Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a core polypeptide of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a sample from a subject involving (a) contacting said sample with a base and with a surfactant having a cationic detergent, and (b) detecting a core polypeptide of the HCV in the sample. The present invention further relates to a method for pre-processing a sample from a subject for detection of HCV, involving contacting the sample with a base and with a surfactant having a cationic detergent; and to a pre-processing reagent for detecting HCV in a sample, having a base and a surfactant including a cationic detergent, wherein the surfactant also has a nonionic detergent. Moreover, the present disclosure further relates to kits, uses, and devices related to the methods disclosed.

Abstract: A reagent management system is disclosed comprising a reagent container section for receiving reagent containers and a reagent reconstitution device for reconstituting dry, or lyophilized, reagents or concentrated reagents in reagent containers in order to carry out in-vitro diagnostic tests with the reconstituted reagents. A controller is programmed to instruct the reagent reconstitution device to automatically reconstitute an initial volume of a selected reagent type in reagent containers. The initial volume is calculated based on an open container stability time (OCS) of the reconstituted reagent type for each reagent container and on a number of tests to be carried out within the OCS of the reconstituted reagent type. A reagent container for use by the reagent management system and methods of automatically reconstituting a dry, or lyophilized reagent, or a concentrated liquid reagent in a reagent container to carry out an in-vitro diagnostic test with the reagent are disclosed.

Abstract: A sample handling system for handling samples is disclosed. The sample handling system comprises sample holders, each receives a sample container; a sample transport device for moving the sample holders; a control unit for controlling functionality of the sample handling system, and a monitoring system for monitoring the samples during movement. The monitoring system comprises a camera module for continuously capturing images of a part of the sample transport device, wherein the camera module is at a distance from the sample transport device such that the camera module has a free field of view to the sample transport device, and a processor for processing the captured images and determining an item of information about the sample transport device and/or the sample container and/or the sample from the captured images. The control unit retrieves the item of information from the processor. The controlling is based on the retrieved item of information.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a recombinant immunoglobulin heavy chain comprising a sortase conjugation loop, methods for conjugating and/or labeling such recombinant immunoglobulin heavy chains by use of the enzyme sortase and to the conjugates/labeled products obtained via the method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method to re-identify a carrier on a laboratory transport system after a system failure. The carrier is associated with an identity and is configured to move over a transport plane of the laboratory transport system. The laboratory transport system comprises a monitoring system configured to monitor motion positions of the carrier on the transport plane when the laboratory transport system is activated. After a system failure, the identity dissociates from the carrier and the carrier keeps moving on the transport plane. After reactivation of the laboratory transport system, a predicted position of the identity is compared to an actual position of the carrier by a control unit of the laboratory transport system. The control unit assigns the identity to the carrier if the predicted position of the identity matches with the actual position of the carrier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for tracking laboratory resources is disclosed. The laboratory resource comprises an identification feature. The method comprises an identification step comprising detecting the laboratory resource in the laboratory with an imaging sensor of an augmented reality device and identifying the laboratory resource with an identification unit of the augmented reality device by receiving identification information from the identification feature, a data retrieving step comprising retrieving information about the identified laboratory resource from a data server via a communication interface of the augmented reality device, and a tracking step comprising generating and displaying augmented reality information on a display device of the augmented reality device.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing agent for processing data from an automated medical sample analyzer is presented. The method comprises receiving at least one automated analyzer status datum transmitted from at least one automated analyzers in a medical sample analysis system to the data processing agent, wherein the automated analyzer status data is generated by the at least one automated analyzer in response to an automated analyzer condition detected by an automated analyzer, receiving at least one annotation datum at the data processing agent, associating at least one automated analyzer status datum with at least one annotation datum using the processing agent to generate an automated analyzer system data record, and outputting the automated analyzer system data record from the data processing agent, wherein the automated analyzer system data record comprises at least one automated analyzer device status datum associated with at least one annotation datum.

Abstract: A point of care testing (POCT) instrument for analyzing biological samples and a POCT system comprising a plurality of such POCT instruments is proposed. The POCT instrument comprises a housing, a measurement unit designed for collecting data indicative of at least one biological parameter of a biological sample, a main display, and an auxiliary display.

