Abstract: A method for analyzing the results of a ligand-receptor binding assay comprising the steps of: (a) providing the results of a ligand-receptor binding assay; and (b) qualifying the results of a ligand-receptor binding assay. More particularly, the ligand-receptor binding assay involves the steps of combining appropriate reagents in which receptors attached to a solid support, a sample suspected of containing a ligand, and a conjugate comprising a label form a complex in which the label is present at a concentration that is directly proportional to the amount of ligand present in the sample. Alternatively, the ligand-receptor binding assay involves the steps of combining appropriate reagents to perform a ligand-receptor binding assay in which receptors attached to a solid support, a sample suspected of containing a ligand, and a conjugate comprising a label form a complex in which the label is present at a concentration that is inversely proportional to the amount of analyte present in the sample.

Abstract: Cradles for draining liquid from containers are described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing having a bottom wall, a side wall and an open top. The housing is to receive a container having liquid. The example apparatus includes a probe extending upward from the bottom wall toward the open top and is to drain the liquid from the container when the probe is inserted into the container. The example apparatus also includes a sliding lock slidably disposed within the housing that receives a cap or top of the container when the container is inserted into the housing. The sliding lock includes a key slot. The sliding lock is movable when a cap or top of the container has a matching key that engages the key slot, which enables the sliding lock to move downward to expose the probe and drain the liquid from the container.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for automated slide assessments made in conjunction with digital image-based microscopy. Automated methods of acquiring patient information and specimen information from prepared slides, and digitally linking such information into patient-tagged specimen data, are provided. Also provided are methods that include automatically identifying an optimal area for morphological assessment of a blood smear on a hematological slide, including methods for triggering the analysis of such an area, e.g., using an automated digital image-based hematology system. The present disclosure also provides devices, systems and computer readable media for use in performing processes of the herein described methods.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems for diluting samples are disclosed. An example method includes depositing a first fluid droplet on a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes. The first electrode has a first area. The first fluid droplet has a first volume associated with the first area. The example method includes depositing a second fluid droplet on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The second electrode has a second area. The second fluid droplet has a second volume associated with the second area. The second volume is different than the first volume. The example method includes forming a combined droplet by selectively activating at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to cause one of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet to merge with the other of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet.

Abstract: Provided are methods of assessing the cleanliness of a flow cell of a flow cytometric system. The provided methods include computing a ratio of post-flow cell and pre-flow cell light beam intensities and using such a ratio to assess the cleanliness of the flow cell. Flow cytometric systems capable of monitoring the cleanliness of a flow cell contained within the system are also provided.

Abstract: Integrated devices that include a sample preparation component integrated with a detection component are disclosed. The sample preparation component may be a digital microfluidics module or a surface acoustic wave module which modules are used for combing a sample droplet with a reagent droplet and for performing additional sample preparation step leading to a droplet that contains beads/particles/labels that indicate presence or absence of an analyte of interest in the sample. The beads/particles/labels may be detected by moving the droplet to the detection component of the device, which detection component includes an array of wells. Additonal analyte detection devices configured to operate an analyte detection chip to prepare a test sample and to detect an analyte related signal from the prepared test sample in the analyte detection chip are disclosed. The analyte detection chip may include a digital microfluidics (DMF) region and an analyte detection region which may overlap or may be spatially separated.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for automated cellular analysis of a body fluid sample are disclosed. The methods, devices, and systems apply watershed transform to data, generated by flowing a body fluid sample through a flow cytometer, to determine threshold(s) to be used for analysis of the data.

