Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that aid in the hyperacute 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 an early biomarker, such as ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or a combination thereof. Also disclosed here are methods that aid in the hyperacute determination of whether a human subject that has sustained an injury or may have sustained to the head would benefit from and thus receive a head computerized tomography (CT) scan based on the levels of UCH-L1.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for the automated control of aspects of slide preparation in an automated slide preparation instrument. Aspects of the methods include automated assessments of reagent amounts, quality and performance as well as automated adjustments of reagents based on such assessments, including the adjustment of reagent amounts, e.g., as present in reagent baths, the adjustment of reagent compositions and the replacement of reagents. Devices and systems useful in performing the described methods are also provided herein.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The computer readable memory medium is a non-transitory medium. The program instructions are executable by a processor to generate a purchase order for a laboratory item, transmit the purchase order to a remote computer in order to communicate the purchase order to a vendor, receive an advance shipping notice generated in response to the purchase order, receive item information stored in an RFID tag of a tagged item received at the delivery location, and check the item information against the advance shipping notice in order to verify that the tagged item is the same as the ordered laboratory item. The purchase order specifies a delivery location.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for carrying out Romanowsky-type stains, specifically Wright-Giemsa and May-Grünwald stains, quickly and efficiently. The methods greatly reduce the overall amount of time required to complete a Wright-Giemsa stain or a May-Grünwald stain of sufficient quality on a biological sample. The subject methods can be applied to both manual and automated staining procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that aid in the determination of whether to perform imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan, on a human subject that has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head using an early biomarker, such as ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or a combination thereof. These methods involve detecting levels and changes in levels of UCH-L1 in samples taken from a human subject at time points within 24 hours after the subject has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head.

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: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for detecting events in a flow cytometer. Also provided are methods of detecting cells in a flow cytometer. Other aspects of the present disclosure include methods for determining a level of contamination in a flow cell. Computer-readable media and systems, e.g., for practicing the methods summarized above, are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for determining the volume or hemoglobin content of an individual red blood cell in a sample containing a population of red blood cells. The method may be performed on a hematology analyzer. Also provided are a hematology analyzer for performing the method and a computer-readable medium containing programming for performing 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 a moderate, severe, or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), by detecting levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and one or more early biomarkers which are not cTnI, such as ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or a combination thereof, in biological samples taken from a human subject at time points within about 24 hours of injury after the subject has sustained or may have sustained the injury to the head.

Abstract: In some aspects, a flow cytometer system is provided that includes beam shaping optics positioned to manipulate a light beam and produce a resulting light beam that irradiates the core stream at the interrogation zone of the flow cell. The beam shaping optics include an acylindrical lens positioned to receive and focus light in a direction of a first axis orthogonal to a direction of light travel, and a cylindrical lens positioned to receive the light output from the acylindrical lens and to focus the light output from the acylindrical lens in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the direction of light travel. The resulting light beam output has a flat-top shaped intensity profile along the first axis, and a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile along the second axis. Related methods of shaping a light beam at an interrogation zone of a flow cell are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are nutritional compositions including human milk oligosaccharides that can be administered to preterm infants, term infants, toddlers, and children for reducing inflammation and the incidence of inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, kits, and compositions for detecting subject anti-HCV antibodies in a sample using NS3 capture peptides. In certain embodiments, at least two NS3 helicase (NS3h) capture peptides and at least two conjugate peptides (e.g., NS3h conjugate peptides) are employed together, which allows for a broad dynamic range of subject antibody detection in a one-step type assay. In other embodiments, methods are provided of detecting NS3-specific subject antibodies without the use of a reducing agent. In some embodiments, NS3-specific subject antibodies are detected with a ‘double shot’ of NS3 conjugate peptide (e.g., conjugate peptide added to a sample both before and after washing).

Abstract: At least a portion of fabrics for use in medical devices is formed from polymeric materials. The fabrics may be uncoated, partially coated or fully coated with one or more layers of a polymer. The fabrics may be used for the leaflets and/or cuffs of prosthetic heart valves and as a component of other medical devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes provides methods for analyzing biological samples to identify, classify, and/or quantify platelets in the sample. The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for analyzing a blood sample to determine presence of platelet clumps in the sample. Also provided are systems configured for performing the disclosed methods and computer readable medium storing instructions for performing steps of the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include WBC analysis reagents, systems and methods that can be used for analyzing a sample of whole blood to identify, classify, and/or quantify white blood cells (WBC) and WBC sub-populations in the sample. The WBC analysis reagents of the present disclosure generally include at least one membrane-permeable fluorescent dye, a WBC protecting reagent, and a surfactant. In some embodiments, the WBC reagents include a suitable amount of an osmolality adjusting component to adjust the osmolality of the WBC reagent into a desired range.

Abstract: Herein is provided a simple, reliable and accurate method for cellular analysis on hematology analyzers. In various aspects, the methods provide separation and/or differentiation between red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) by utilizing a fluorescent dye to selectively stain WBCs such that they emit stronger fluorescence signals. The method provides optimal detection limits on WBCs and RBCs, thereby allowing analysis of samples with sparse cellular concentrations. As few as one reagent may be used to prepare a single dilution for body fluid analysis, in order to simplify the body fluid analysis. Minimal damage to WBCs is attained using the lysis-free approach described in aspects of the disclosure.

Abstract: Example automated storage modules for analyzer liquids are described herein. An example apparatus includes a refrigerated storage module having a plurality of shelves (to store a plurality of carriers) and a loading bay having an array of slots to receive one or more of the carriers. The loading bay is accessible by a user for manual loading or unloading of the carriers. The example apparatus includes a first carrier transporter coupled to the storage module to transfer the carriers between the shelves and a first transfer location and a second carrier transporter movable along a track connecting the storage module to an automated diagnostic analyzer. The second carrier transporter is to transfer a first carrier between the first transfer location and a slot in the loading bay and a second carrier between the first transfer location and a second transfer location accessible by the automated diagnostic analyzer.

Abstract: Disclosed are nutritional compositions including human milk oligosaccharides that can be administered to preterm infants, term infants, toddlers, and children for reducing inflammation and the incidence of inflammatory diseases.