Abstract: A method for determining a concentration of at least one analyte in bodily fluid, comprising: a signal generation step, wherein an excitation voltage signal is generated by a signal generator, wherein the excitation voltage signal comprises a poly frequent alternating current (AC) voltage and a direct current (DC) voltage profile, wherein the poly frequent AC voltage comprises at least two frequencies; a signal application step, wherein the excitation voltage signal is applied to at least two measurement electrodes; a measurement step, wherein a response is measured by using the measurement electrodes; an evaluation step, wherein an AC current response for each frequency and a DC current response are evaluated from the response; a determination step, wherein the concentration of the analyte is determined from the DC current response and from one or both of the phase and impedance information by using at least one predetermined relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The apparatus comprises an optical sensing unit for sensing a transmittance at different vertical positions through the laboratory sample container and a tip sensing unit having a tip. The tip sensing unit is adapted to provide a tip sensing signal (tLDS) depending on a position of the tip relative to the sample. The apparatus also comprises a process control unit adapted to control the secure and reliable pipetting of the laboratory sample in response to both the transmittance and the tip sensing signal (tLDS) provided by the tip sensing unit.

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 centering unit for diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment is presented. The centering unit for diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment comprises at least two arms with grippers for centering diagnostics laboratory transporting compartments of different diameters. For accurate and reliable centering of laboratory transporting compartments, the two arms are biased with a single elastic member. A laboratory system and a method for centering diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment and diagnostics laboratory transporting compartment holder are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical device for determining the presence and/or concentration of analytes in a sample is presented. The optical device comprises a detector and a detection unit comprising optical path components. The detection unit has wavelength-dependent responsivity. The optical device further comprises a light source for emitting light of different respective usable wavelength ranges. The light is guidable through the optical path to the detector to generate baseline signals and response signals relative to the baseline signal indicative of the presence and/or concentration of analytes in the optical path. The intensity of the light reaching the detector is adjusted inverse to the wavelength-dependent responsivity with respect to at least two respective usable wavelength ranges so that a reduction of the ratio between the maximum baseline signal at one of the selected usable wavelength ranges and the minimum baseline signal at another of the selected usable wavelength ranges is obtained.

Abstract: A sample container carrier, a laboratory sample distribution system comprising such a sample container carrier and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are presented.

Abstract: A sample container carrier, a laboratory sample distribution system comprising such a sample container carrier and a laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system are presented.

Abstract: A laboratory distribution system is presented. The system comprises diagnostic laboratory container carriers and a conveyor. The conveyor comprises an endless drive defining a closed-loop conveyor pathway. The system comprises supporting elements attached to the endless drive. The supporting elements receive a container carrier and transport the container carrier in an upright position along a pathway section. The supporting elements are mounted pivotally about a horizontal pivot axis to the drive and structured such that a center of gravity of the supporting element with or without an empty or loaded container carrier is arranged below and vertically aligned with the pivot axis when the supporting element is in an upright position such that each supporting element is free to pivot about the associated pivot axis under the effect of gravitational forces acting on the supporting element for maintaining the supporting elements in an upright position while travelling along the path.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises an optical inspection device adapted to optically inspect items that need to be optically inspected, at least one mirror device, a driver adapted to move the items to be optically inspected and to move the at least one mirror device, and a control device configured to move an item to be optically inspected relative to the optical inspection device by controlling the driver such that a field of view of the optical inspection device is extended.

Abstract: A positioning system for positioning a consumable rack in a diagnostic system is disclosed. The positioning system comprises a rack comprising an upper surface comprising holding positions and a receiving compartment comprising a rectangular chassis comprising front, rear, and two lateral sides. The receiving compartment comprises a holding structure coupled to the chassis to move between first and second positions. The rack comprises sidewalls. At least three sidewalls have a center alignment element. The chassis comprises three chassis alignment elements on the rear and two lateral sides. The holding structure comprises a corner push element between the chassis front and lateral sides to push against a side edge of the rack between two sidewalls when the holding structure is moved from the first position towards the second position forcing the three alignment elements against a chassis alignment element and laterally holding the rack in position by the chassis alignment elements.

Abstract: A method of quantifying the amount of at least two analytes A1 and A2 involving (a) adding at least one salt (S) to at least a portion (P1) of the sample comprising the at least two analytes A1 and A2, (b) ionizing at least a portion of the sample according to (a) thereby forming an analyte flow comprising the analytes A1 and A2 in ionized form, (c) separating the ionized analytes A1 and A2 from each other by using at least one ion mobility separator (124), wherein the analyte flow according to (b) at least partially passes through the ion mobility separator (124), and (d) quantifying the amount of the separated ionized analytes obtained according to (c), wherein A1 is a pharmaceutically active compound C or derivative thereof and A2 is a metabolite or stereoisomer of C.

Abstract: A communication interface apparatus is provided for use with a handheld medical test device. The communication interface apparatus is comprised of an attachment member configured to detachably couple to a housing of the medical test device, where the attachment member substantially overlays a rear side of the medical test device. The communication interface apparatus houses an infrared receiver, a secondary transceiver and a controller. The infrared receiver is arranged such that its input port aligns with an output port of an infrared transmitter in the medical test device when the attachment member is coupled to the medical test device.