Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid and for receiving a ventilation gas. The reservoir chamber comprises an inlet for receiving the ventilation gas and an outlet for dispensing the fluid. At least a portion of the reservoir chamber is filled with the ventilation gas when in an operating position. The inlet is located in the portion being filled with the ventilation gas. The fluid comprises a reagent. The cartridge further comprises a baffle for restricting gas diffusion through the inlet. The reservoir chamber receives the ventilation gas via the baffle. The inlet is maintains a constant gas pressure within the portion of the reservoir chamber that is being filled with the ventilation gas.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a fluid is presented. The dispenser comprises a compressible elastomeric fluid conduit having a first end and a second end for flowing the fluid from the first end to the second end, a first check valve and a second check valve distanced in the conduit for forming a fluid chamber, and an actor for compressing the fluid chamber for dispensing a portion of the fluid. At least the second check valve is a duckbill valve. The second check valve is located at the second end of the conduit. The second check valve has sealing lips that extend beyond the second end of the conduit.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is provided, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir chamber configured for receiving the fluid, the reservoir chamber having a fluid outlet and a cover with a first bearing; and a stirring assembly comprising a stirrer located inside the reservoir chamber, the stirring assembly comprising a shaft connected to the stirrer. The stirring assembly can be moved between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the stirring assembly can seal the fluid outlet, the stirring assembly in the first position being configured to form a second bearing with the reservoir chamber or the fluid outlet such that the stirrer can be rotated about an axis defined by the first and second bearing, and wherein if the stirring assembly is in the second position the fluid can pass through the fluid outlet, the shaft being configured to transmit rotational power to the stirrer.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a valve. The valve comprises a pumping chamber for pumping the fluid. The valve positions a pumping chamber conduit. The pumping chamber conduit is connected to the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a plunger for changing the volume of the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a reservoir conduit for connecting the reservoir with the valve. The valve positions the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the reservoir conduit. The cartridge further comprises an outlet conduit for dispensing the fluid. The valve further rotates the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A method of performing a measurement of an analyte in a sample using an automatic analyzer is provided. The automatic analyzer comprises: a cartridge for dispensing a fluid, a measurement unit for performing the measurement, a sample holder for receiving the sample, and a pump for pumping the fluid out of the cartridge and into the sample holder. The cartridge comprises: a rigid portion, a flexible bladder, and an outlet. The rigid portion comprises an opening, which is connected to an inner cavity. The flexible bladder seals the opening to form a fluid chamber from the inner cavity. The fluid chamber is at least partially filled with the fluid. The pump is connected to the outlet. The method comprises: placing the sample into the sample holder, controlling the pumping of the fluid from the cartridge into the sample holder, and performing the measurement of the analyte using the measurement unit.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid. The reservoir chamber has a fluid outlet. The cartridge further comprises a controllable dispenser component for dispensing a dispensing volume of the fluid from the reservoir chamber. The dispenser component is connected to the fluid outlet of the reservoir. The cartridge further comprises a single compressible fluid pump with a single elastic pumping element and a conduit extending from the fluid pump towards the fluid outlet. The fluid pump discharges a mixing volume of the fluid from the conduit into the reservoir chamber upon compression of the elastic pumping element. The mixing volume depends on the degree of compression of the elastic pumping element. The fluid pump sucks in the mixing volume from the reservoir into the conduit upon decompression of the elastic pumping element.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a valve. The valve comprises a pumping chamber for pumping the fluid. The valve positions a pumping chamber conduit. The pumping chamber conduit is connected to the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a plunger for changing the volume of the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a reservoir conduit for connecting the reservoir with the valve. The valve positions the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the reservoir conduit. The cartridge further comprises an outlet conduit for dispensing the fluid. The valve further rotates the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A method for the quantitative determination of an analyte in a sample is provided comprising: (a) providing an analyte-specific substance which is able to undergo a reaction which generates a detectable signal when it is contacted with an analyte; (b) providing at least two calibration graphs which have been generated by reacting in each case the same analyte-specific substance with different amounts of in each case the same test analyte for in each case a predetermined reaction time; (c) contacting the analyte-specific substance with a sample which contains the analyte to be detected; (d) measuring the signal at a first predetermined reaction time for which a first calibration graph according to (b) is provided; (c) checking whether the signal measured according to (d) enables a quantitative determination of the analyte with a desired accuracy; (f) (i) quantitatively determining the analyte on the basis of the signal measured according to (d) if the desired accuracy is reached, or (ii) measuring the signal a

Abstract: The present invention concerns an immunological test for determining NT-proBNP comprising at least two antibodies to NT-proBNP, wherein at least one of the antibodies to NT-proBNP is a monoclonal antibody. The epitopes recognized by the antibodies can slightly overlap.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid and for receiving a ventilation gas. The reservoir chamber comprises an inlet for receiving the ventilation gas and an outlet for dispensing the fluid. At least a portion of the reservoir chamber is filled with the ventilation gas when in an operating position. The inlet is located in the portion being filled with the ventilation gas. The fluid comprises a reagent. The cartridge further comprises a baffle for restricting gas diffusion through the inlet. The reservoir chamber receives the ventilation gas via the baffle. The inlet is maintains a constant gas pressure within the portion of the reservoir chamber that is being filled with the ventilation gas.

