Abstract: A method and apparatus for freezing a liquid droplet includes dispensing, by a liquid dispenser, a droplet of liquid into a fluid chamber containing a freezing fluid. The droplet of liquid is allowed to dwell in the freezing fluid for at least a predetermined dwell time so that the droplet of liquid freezes to a frozen droplet. The method and apparatus further includes injecting, by a gas injector, a stream of gas transversely to a surface of the freezing fluid at about where the frozen droplet is located along the surface of the freezing fluid contained in the fluid chamber so that the frozen droplet sinks in the freezing fluid.

Abstract: A method for reconstituting a reagent within a reagent pack including one or more wells and at least one of the wells containing a lyophilized reagent comprises the steps of receiving reagent packs into a reagent pack input carousel, transferring one reagent pack with a rotary distributor from the input carousel to a reagent pack storage carousel, retrieving the reagent pack from the storage carousel with the rotary distributor and placing the reagent pack into a reagent pack loading station, and dispensing a reconstitution reagent with an automated pipettor into the well containing the lyophilized reagent to form a reconstituted reagent.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nucleic acid amplification reactions includes a thermally-conductive receptacle holder that includes multiple receptacle wells. Each well can receive a receptacle and has a through-hole extending from an inner surface of the well to an outer surface of the holder. The apparatus includes multiple optical fibers, and each optical fiber has a first end in optical communication with an associated well and a second end in optical communication with an excitation signal source and/or an emission signal detector. The first end of each optical fiber is moveable with respect to the through-hole. A cover is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the receptacle holder, and the first end of each optical fiber moves with respect to the through-hole of the associated well as the cover moves to the open or closed position or when the cover moves into or out of contact with any receptacles within the wells.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). The disclosed methods generally include detecting select species of Eggerthella and/or Prevotella, and optionally detecting select species of Lactobacillus. Also disclosed are nucleic acid oligomers and related compositions for detection of a 16S rRNA or its encoding gene from select species of Eggerthella, Prevotella, or Lactobacillus.

Abstract: Methods for detecting the presence or absence of the swine H1N1 influenza A virus, seasonal H1 influenza A virus and/or seasonal H3 influenza A virus nucleic acids in biological samples are disclosed. Compositions that are target-specific nucleic acid sequences and kits comprising target-specific nucleic acid oligomers for amplifying in vitro the swine H1N1 influenza A virus, seasonal H1 influenza A virus and/or seasonal H3 influenza A virus nucleic acid and detecting amplified nucleic acid sequences are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for freezing a liquid droplet includes dispensing, by a liquid dispenser (14), a droplet (13) of liquid into a fluid chamber (10) containing a freezing fluid (12). The droplet of liquid is allowed to dwell in the freezing fluid for at least a predetermined dwell time so that the droplet of liquid freezes to a frozen droplet. The method and apparatus further includes injecting, by a gas injector (17), a stream (16) of gas transversely to a surface of the freezing fluid at about where the frozen droplet is located along the surface of the freezing fluid contained in the fluid chamber so that the frozen droplet sinks in the freezing fluid.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, kits, and methods for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nucleic acids. In some embodiments, the compositions, kits, and methods can be used to detect one or more of type i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, xii, xiii, xiv, xv, or xxi SCCmec right extremity junction (MREJ) MRSA nucleic acids and one or more of mecA, mecC, and/or an additional S. aureus-specific gene.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of determining a consensus sequence from multiple raw sequencing reads of a nucleic acid target. The nucleic acid target includes an anchor segment of known sequence and an adjacent segment of unknown sequence. The anchor segment provides a means to assess the quality of a raw target sequencing read. Raw target sequencing reads meeting or exceeding a threshold are assigned to an accepted class. The consensus sequence of the adjacent segment can be determined from raw target sequencing reads in the accepted class. Successive polling steps determine successive consensus nucleobases in a nascent sequence of the adjacent segment. Raw target sequencing reads can be removed or reintroduced from the accepted class depending on their correspondence to the most recently determined consensus nucleobase and/or the nascent sequence.

