Abstract: A system and method provides a supply of consumables to a processing instrument that uses one or more of the consumables for each of a plurality of processes performed by the instrument. The system includes a loading drawer holding a carrier for receiving a plurality of consumables and an input module for holding a carrier supporting a plurality of consumables thereon and presenting the consumables for access by the instrument. A transporter includes a vertical elevator and a lateral actuator for moving a lift platform vertically and laterally and for transporting carriers on the lift platform with or without consumables supported thereon between the loading drawer and the input module, between the loading drawer and one or more holding shelves, or between the input module and one or more holding shelves. A carrier includes parallel support rails for holding multiple receptacle units and retainer tabs for retaining the units on the support rails.

Abstract: An assembly includes a bracket, a magnetic elution slot, and a reagent pack loading station. The elution slot receives a multiple receptacle device having multiple receptacles interconnected by a connecting rib defining shoulders along either side of the receptacle device. The elution slot includes opposed walls attached to the bracket below a top surface of the bracket with the opposed walls disposed on either side of a slot formed in the bracket. The downwardly facing shoulders of the receptacle device are supported on the top surface of the bracket on opposed sides of the slot, and one or more magnets are attached to or embedded in one or both walls. The reagent pack loading station holds a multi-well reagent pack such that the wells of the reagent pack are accessible by a pipettor, and the reagent pack holding station includes spaced apart hold down features extending above the top surface of the bracket.

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 receptacle distribution system includes a rotary distributor and a receptacle handoff device. The rotary distributor includes a motorized turntable with an upright wall, a distributor head for holding a receptacle, a hook configured to engage a receptacle for moving the receptacle into or out of the distributor head, and an a system for powered elevation of the distributor head. The receptacle handoff device is configured to transfer a receptacle from a first receptacle distributor to the rotary distributor and includes a receptacle yoke configured to hold a receptacle placed in the receptacle yoke with the first receptacle distributor, the receptacle yoke being rotatable between a first position to receive the receptacle and a second position to present the receptacle to the rotary distributor to enable the hook of the rotary distributor to pull the receptacle from the receptacle yoke and into the distributor head.

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: A receptacle for minimizing evaporation of a fluid includes a single-piece body, a fluid-tight seal, a penetrable septum, and a lid. The body includes a chamber having an opening. The fluid-tight seal is affixed to a surface of the body that defines the first opening. The fluid-tight seal covers the opening and is frangible. The septum covers the opening and the fluid-tight seal. The septum includes at least one slit forming slats. The lid has an opening axially aligned with the opening and is coupled to the body such that at least a portion of the septum is disposed between the lid and the fluid-tight seal.

Abstract: Disclosed are formulations, including both liquid and lyophilized formulations, comprising a far-red dye probe and a non-linear surfactant or foamban. Also disclosed are related methods for preparing a lyophilized far-red dye probe formulation as well as related kits and diagnostic products.

Abstract: A system for monitoring reactions with a plurality of receptacle vessels that includes: an incubator; a movable receptacle carrier contained within a temperature-controlled chamber of the incubator; one or more fixed fluorometers configured to measure a fluorescent emission and positioned with respect to the receptacle carrier to measure fluorescent emissions from receptacle vessels carried on the receptacle carrier into an operative position with respect to each fluorometer; one or more fluorescent reference standards mounted on the receptacle carrier; and a controller configured to control operation of the receptacle carrier and the one or more fluorometers to determine if a fluorescent emission intensity of one or more of the fluorescent reference standards deviates from an expected fluorescent emission intensity.

Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.

Abstract: A nucleic acid diagnostic system includes a unit-dose reagent compartment storing at least one unit-dose pack, one or more unit-dose pack loading stations for holding a unit-dose pack at a location that permits a substance transfer device to dispense a reconstitution reagent into each well of the pack, a unit-dose pack distributor configured to transfer a unit-dose pack from the unit-dose reagent compartment to one of the unit-dose pack loading stations, and an electrostatic generator disposed within the housing of the unit-dose reagent compartment and/or adjacent the one or more unit-dose pack loading stations. The electrostatic generator imparts an electrostatic charge to each of the wells of the unit-dose pack and/or to a lyophilized reagent pellet within each well so that the electrostatic charge positions and holds each lyophilized reagent pellet at a bottom of each respective well of the unit-dose pack.

Abstract: This disclosure provides oligomers, combinations of oligomers, compositions, kits, uses, and methods for detecting a C1orf43 nucleic acid, such as C1orf43 mRNA, such as human C1orf43 mRNA, in a sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acid oligomers, including amplification oligomers and detection probes, for detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) 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: This disclosure provides oligomers, compositions, and kits for detecting and quantifying Hepatitis C virus (HCV), including different genotypes and variants thereof, and related methods and uses. In some embodiments, oligomers target the 5? untranslated region of HCV and are configured to provide substantially equivalent quantification of different genotypes and variants of HCV.

Abstract: A first time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a first thermal cycling process and a time stamp for each time interval, and a second time/temperature data set includes temperatures and time stamps recorded at time intervals during a second thermal cycling process. Signal emissions at different signal detecting positions are sequentially measured at different time intervals to generate first and second time/signal emission data sets for receptacles subject to the first and second thermal cycling processes, respectively. Signal emissions of receptacles subject to the first thermal cycling process are synchronized with specific temperatures of the first thermal cycling process by comparing time stamps of the first time/signal emission data set for each receptacle with the time stamps of the first time/temperature data set that correspond with the specific temperature.

Abstract: A method for performing a nucleic acid amplification assay employs a thermally-conductive receptacle holder with one or more receptacle wells, each conforming to an outer surface of a lower portion of a vial. A through-hole extends from an inner surface of each well to an outer surface of the holder. A thermal element is positioned proximal to the holder for altering a temperature of the holder. A signal detection module is configured to generate an excitation signal directed through the through-hole of the well and detect an optical emission from a fluid contained in the vial supported by the well. At least one well supports a capped vial containing a reagent for a nucleic acid amplification assay and including an opaque cap sealing an open end of the vial. The lower portion of the vial is contained within a well, and the cap is situated above a top surface of the holder.

Abstract: A receptacle includes an upper portion having a cylindrical portion and an open end and a lower portion depending from the upper portion, where the lower portion is tapered and has a closed bottom end. The receptacle may include a radially-extending annular ring with a flat or sloped bottom surface and disposed on an outer surface of the receptacle at a transition between the upper portion and the lower portion and/or a radially-projecting lip circumscribing the open end, which may be configured for inter-locking engagement with a mated cap inserted into the open end of the upper portion. Embodiments may include one or more longitudinally-oriented grooves formed in an inner surface of the upper portion. The receptacle may be a unitary plastic structure.

Abstract: A method for measuring optical signal detector performance that includes directing light emitted from an optical signal detector onto a first non-fluorescent surface portion in a first detection zone of the optical signal detector. A first characteristic of light detected by a first sensor of the first optical signal detector is measured while the first non-fluorescent surface portion is in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. Light emitted from the optical signal detector is directed into a first void in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. A second characteristic of light detected by the first sensor of the optical signal detector is measured while the first void is in the first detection zone of the optical signal detector. And an operational performance status of the optical signal detector is determined based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for making closed nucleic acid structures in which one or both strands are continuous. The closed nucleic acid structures can be used as sequencing templates among other applications.