Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thermally conductive receptacle holder including a plurality of receptacle wells configured to receive receptacles, a plurality of optical fibers having first and second ends, wherein each first end is in optical communication with one of the receptacle wells and each second end is in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector, one or more thermal elements positioned proximal to the receptacle holder for altering the temperature of the receptacle holder, a heat sink in thermal communication with the receptacle holder, and one or more thermal devices disposed within the heat sink for pre-heating the heat sink.

Abstract: An apparatus for incubating a plurality of receptacles includes one or more thermally-conductive receptacle holders, each comprising a plurality of receptacle wells. A thermally-conductive support is associated with each of the receptacle holders, and a thermal element is positioned between the associated support and the receptacle holder. A heat sink is in thermal communication with the support and comprises a plurality of spaced-apart fins. An optical fiber associated with each receptacle well has a first end positioned adjacent to or within a through-hole formed in the receptacle well and extends through through-holes formed in the support and the heat sink aligned with the through-hole of the receptacle well. Each of the optical fibers is positioned between two adjacent fins of the plurality of fins.

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

Abstract: An input module includes a carrier shelf for supporting a receptacle carrier, a retrieval dock configured to receive one receptacle from a carrier supported on the carrier shelf and present the receptacle for removal by a receptacle transport apparatus, and a pusher configured to push receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier and to push one receptacle at a time off the end of the carrier and onto the retrieval dock. A method for determining a number of receptacles on a carrier includes placing the carrier on a carrier shelf, pushing receptacles on the carrier to one end of the carrier with a packer, detecting a position of the packer the receptacles have been pushed to the end of the carrier, and determining the number of receptacles on the carrier from the position of the packer.

Abstract: A first time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a first thermal cycling process and a time stamp for each time interval, and a second time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a second thermal cycling process. Signal emissions at different signal detecting positions are sequentially measured at different time intervals to generate first and second time/signal emission data sets for receptacles subject to the first and second thermal cycling processes, respectively. Signal emissions of receptacles subject to the first thermal cycling process are synchronized with specific temperatures of the first thermal cycling process by comparing time stamps of the first time/signal emission data set for each receptacle with the time stamps of the first time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature.

Abstract: A method of determining whether one or more forms of a nucleic acid analyte are present in a sample. The method includes dissolving an amplification reagent with a first solvent, where the amplification reagent contains oligonucleotides sufficient to amplify and detect a first region of a first form of the analyte, where the first solvent contains one or more oligonucleotides which, in combination with the oligonucleotides of the amplification reagent, are sufficient to amplify and detect a second region of a second form of the analyte, where the one or more oligonucleotides of the first solvent are insufficient to amplify and detect the first or second form of the analyte, and where the first and second regions each comprise a different nucleotide base sequence.

Abstract: An automated system for performing nucleic acid amplification assays on samples provided to the system, where the system includes data input components configured to enable input specifying one or more user-defined assay parameters; data storage media storing a first set of assay parameters, the first set of assay parameters consisting of system-defined parameters, and a second set of assay parameters, the second set of assay parameters including the one or more user-defined parameters; and command input components configured to enable input specifying (i) that a first nucleic acid amplification assay be performed on a first sample in accordance with the first set of assay parameters, and (ii) that a second nucleic acid amplification assay be performed on a second sample in accordance with the second set of assay parameters.

Abstract: A kit includes a vessel having a plasma-treated interior surface, solid composition adhered to the plasma-treated interior surface, and a reconstitution liquid. The solid composition has a mass ranging from about 600 micrograms to about 20 grams and is in the form of a lyophilized pellet adhered to the plasma-treated interior surface. The solid composition is macroscopic in three orthogonal dimensions, such that the solid composition is not a coating and has a length, a width, and a height of greater than 1 mm.

Abstract: A method for reconstituting a reagent within a reagent pack including one or more wells and at least one of the wells containing a lyophilized reagent comprises the steps of receiving reagent packs into a reagent pack input carousel, transferring one reagent pack with a rotary distributor from the input carousel to a reagent pack storage carousel, retrieving the reagent pack from the storage carousel with the rotary distributor and placing the reagent pack into a reagent pack loading station, and dispensing a reconstitution reagent with an automated pipettor into the well containing the lyophilized reagent to form a reconstituted reagent.

