Abstract: A method that enables handling whole blood for assays where the whole blood is directly taken from a patient without any prior treatment and being put in a collection tube or other container ready to use for further analysis. The method can enable simple processing of the whole blood while avoiding any clots or aggregates and without damaging white cells in a reproducible and automatable way. The method can furthermore enable an automatic and reproducible pipetting of whole blood cells inside several wells to be tested.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a genome sequence in digital form in a genome of a microorganism in digital form, including:—storing, in a computer memory, a set of digital genome sequences of constant length k, or ‘k-mers’, the set being obtained by sliding, at a constant pitch, a window of length k over the genome sequence;—for each k-mer, determining its absence or presence in the genome;—determining that the genome sequence is present in the genome if the percentage of k-mers detected as present in the genome is higher than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

Abstract: A microbiological testing device for testing a liquid to be analysed that is liable to contain at least one microorganism, includes a closed inner space, a microbiological filtration member and an inlet port. The device has a nutritive layer in contact with the filtration member, and in that, in a configuration for providing the device an open/close member of the inlet port is in a closed state; the absolute gas pressure inside the closed inner space is strictly less than the standard atmospheric pressure, such that the device is able to create suction through the inlet port during a first opening of the open/close member.

Abstract: Methods for an instrument including a light source of are provided. A method for an instrument including a light source includes providing light from the light source to a target location in a process chamber. The method includes receiving the light at a sensor. The method includes determining, using data from the sensor, a first position of the light at the target location. Moreover, the method includes determining whether to adjust the light to a second position at the target location. Related instruments are also provided.

Abstract: Slide analysis a gripper with three sensors for controlling a slide grip sequence and at least one rotatable carousel with a slide receiving channel. The systems also include a robot with a robot arm that holds a slide gripper residing inside the housing in communication with the rotatable carousel. The systems also include a load lock chamber and a door sealably coupled to the second end portion and an acquisition vacuum chamber with an X-Y stage and a slide holder with a vacuum seal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for self-contained nucleic acid preparation, amplification, and analysis.

Abstract: A pipette holder that includes: (i) a base; (ii) a recess made in the base, which can removably house a well support; (iii) a pipette support comprising a first housing into which can be inserted a pipette equipped with one or more tubular pipette cones that each comprise a tip intended for pipetting liquid, the first housing opening out onto the recess of the base, the pipette support being translationally mobile relative to the base in a direction parallel to an axis of the pipette cones and mobile between a first position in which the tip of each pipette cone is inserted in a well of the well support and at least one second position in which the tip is outside the well; and (iv) a second housing which can removably house a magnetized part.

Abstract: A method for determining the integrity of at least one complex based on at least one biological sample and at least one matrix, including at least the following steps:—acquiring at least one image,—analyzing the image sent by extracting light intensity values representative of at least one spectral band,—relating the light intensity values to one another to obtain representative spectral data,—determining a state of integrity of the complex by comparing each of the representative spectral data by similarity grouping with a determined similarity threshold,—triggering at least one first alert, by the analysis unit, when the representative data are similar to the first state of integrity or to the second state of integrity.

Abstract: A system for extracting analytes from a biological sample, which includes: an electronic pipette having pipette cones with a tip; a well support; a pipette holder including: a base which can removably house each well support; a pipette support into which the pipette is inserted, and which can move relative to the base between a first position in which the tips of the cones are inserted in a well of the support and at least one second position in which the tips are outside the wells; a housing facing the pipette cones above their tip when the pipette support is in the first position, and facing the tips of the pipette cones when the pipette support is in the second position; and a magnetized part removably inserted in the housing.

Abstract: A method for identifying by mass spectrometry an unknown microorganism subgroup among a set of reference subgroups, including a step of constructing one knowledgebase and one classifying model per associated subgroup on the basis of the acquisition of at least one set of learning spectra of microorganisms identified as belonging to the subgroups of a group and including: constructing an adjusting model allowing mass-to-charge offsets of the acquired spectra to be corrected on the basis of reference masses-to-charges that are common to the various subgroups; adjusting the masses-to-charges of all of the lists of peaks of the learning spectra and constructing one classifying model per subgroup and the associated knowledgebase on the basis of the adjusted learning spectra.

Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing strips, including at least one cartridge which includes a recess including a first portion with a base shaped to receive at least one strip, the storage device further including at least one dispensing member including a projection with a contact surface shaped to cover at least a first end of each strip, wherein the dispensing member is at least partially housed in a second portion of the cartridge recess, the first portion of the recess and the second portion of the recess are connected by an angled intermediate portion and the dispensing member is configured to be rotatable between a rest position in which the projection extends away from the angled intermediate portion and an operating position in which the projection converges with the angled intermediate portion so as to at least press the first end of each strip against the angled intermediate portion.

Abstract: Use of a folate derivative to assay in vitro the folate in a sample such as a biological sample.

Abstract: A process for determining the sensitivity or resistance of at least one identified bacterium to at least one antibiotic, wherein the process includes the following steps: a) bringing a sample including bacterium into contact with the at least one antibiotic, the antibiotic inducing the rupture of the bacterial wall and/or of the cytoplasmic membrane and causing the release of the intracellular compounds of the bacterium when the bacterium is termed “sensitive” to the at least one antibiotic, b) incubating the sample with the at least one antibiotic, c) purifying the sample by removing the intact bacteria and the cell debris, d) analyzing the purified sample by mass spectrometry, e) detecting the presence or absence of at least one peak of at least one protein characteristic of the bacterium, and f) determining the sensitivity or the resistance of the bacterial population to the antibiotic.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a method for the diagnosis or prognosis, in vitro, of lung cancer, which includes a step of detecting at least one expression product of at least one HERV nucleic acid sequence, a method for use of said nucleic acid sequences, which have been isolated, as a molecular marker or molecular markers, and a kit including at least one binding partner specific for at least one of the expression products of the HERV nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: An in vitro or ex vivo method for determining the ability of an individual to respond to a stimulus, based on the measurement of the expression of at least two different biomarkers, selected from different lists among three lists of biomarkers, from a blood sample of the individual, incubated with the stimulus, as well as tools allowing the implementation of this method and the use of these tools.

Abstract: An in vitro or ex vivo method for determining the risk of occurrence of a healthcare-associated infection in a patient, including a step of measuring the expression of CX3CR1, in a biological sample of said patient.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a method for the diagnosis or prognosis, in vitro, of testicular cancer, which includes a step of detecting at least one expression product of at least one HERV nucleic acid sequence, the use of said nucleic acid sequences, which have been isolated, as a molecular marker or molecular markers, and a kit including at least one binding partner specific for at least one of the expression products of the HERV nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: The method for detecting and monitoring a bacterial outbreak includes predicting that a collected bacterial strain and a bacterial strain from a database belong to the bacterial outbreak if their genomic distance is less than a first predetermined threshold, do not belong to the bacterial outbreak if their genomic distance is greater than a second predetermined threshold strictly greater than the first threshold, or may belong to the bacterial outbreak if their genetic distance is in-between. The first threshold is greater than or equal to a third threshold, such that a prediction that two bacterial strains with a genomic distance less than the third threshold belong to the outbreak has maximum specificity. The second threshold is less than or equal to a fourth threshold, such that a prediction that two bacterial strains with a genomic distance greater than the fourth threshold do not belong to the outbreak has maximum sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro diagnosis or prognosis of prostate cancer, which includes a step of detecting at least one expression product of at least one HERV nucleic acid sequence, the use of said nucleic acid sequences, once isolated, as one or more molecular marker(s) and a kit comprising at least one specific binding partner of at least one of the expression products of the HERV nucleic acid sequences.