap, including, inter alia, the steps of grasping an upper part of the closure cap at its outer circumference by means of a cap gripper with at least two gripper fingers comprising respective top thrust ledges extending at least in part over a recess provided by a lateral gripping face, and of pushing the closure cap into the open end of the sample vessel by means of the top thrust ledge. In addition, a respective movable cap gripper for automatically closing the open end of the sample vessel with the closure cap as well as a respective sample vessel closure system is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents which are suitable to be used in mass spectrometry as well as methods of mass spectrometric determination of analyte molecules using said reagents.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically locating and processing test sample(s) from a patient within a laboratory setting 100 is disclosed. The method comprises determining that a test sample has not been processed by any device in the laboratory and the test sample is still within a time period of processing, performing inquiry of historical data of previous non-located test samples maintained in a database for possible locations of non-located test sample, and notifying laboratory operator of a location with a highest probability of test sample location based on the historical data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of consolidating critical information for a patient in a laboratory is presented. The method comprises selecting a patient to monitor from a population of patients associated with the laboratory, extracting information for the patient from a plurality of laboratory sources in the laboratory, determining if the extracted patient information is critical to care of the patient, and outputting the extracted patient critical information to a single display dashboard for display to a laboratory operator.

Abstract: A method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system is disclosed. The aspiration probe comprises an outer surface and an inner surface forming an inner space for receiving a fluid. The method comprises dipping the aspiration probe into a first wash fluid so that the outer surface is immersed at least in part into the first wash fluid, aspirating an amount of the first wash fluid into the inner space of the aspiration probe, propagating an ultrasonic vibration to the outer surface of the aspiration probe via the first wash fluid, and rinsing the outer surface and the inner surface of the aspiration probe with a second wash fluid. Further, an in-vitro diagnostic method and an in-vitro diagnostic system are disclosed.

Abstract: A laboratory apparatus for use in a laboratory sample handling system, wherein the apparatus comprises a cap waste disposal catcher, wherein the catcher is designed to catch a laboratory cap removed from a laboratory sample container containing a laboratory sample, and an electric field generator, wherein the generator is designed to generate an electric field to attract a residue of the sample released by the cap to the catcher.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for diagnosing preeclampsia or a preeclampsia-related condition in a pregnant subject. The method is based on the measurement of the amount of the biomarker IGFBP-7 (Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7) in a sample from the subject and on the comparison of the measured amount to a reference. Also disclosed are methods for assessing the severity of preeclampsia or a preeclampsia-related condition and methods for monitoring a preeclampsia or a preeclampsia-related condition in a pregnant subject. The present disclosure further relates to the use of the biomarker IGFBP-7 or of an agent that specifically binds to IGFBP-7 in a sample from a pregnant subject for diagnosing, for monitoring or for assessing the severity of preeclampsia or a preeclampsia-related condition. Finally, the present disclosure relates to a device or kit adapted to carry out the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method of managing sample processing priorities in a diagnostic laboratory comprising at least one sample processing device connected to a host system. The method comprises generating a communication message between the host system and the at least one sample processing device related to a sample processing order received in association with a sample, the message comprising one of at least two priority identifiers (R, S) indicative of respective sample processing priorities from lower priority to higher priority according to the received sample processing order. The method further comprises identifying the sample by the at least one sample processing device and processing the sample by the at least one sample processing device according to the sample processing priority (S, R) in the message.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises the steps of: setting a load limit for each laboratory instrument at maximum instrument capacity; dispatching biological samples to laboratory instrument(s) at a dispatch rate not greater than the instrument load limit; each laboratory instrument sending test order queries to the laboratory middleware upon identifying a biological sample; in response to the test order queries transmitting test orders to the laboratory instruments corresponding to the biological samples; the laboratory middleware monitoring a query rate of the plurality of laboratory instruments in order to determine an effective flow rate corresponding to each laboratory instrument; decreasing the load limit of a first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is lower than the dispatch rate; increasing the load limit for the first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is greater than or equal to the dispatch rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents which are suitable to be used in mass spectrometry as well as methods of mass spectrometric determination of analyte molecules using said reagents.