Abstract: Improved methods for use in nucleic acid amplification, including multiplex amplification, where the amplification is carried out in two or more distinct phases are disclosed. The first phase amplification reaction preferably lacks one or more components required for exponential amplification. The lacking component is subsequently provided in a second, third or further phase(s) of amplification, resulting in a rapid exponential amplification reaction. The multiphase protocol results in faster and more sensitive detection and lower variability at low analyte concentrations. Compositions for carrying out the claimed methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing station located within a housing of an instrument. The conveyor assembly includes a spur conveyor subassembly and a buffer conveyor subassembly for transporting the carrier from a host conveyor assembly to the spur conveyor subassembly. The spur conveyor subassembly includes (i) a rotatable diverter having at least one recess for receiving and moving the carrier between the buffer conveyor subassembly and the spur conveyor subassembly and (ii) a gripper configured to grasp the carrier and move it from the diverter to the processing position located within the housing of the instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for amplifying a nucleic acid target region using an amplification oligomer comprising a target-binding segment and a heterologous displacer tag situated 5? to the target-binding segment. Initiation of an amplification reaction from the tagged amplification oligomer produces an amplicon comprising the displacer tag, such that once the complement of the displacer tag has been incorporated into a second amplicon, a displacer oligonucleotide having a sequence substantially corresponding to the displacer tag sequence is used to participate in subsequent rounds of amplification for displacement of an extension product primed from a site within the second amplicon 5? to the displacer priming site. Also disclosed are related kits and reaction mixtures comprising the displacer-tagged amplification oligomer and corresponding displacer oligonucleotide.

Abstract: Multiple receptacles containing a reaction mixture are transported to corresponding receptacle wells of a thermally-conductive receptacle holder in thermal communication with a support that is in thermal communication with a heat sink. The heat sink is pre-heated to a temperature above ambient temperature, and the temperature of the receptacle holder is cycled. Optical communication is established between each of the receptacle wells and an excitation signal source and an emission signal detector during cycling, and whether an emission signal is emitted from any of the receptacles is determined as an indication of the presence of a target nucleic acid.

Abstract: A diagnostic system is configured to perform first and second, different nucleic acid amplification reactions. The system includes a bulk reagent container compartment configured to store first bulk reagent container containing a first bulk reagent for performing sample preparation processes with a first subset and a second subset of a plurality of samples and a second bulk reagent container containing a second bulk reagent for performing the first nucleic acid amplification reaction. The system includes a unit-dose reagent compartment storing a unit-dose reagent pack including unit-dose reagents for performing the second nucleic acid amplification reaction.

Abstract: Method and system for quantifying target nucleic acids using real-time amplification and internal calibration adjustment. The approach employs a single fixed data point in combination with a single adjustment calibrator amplified on the instrument that is to be calibrated for approximating a complete calibration curve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for freezing a liquid droplet includes dispensing, by a liquid dispenser, a droplet of liquid into a fluid chamber containing a freezing liquid. The droplet of liquid is allowed to dwell in the freezing liquid for at least a predetermined dwell time so that the droplet of liquid freezes to a frozen droplet. The method and apparatus further includes injecting, by a gas injector, a stream of gas transversely to a surface of the freezing liquid at about where the frozen droplet is located along the surface of the freezing liquid contained in the fluid chamber so that the frozen droplet sinks in the freezing liquid.

Abstract: A reagent pack changer includes a reagent pack input device, a reagent pack storage compartment, a reagent pack storage carousel disposed within the storage compartment, and a rotary distributor. The input device includes a reagent pack input carousel rotatable about an axis of rotation, with reagent pack stations for holding reagent packs disposed around the axis of rotation of the carousel. The reagent pack storage carousel is rotatable about an axis of rotation with reagent pack stations for holding reagent packs disposed around the axis of rotation. The rotary distributor is configured to move a reagent pack between the reagent pack input carousel and the reagent pack storage carousel.

Abstract: A system includes a reagent pack input carousel, a carousel frame supporting the carousel, and a track on which the carousel frame is supported for movement of the carousel into and out of an instrument in drawer-like fashion. The carousel is rotatable about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of reagent pack input stations arranged about the perimeter of the carousel. Each input station is adapted to carry a reagent pack, and the input stations are oriented at an angle with respect to a radial orientation relative to the axis of rotation. Each input station includes an alignment block located at a radially inner end of the station, and the block is received within a recess formed in an end of the reagent pack placed in the station to align and position of the reagent pack within the station.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid oligomers, including amplification oligomers, capture probes, and detection probes, for detection of Zika virus nucleic acid. Also disclosed are methods of specific nucleic acid amplification and detection using the disclosed oligomers, as well as corresponding reaction mixtures and kits.

Abstract: A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

Abstract: Method and associated system for reading machine-readable labels on a plurality of sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, a machine-readable label associated each of the plurality of sample receptacles is read with a first label reader when the rack is at a first location. The sample rack is then moved from the first location to a second location, where a rack identifier on the sample rack is sensed with a sensor separate from the first label reader. Finally, the rack identifier is associated with the machine-readable labels of the plurality of sample receptacles.