Abstract: A computer implemented method to allocate control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is provided. The laboratory system comprises a storage, a transport system, and at least two analyzers. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. Information is presented for distributing the total control sample volume into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. Information is also presented for distributing the control sample aliquots to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

Abstract: A distribution system comprising a transport plane configured for distributing a plurality of tube holders, wherein the transport plane comprises at least one transportation area and at least one queue area, wherein the queue area comprises queues of a plurality of different queue types differentiating between tube holder with a sample container, empty tube holder, input queue and output queue; a drive system configured for moving the tube holders on the transport plane; a control system configured to control movement of the tube holders on the transport plane, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for the tube holders on the transportation area of the transport plane, wherein the control system comprises a queue manager configured for calculating routes for the tube holders in the queue area considering the different queue types.

Abstract: A method for determining sample container characteristics is presented. The method comprises providing first image data representing a first image of a sample container in a first scenario, wherein in the first scenario, a first illumination condition comprising a sample container background illumination is applied to the sample container; providing second image data representing a second image of the sample container in a second scenario, wherein in the second scenario, a second illumination condition different from the first is applied to the sample container; determining a mask from the first image that indicates a sub-image section of the first image comprising a sample container representation in the first image; determining sub-image data from the second image containing a sample container representation in the second image by applying the mask to the second image; and determining the sample container characteristics from an image data analysis comprising image sub-image data data analysis.

Abstract: A method for predicting the risk of recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in a subject based on measuring the amount of the biomarker Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and optionally of at least one further biomarker in a sample from the subject is described. Also described is a method of diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation in a subject suspected to suffer from Atrial Fibrillation based on measuring the amount of the biomarker Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and optionally of at least one further biomarker in a sample from the subject. Also described are devices adapted to carry out the method of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A reagent vessel, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a lower part of a reagent vessel for an analytical instrument are disclosed. The reagent vessel is configured to store a liquid reagent. The reagent vessel comprises a cover and a lower part. The lower part comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, two opposing side walls and at least one connection wall. The cover, bottom wall, front wall, rear wall and two opposing side walls define at least one internal volume for storing at least one liquid reagent. The two opposing side walls are at least partially connected to one another by the at least one connection wall located within the at least one internal volume. The connection wall is spaced apart from the bottom wall. The connection wall and at least the two opposing side walls can be injection-molded and are monolithically formed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and kits for the early diagnosis or prediction of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) including sepsis in asymptomatic patients, such as patients undergoing a surgical intervention, are provided. Some embodiments include a method and system for the detection or diagnosis of SIRS, or detection or diagnosis of a risk to suffer from or develop SIRS, in an asymptomatic patient comprising the steps of determining the level of IL-6 (or a variant thereof) in a sample from the patient; comparing the level of IL-6 (or a variant thereof) to a reference level; detecting or diagnosing SIRS or diagnosing a risk to suffer from or develop SIRS, wherein the sample is isolated at least 2 times at short intervals and the determining and comparing steps are both repeated for each sample. Also provided are methods, systems and kits for therapy monitoring and mortality prediction.

Abstract: An automated method for determining a coagulation result of a biological sample is presented. The method includes obtaining a time series representing measurement data of a sample. The time series spans a period in which a clotting reaction is supposed to take place. The method includes obtaining a global model function configured to model measurement data of a sample in which a clotting reaction takes place. The global model function is configured to model the measurement data as a sigmoidal shape with at least one inflection point. The absolute value of the maximum curvature of the sigmoidal shape is larger on one side of the at least one inflection point than on the other side. The method includes fitting the model function to the time series representing measurement data to obtain a fitted model function and determining a coagulation result of the sample based on the fitted model function.

Abstract: A method of assigning an additional test to an existing aliquot sample tube or to a primary sample tube in a laboratory automation system is presented. The laboratory automation system comprises a workflow control unit and analytical laboratory devices in communication with the workflow control unit. The method comprises receiving an additional test request for the existing aliquot sample tube after processing of the existing aliquot sample tube has started, determining if the existing aliquot sample tube is at a retrievable target, waiting until the existing aliquot sample tube reaches a retrievable target if not at a retrievable target, determining if an aliquot timeout has occurred once the existing aliquot sample tube is at a retrievable target, reassigning the addition test to the primary sample tube if an aliquot timeout has occurred, and performing the additional test from the existing aliquot sample tube if no aliquot timeout has occurred.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant reverse transcriptase (RT) with increased thermal stability relative to the wildtype, a nucleic acid encoding the mutant RT, a cell comprising the mutant RT or the nucleic acid, a kit comprising the mutant RT, the use of the mutant RT for cDNA synthesis, method for reverse transcription of RNA comprising synthesizing cDNA with the use of the mutant RT and a method for detecting an RNA marker in a sample with the use of the mutant RT.

