Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a joining element for joining a tube with a port. The joining element comprises a seal having a bore for accepting the tube, a nut and a ferrule. The ferrule has a bore for accepting the seal and the tube, a retaining member which retains the tube with the ferrule by engaging the tube, and a positive stop which limits engagement of the retaining member and the tube. The nut has a bore for accepting the ferrule and the tube and a bearing surface which engages the positive stop on the ferrule to positively limit engagement of the retaining member and the tube. Still other embodiments provide methods for forming a connection between a tube and a port. One such method comprises inserting the tube into a first member and a second member. The first member is moved with respect to the second member such that the second member is positioned partially within the first member. The first member, the second member and the tube are placed in the port.

Abstract: Methods of using a disposable reagent pack with an analytical instrument to analyze a blood sample are provided. According to one embodiment, a disposable reagent pack comprising a sample well, a lysing solution well, and a red blood cell analytic sample well is used. A blood sample is placed into the sample well and the red blood cell analytic sample well. Fluid is selectively transferred between the sample well and the lysing solution well. Both the lysing solution well and the red blood cell analytic sample well are simultaneously presented to the analytical instrument for analysis.

Abstract: A method of making a count probe for counting particles comprises the following steps. A count wafer is formed along with a core member having an opening for accepting the count wafer. The count wafer is applied to the opening in the core member to form an interference fit between the count wafer and the core member. After application of the count wafer to the opening in the core member, the core member is annealed to relieve stress in the core member.

Abstract: The presence of air bubbles is detected during a dispensing of samples for determining if the volume of the sample dispensed is insufficient.The characteristic of a presence-of-bubbles curve (101) has a difference in a pressure inside a nozzle from the characteristic of a curve (100) under a normal condition in which no bubbles exist, at the time just before the dispensing of the sample is completed. Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether or not bubbles exist by detecting the pressure inside the nozzle at the determination time (105) and comparing the detected value with an established threshold value, and it is determined that an insufficient volume of sample has been dispensed, thereby a warning is generated.

Abstract: The present invention aims to shorten an aspiration time, when aspirating a red blood cell component of a liquid sample having high viscosity. When aspirating the red blood cell component of a blood sample through a nozzle tip, a piston is pulled at its maximum to produce a maximum aspirating force, and starts aspiration. When a pressure in an aspirating system becomes equal to a predetermined value .alpha., the piston is returned to a position in which only a necessary aspiration volume of the liquid sample can be aspirated. Since the maximum aspirating force of the pump is utilized during the aspiration, the aspirating operation can be carried out more quickly.

Abstract: A non-invasive method of determining the level of fluid present in a test sample. The level of fluid present in a test sample in a container is determined by moving a pipettor toward the sample surface while aspirating air and monitoring the pressure change produced with a sensor. Non-homogeneity of the sample can be detected during the aspiration of the sample using the invention.

Abstract: In pipetting a blood plasma component and a red blood cell component separated vertically in a blood sample by a centrifugation, the red blood cell component having a high viscosity is aspirated as quickly as possible. A nozzle 32 is composed of a nozzle base 35 and a disposable tip 36, and is transferred upwardly and downwardly and to the right and left by an XYZ robot 34. At first the blood plasma component in the blood sample put in a test tube 62 is pipetted by a nozzle 32, and then an inner wall of the disposable tip 36 is coated with the blood plasma component, and thereafter the red blood component is pipetted.

Abstract: The present invention provides assay methods for performing binding assays, wherein the detectable label is a magnetically responsive material. Direct and indirect, competitive and sandwich assay formats are used to partition the magnetically attractable label between a solid phase and a fluid phase in proportion to the presence or amount of analyte in the test sample. The magnetic responsiveness of the magnetically attractable label in one or both phases results in the exertion of a force upon the label. By determining the extent of the force or influence of the force exerted upon the label, the amount of the analyte in the test sample is determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices for performing binding assays. Such devices comprise (i) a reaction vessel where unbound and immobilized magnetically-labeled reagent are produced in relation to the amount of said analyte in said test sample; (ii) a separation means for partitioning said immobilized magnetically-labeled reagent and said bound magnetically-labeled reagent; (iii) a magnetic field generator means for the application of a magnetic field to said magnetically-labeled reagent; and (iv) a measurement means to assess the effect of said magnetic field on said magnetically-labeled reagent as a measure of the presence or amount of said analyte in said test sample. The device provided by the instant invention can run, for example, direct indirect, competitive, inhibition and sandwich assay formats.

Abstract: An improved device is used for performing solid-phase chemiluminescent immunoassays. The device comprises a container having a fibrous matrix and a porous absorbent material. An improvement in the device is the use of light absorbing material as the absorbent material or as a light barrier between the fibrous matrix and the absorbent material. A second improvement comprises a fibrous matrix of binderless fiber matrix, such as glass fiber. The invention improves the direct measurement of the chemiluminescent signal from a solid surface by reducing background signal. The device is disposable and is suitable for manual use or for use with an apparatus having programmed instructions. The device is designed to be employed in a variety of solid-phase diagnostic assays such as sandwich or competitive binding assays. The device is also designed for use with microparticle capture or ion capture methods of separating the immunochemical reaction products.

Abstract: A sample container holder is provided for gripping a sample container which contains a sample. The sample container holder comprises a body having a bore for receiving a sample container. A flexible element is disposed within the bore. A fluid passage is operatively connected with the flexible element for supplying a fluid to the flexible element such that, when the sample container is received in the bore in the body of the sample container holder, the flexible element engages the sample container with a conforming, cushioning compression of sufficient magnitude to resist removal of the container from the bore.

Abstract: A particle count probe comprises a wafer having an aperture. A first member is provided having a fluid passageway. A second member is removably mounted to the first member, and cooperates with the first member and the wafer to position the wafer so that the aperture of the wafer aligns with the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A circuit measures the intensity of a monitored light beam by generating a signal which is of a specific time duration corresponding to light intensity. The circuit utilizes a photosensitive element for receiving the light and producing a variable control signal in direct correspondence to the light intensity. A capacitor network is placed in series with the photosensitive element, wherein the time duration for discharging the capacitor network is directly correlated to the intensity of the collected light.

Abstract: A method of holding a container with a container holder comprises the following steps. The container is received within a bore on the container holder, and a fluid is conveyed through a fluid passage operatively connected with a flexible element within the bore such that the flexible element engages the container to retain the container within the bore.