Abstract: A cartridge for dispensing fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a valve. The valve comprises a pumping chamber for pumping the fluid. The valve positions a pumping chamber conduit. The pumping chamber conduit is connected to the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a plunger for changing the volume of the pumping chamber. The cartridge further comprises a reservoir conduit for connecting the reservoir with the valve. The valve positions the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the reservoir conduit. The cartridge further comprises an outlet conduit for dispensing the fluid. The valve further rotates the pumping chamber conduit to connect with the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a fluid is presented. The dispenser comprises a compressible elastomeric fluid conduit having a first end and a second end for flowing the fluid from the first end to the second end, a first check valve and a second check valve distanced in the conduit for forming a fluid chamber, and an actor for compressing the fluid chamber for dispensing a portion of the fluid. At least the second check valve is a duckbill valve. The second check valve is located at the second end of the conduit. The second check valve has sealing lips that extend beyond the second end of the conduit.

Abstract: A valve for dispensing a fluid comprising a dry portion and a wet portion is presented. Only the wet portion is contacted by the fluid. The wet portion comprises a fluid dispenser unit having a inlet opening, a capillary nozzle providing a fluid outlet, a cavity, the capillary nozzle having an end within the cavity, and a plunger. The plunger moves within the cavity into an opening position allowing an inflow of the fluid through the inlet opening through the cavity and an outflow of the fluid through the capillary nozzle. The plunger has a sealing surface directed towards the end of the capillary nozzle. The plunger moves into a closing position for sealing the end of the capillary nozzle with the sealing surface. The dry portion comprises a closing component for exercising a magnetic closing force onto the plunger for attracting the plunger into the closing position.

Abstract: A method for the quantitative determination of an analyte in a sample is provided comprising: (a) providing an analyte-specific substance which is able to undergo a reaction which generates a detectable signal when it is contacted with an analyte; (b) providing at least two calibration graphs which have been generated by reacting in each case the same analyte-specific substance with different amounts of in each case the same test analyte for in each case a predetermined reaction time; (c) contacting the analyte-specific substance with a sample which contains the analyte to be detected; (d) measuring the signal at a first predetermined reaction time for which a first calibration graph according to (b) is provided; (c) checking whether the signal measured according to (d) enables a quantitative determination of the analyte with a desired accuracy; (f) (i) quantitatively determining the analyte on the basis of the signal measured according to (d) if the desired accuracy is reached, or (ii) measuring the signal a

Abstract: A test element and method for detecting an analyte with the aid thereof is provided. The test element is essentially disk-shaped and flat, and can be rotated about a preferably central axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the disk-shaped test element. The test element has a sample application opening for applying a liquid sample, a capillary-active zone, in particular a porous, absorbent matrix, having a first end that is remote from the axis and a second end that is near to the axis, and a sample channel which extends from an area near to the axis to the first end of the capillary-active zone that is remote from the axis.

Abstract: A reagent for detecting an analyte by a redox reaction and a fluorimetric determination is disclosed. The reagent comprises a compound of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from R, (CH2CH2O)mR, COR, COOR, and OCOR; each R3 is independently selected from NO2, CN, R, OR, OCOR, COOR, SR, and halogen; R is H or C1-C4 alkyl, where alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more functional group independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, OR, SR, NR2, COOR, CONR2, SO3R and salts thereof, and PO(OR)3 and salts thereof; m is an integer from 1 to 20; and n is 1, 2, or 3. The reagent may further comprise an enzyme or a coenzyme for reducing or oxidizing an analyte.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for increasing the dynamic measuring range of especially immunological test elements in particular immunological chromatography test strips that can be evaluated optically that are based on specific binding reactions. The invention enables the dynamic measuring range of test elements based on specific binding reagents, especially of immunological test elements to be shifted towards higher analyte concentrations without impairing the lower detection limit.

Abstract: A method and reagent for detecting the presence or amount of an analyte by a redox reaction and a fluorimetric determination, is disclosed. The reagent comprises a compound of the general formula Q-F as a redox indicator, wherein Q is a quencher group and F is a fluorophore group. The quencher group Q or/and the fluorophore group F can be reduced or oxidized, and the fluorescence can change depending on the reduction or oxidation.

Abstract: A reagent for detecting an analyte by a redox reaction and a fluorimetric determination is disclosed. The reagent comprises a compound of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from R, (CH2CH2O)mR, COR, COOR, and OCOR; each R3 is independently selected from NO2, CN, R, OR, OCOR, COOR, SR, and halogen; R is H or C1-C4 alkyl, where alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more functional group independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, OR, SR, NR2, COOR, CONR2, SO3R and salts thereof, and PO(OR)3 and salts thereof; m is an integer from 1 to 20; and n is 1, 2, or 3. The reagent may further comprise an enzyme or a coenzyme for reducing or oxidizing an analyte.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods and reagent kits for the fluorimetric determination of analytes.