Abstract: A container carrier for carrying a sample container along a track is presented. The container carrier comprises a holding portion for receiving and holding a sample container and a base portion. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag containing identifying information is provided with an antenna for wireless communication of the RFID tag with a reader device of the diagnostics system to read the identifying information. The RFID tag is on the holding portion. An arrangement for a diagnostics system is provided comprising container carriers and a track with a transport mechanism for moving the container carriers along a transportation lane. The transport mechanism defines a transport plane along which the container carriers move. A reader device reads the identifying information from the RFID tags. The reader device comprising a reader antenna above the transport plane to generate and emit a reader field for wireless communication with the RFID tag's antenna.

Abstract: A distribution system is disclosed. The distribution system comprises a transport plan comprising logical positions, carriers for transporting objects, a drive system to move the carriers on the transport plan between logical positions, a control system configured for controlling the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane via logical positions, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with graphs of nodes, wherein the routing system is configured for calculating the planned routes considering balancing of surface usage of the transport plane, and wherein the routing system is configured for considering temporal blocking of logical positions and/or a considering variable move length and/or considering a variable reservation length.

Abstract: A distribution system comprising a transport plane for distributing objects and carriers for transporting the objects. A drive system moves the carriers on the transport plane. A control system of the distribution system is configured to control the carriers to move on a planned route from a start position to a final destination position on the transport plane. The control system comprises a routing system configured to calculate the planned route for at least two carriers on the transport plane by modeling the transport plane with nodes and graphs and using a windowed hierarchical cooperative informed search algorithm. The routing system is configured to determine reserved and free time windows for each node. The routing system is configured to assign an individual reservation length to each carrier for the next move on free time windows and assigns an infinite reservation time to the node of a logical position.

Abstract: A method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system is presented. The method comprises providing a laboratory sample container comprising an assigned ID information to the laboratory sample container handling system, reading the assigned ID information, checking, if the read ID information is unique or not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, and if the read ID information (2) is not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, assigning a new ID information to the laboratory sample container. The new ID information is unique within the laboratory sample container handling system.

Abstract: A method for operating a laboratory automation system, having: a control device and a transport system with carriers and a first empty carrier queue provided with a first fixed number of queue spaces, each assignable an empty carrier; the method comprising: providing additional queue spaces, each assignable an empty carrier, assigning a first number of additional queue spaces from the additional queue spaces to the first empty carrier queue, operating the first empty carrier queue with the first fixed number of queue spaces plus the first number of additional queue spaces, assigning, in response to receiving operation data in the control device, a second number of additional queue spaces from the additional queue spaces to the first empty carrier queue and operating the first empty carrier queue with the first fixed number of queue spaces plus the second number of additional queue spaces. Further, a laboratory automation system is provided.

Abstract: A method of routing test samples during periods of laboratory disruption in a laboratory system is disclosed. The method comprises determining that a laboratory device is unavailable, masking a target laboratory device so that test samples are not sent to the target laboratory device and test samples cannot be retrieved from the target laboratory device, rerouting test samples from the target laboratory device to a buffer, calculating a new laboratory workflow after the laboratory device becomes available, unmasking the target laboratory device after the new laboratory workflow is calculated, and retrieving the test samples from buffer and sending the test samples to the target laboratory device.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an analyzer including a liquid chromatography device (LC) having at least two liquid chromatography (LC) streams, the method including continuously monitoring one or more parameters in measurement data of samples in each of the at least two LC streams, the one or more parameters being independent of an analyte concentration of the respective sample, determining if the one or more monitored parameters show an expected behavior and triggering a response upon detection that the one or more monitored parameters deviate from the expected behavior.

Abstract: A method for detecting an analyte involving a) contacting the analyte, a capture agent and a solid surface to form a capture complex attached to a solid surface, b) cleaving at least one covalent bond within the analyte and/or within said capture agent in the capture complex and, thereby, releasing the analyte or a fragment thereof from the capture complex, and c) detecting at least one fragment of the analyte and, thereby, detecting the analyte is disclosed herein. A kit having i) a capture agent binding to an analyte; and ii) an agent cleaving at least one covalent bond within the analyte and/or within the capture agent; and to the use of a protease for releasing fragments of an analyte for detecting the analyte, wherein the analyte is bound to a solid surface via a capture agent is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A sample input interface for inputting samples into a detecting unit of an in-vitro diagnostic analyzer. The sample input interface comprises a sample input port comprising an outer input-port side configured for plugging-in an open end of a sample container and an inner input-port side, an aspiration needle comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, where the downstream end is fluidically connected or connectable to the detecting unit and where the upstream end is configured to alternately couple to the inner input-port side and to a fluid supply port. The outer input-port side is further configured to alternately couple to a fluid supply port while the upstream end of the aspiration needle is coupled to the inner input-port side in order to rinse the sample input port with fluid aspirated by the aspiration needle from a fluid supply unit via the sample input port.

Abstract: A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.