Abstract: Apparatus and processes for automated diagnostic testing may include cuvette dispensing, test sample dispensing, reagent dispensing, incubation, photo-optical measuring, and a control in operative communication with the cuvette dispensing unit, the test sample dispenser, the reagent dispenser, the incubation unit, and the measuring unit. A cuvette removal location, a reagent removal location, a measuring location, and a collection receptacle may be situated along a first common circular arc having first geometric center. A cuvette-moving arm and a reagent-dispensing arm have a common axis of rotation passing through this geometric center. A sampling position, a sample dispensing position, an additional rinsing position, and an additional washing position, may all be provided on a second circular arc having second geometric center that has a second axis of rotation for a rotatable sampling arm of the test sample dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for forwarding of cuvettes stored unarranged, in which, from a storage place, the cuvettes are forwarded for further use in an arranged way. The unarranged cuvettes have a suitable geometry, and are elevated between the edges of arranging cuvette elevator members, being elevated up to the output opening for arranged cuvettes. Through an output opening, the cuvettes arranged side by side are removed and are forwarded by a cuvette-advancing pusher (21) operated along the edges (19) of the raised arranging elements (18) by a drive mechanism. The cuvette elevators (18) are subsequently returned to their initial position at a bottom having two slight inclines (17).

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for placing sample cuvettes at measuring points, dispensing a reagent into the cuvettes, and forwarding used cuvettes to a receptacle after finishing the measurements. The apparatus has an incubation module (1) for incubating sample cuvettes (7), a reagent module (3) containing a reagent of an amount needed for the assay, and a measuring module (2) favorably accommodating optical measuring points. Arms (K1 . . . KN) can move the sample cuvettes (7).

Abstract: Disclosed are procedures and kits for nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic determination of bacterial germ counts during which procedure evolutionarily conserved genes and genes coding for characteristic pathogenicity markers, favourably microbial enzyme, toxin, special resistance, are detected using real-time PCR amplification method with the application of fluorescent hydrolysis probes. The multiplication of nucleotide chains takes place with oligonucleotides annealing to the structural gene 5? end region and to the adjacent upstream regulatory promoter-operator region so that the presence of the structural gene is shown along with the adjacent upstream regulatory promoter-operator sequences; the functional nature of the structural gene is simultaneously checked. The result is measured with a genome unit equivalent DNA amount calibrated to the germ number of sample units equivalent to standard procedures.