Abstract: A method of performing a lab developed test for detecting a nucleic acid analyte on an automated analyzer. The method includes a first step of using a computer to select, define or modify one or more user-defined parameters of a protocol for performing the lab developed test on the analyzer, where each user-defined parameter of the protocol defines a step to be performed by the analyzer during the lab developed test. The method further includes a second step of performing the lab developed test with the protocol of the first step, where the analyzer stores one or more system-defined parameters for performing the lab developed test, the one or more system-defined parameters being installed on the analyzer prior to performing first step.

Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.

Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles. In the method, a sample rack is moved between a first position and a second position withing a housing, where the sample rack supports a plurality of sample receptacles, and each sample receptacle has a machine-readable label. An absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. An image of the machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle is acquired as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. Finally, the acquired image of each machine-readable label is decoded.

Abstract: An apparatus including a thermally-conductive receptacle holder having a row of receptacle wells. Each receptacle well has an inner surface defined to receive a receptacle, and each receptacle well has a through-hole extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof. The apparatus further includes one or more thermal elements for altering a temperature(s) of the receptacle holder, where the one or more thermal element are in contact with a side surface of the receptacle holder. There are two or more thermistors disposed in contact with the receptacle holder and a channel disposed within the side surface and containing wires and/or electrical connections for the two or more thermistors.

Abstract: A diagnostic system is configured to perform first and second, different nucleic acid amplification reactions. The system includes a bulk reagent container compartment configured to store first bulk reagent container containing a first bulk reagent for performing sample preparation processes with a first subset and a second subset of a plurality of samples and a second bulk reagent container containing a second bulk reagent for performing the first nucleic acid amplification reaction. The system includes a unit-dose reagent compartment storing a unit-dose reagent pack including unit-dose reagents for performing the second nucleic acid amplification reaction.

Abstract: Multiple receptacles containing a reaction mixture are transported to corresponding receptacle wells of a thermally-conductive receptacle holder in thermal communication with a support that is in thermal communication with a heat sink. The heat sink is pre-heated to a temperature above ambient temperature, and the temperature of the receptacle holder is cycled. Optical communication is established between each of the receptacle wells and an excitation signal source and an emission signal detector during cycling, and whether an emission signal is emitted from any of the receptacles is determined as an indication of the presence of a target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring containers (100) include or employ a container loading interface (200), a container storage module (400), and a container distributor (300) configured to transfer containers from the container loading interface to the container storage module. The container loading interface includes movable support platform (202) that is movable between accessible and a non-accessible positions and a container loading transport (214). The container storage module includes a housing (402) and a container storage transport (418). The container distributor includes a container gripper (320) configured to grasp a container on the container loading transport and to transfer the container to the container storage transport in the container storage module.

Abstract: A reagent pack changer includes a reagent pack input device, a reagent pack storage compartment, a reagent pack storage carousel disposed within the storage compartment, and a rotary distributor. The input device includes a reagent pack input carousel rotatable about an axis of rotation, with reagent pack stations for holding reagent packs disposed around the axis of rotation of the carousel. The reagent pack storage carousel is rotatable about an axis of rotation with reagent pack stations for holding reagent packs disposed around the axis of rotation. The rotary distributor is configured to move a reagent pack between the reagent pack input carousel and the reagent pack storage carousel.

Abstract: A system includes a reagent pack input carousel, a carousel frame supporting the carousel, and a track on which the carousel frame is supported for movement of the carousel into and out of an instrument in drawer-like fashion. The carousel is rotatable about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of reagent pack input stations arranged about the perimeter of the carousel. Each input station is adapted to carry a reagent pack, and the input stations are oriented at an angle with respect to a radial orientation relative to the axis of rotation. Each input station includes an alignment block located at a radially inner end of the station, and the block is received within a recess formed in an end of the reagent pack placed in the station to align and position of the reagent pack within the station.

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.