Abstract: A method for identifying, analyzing, and quantifying the cellular components of whole blood by means of an automated hematology analyzer and the detection of the light scattered, absorbed, and fluorescently emitted by each cell. More particularly, the aforementioned method involves identifying, analyzing, and quantifying the cellular components of whole blood by means of a light source having a wavelength ranging from about 400 nm to about 450 nm and multiple in-flow optical measurements and staining without the need for lysing red blood cells.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems for diluting samples are disclosed. An example method includes depositing a first fluid droplet on a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes. The first electrode has a first area. The first fluid droplet has a first volume associated with the first area. The example method includes depositing a second fluid droplet on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The second electrode has a second area. The second fluid droplet has a second volume associated with the second area. The second volume is different than the first volume. The example method includes forming a combined droplet by selectively activating at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode to cause one of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet to merge with the other of the first fluid droplet or the second fluid droplet.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and related methods for evaluating biological sample integrity are disclosed herein. An example method includes scanning a sample container having a sample disposed therein to generate signal data including a first signal portion and a second signal portion. The example method includes detecting if the sample container includes a label attached to a surface of the sample container based on the second signal portion. If the sample container includes a label, the example method includes applying an adjustment factor to the second signal portion to create adjusted signal data. The example method includes determining a property of the sample based on one or more of the first signal portion or the adjusted signal data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are improved methods of processing, measuring, and detecting levels of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) in blood samples taken from a human subject at time points within about 8 hours (or about 8 hours or less) after obtaining the sample from the subject. UCH-L1 is an early biomarker for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and there is a need for improved methods for assessing UCH-L1 in blood can aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of a human subject who has sustained or may have sustained a head injury.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of assessing a histologically stained specimen based on a determined color signature of a region of interest of the specimen. Such assessments may be performed for a variety of purposes including but not limited to assessing the quality of the histological stain, as part of identifying one or more biologically relevant features of the image, as part of differentiating one feature of the image from other features of the image, identifying an anomalous area of the stained specimen, classifying cells of the specimen, etc. Also provided are systems configured for performing the disclosed methods and computer readable medium storing instructions for performing steps of the disclosed methods.

Abstract: The invention provides decision tree based systems and methods for estimating the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in subjects suspect of having ACS. In particular, systems and methods are provided that employ additive decision tree based algorithms to process a subject's initial cardiac troponin I or T (cTnI or cTnT) concentration, a subject's cTnI or cTnT rate of change, and at least one of the following: the subject's age, the subject's gender, the subject's ECG value, the subject's hematology parameter value, to generate an estimate risk of ACS. Such risk stratification allows, for example, patients to be ruled in or rule out with regard to needing urgent treatment.

Abstract: In some aspects of the present disclosure, methods of detecting coincident sample events are provided. The methods include receiving a first set of signal data representing detected signals from a flow cytometer system; detecting, with a peak detection module, one or more peaks within the signal data; and cancelling, with a successive cancellation module, one or more individual sample events from the signal data at corresponding time indexes, wherein the cancellation of more than one individual sample event is successive. Devices and system related thereto are also provided.

Abstract: The instant disclosure provides methods of extracting stain-independent features from digital images of histologically stained cells. Stain-independent features provide consistent assessment of cell morphology in the presence of staining variation and across different stains or stain formulations. Improved consistency in cell morphology assessments finds use in automated cell classification and other image processing applications. Also included are systems for practicing the described methods. The instant disclosure also provides computer readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device and/or components of a described system to perform steps of a method involving of extraction of stain-independent features from digital images.

Abstract: A method for counting blood cells in a sample of whole blood. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a sample of whole blood; (b) depositing the sample of whole blood onto a slide, e.g., a microscope slide; (c) employing a spreader to create a blood smear; (d) allowing the blood smear to dry on the slide; (e) measuring absorption or reflectance of light attributable to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells in the blood smear on the slide; (f) recording a magnified two-dimensional digital image of the area of analysis identified by the measurement in step (e) as being of suitable thickness for analysis; and (g) collecting, analyzing, and storing data from the magnified two-dimensional digital image. Optionally, steps of fixing and staining of blood cells on the slide can be employed in the method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of a human subject that has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head, such as mild or moderate, severe, or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), using cTnI. Also disclosed are methods for determining whether to perform a head computerized tomography on a subject by detecting levels of cTnI. Finally, also disclosed are methods of outcome in subjects suffering from a mild TBI.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods related to automated diagnostic analyzers having rear accessible track systems are described herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an analyzer to perform a diagnostic test. The analyzer has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The example apparatus includes a loading bay disposed on the first side of the analyzer to receive a first carrier and a pipetting mechanism coupled to the analyzer adjacent the second side. The example apparatus also includes a first carrier shuttle to transport the first carrier from a first location adjacent the loading bay to a second location adjacent the pipetting mechanism and a track disposed adjacent the second side of the analyzer to transfer a second carrier to a third location adjacent the pipetting mechanism.