Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport plane in which the transport plane is covered by an electrically conductive material is presented. A laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

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 method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises sample container carriers comprising a magnetically active device and configured to carry a sample container, interconnected transport plane modules configured to support carriers, and electro-magnetic actuators arranged in rows and columns below each transport plane module and configured to move a carrier on top of the transport plane modules by applying a magnetic force to the carrier. The method comprises assigning transport plane modules to a route category. At least two traffic lanes are formed on the route categorized transport plane module. The carriers are moved within each traffic lane in a transport direction. The transport directions are opposite to each other. The method also comprises assigning another transport plane module to a waypoint category. A change from one transport direction to the opposite transport direction is possible on the waypoint categorized transport plane module.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising sample container carriers, a central controller having a network interface, and transport modules is presented. Each transport module comprises a transport surface, wherein the transport surfaces form a transport plane, a controllable driver arranged below the transport surface and configured to move sample container carriers on the transport surface, and a control unit for controlling the driver. The control unit comprises a network interface. The central controller and the control units of the transport modules are connected by their corresponding network interfaces. Each control unit comprises first and second addressing terminals. The addressing terminals are connected sequentially in a daisy chain topology. The first addressing terminal is the first control unit in the sequence and is connected to a first reference potential and the second addressing terminal is the last control unit in the sequence and is connected to a second reference potential.

Abstract: An automated method for detecting and/or monitoring a state of a degasser of an analyzer is provided, the degasser including a container configured to be evacuated. The method includes obtaining a time series of values indicative of pressures inside the container. The time series spans a period during which the container is evacuated or pressurized. The method further includes determining a liquid level state of the degasser which is determined by an amount of liquid present in the container based on the time series.

Abstract: A sample handling device for a laboratory automation system comprising a first carousel with a disc supported on a first axis, a second carousel with a disc supported on a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a transfer element between the first and second carousels is presented. Each disc has recesses distributed radially about the disc perimeter. Each recess receives a tube carrier. The first carousel and the second carousel connect via a passage for transferring sample tube carriers between the first and second carousels. The transfer element is a track switch which when in a rest position partly closes the passage to separate the first carousel from the second carousel. The track switch is swiveled and/or rotated about a third axis parallel to the first axis out of the rest position for transferring a tube carrier from the first carousel to the second carousel via the passage.

Abstract: A bivalent binding agent having a first monovalent binder that binds to a polypeptide epitope of a target polypeptide, a second monovalent binder that binds to a posttranslational polypeptide modification on the target polypeptide and a linker. Further disclosed are methods for the detection of a posttranslationally modified target polypeptide, for making the disclosed bivalent binding agent, and for use of the disclosed bivalent binding agent in histological staining procedures.

Abstract: A method of estimating an operating state of a drive system is presented. The drive system comprises an electric motor and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor. The method comprises a) operating the electric motor using electrical properties, b) determining movement properties regarding the movement of the mechanical unit using the electrical properties, repeating steps a) and b) for a number of times using changed electrical properties, and generating a distribution function. The distribution function allocates electrical properties to the resulting movement properties. The method also comprises estimating the operating state in response to the generated distribution function.

Abstract: An in-vitro diagnostics system arranged is presented. The system comprises a track, carriers to carry samples with data carriers, and a control station comprising a camera to detect sample images, a data carrier reader, a relocation device to relocate the sample, and a controller. The data carrier reader reads the data carrier through a read-out window. Measurement data indicates data carrier characteristics on a sample in a starting position determined from the camera images. Obscuring data indicates obscuring of part of the data carrier when the images are detected in the starting position. The controller determines, from the measurement data and the obscuring data, characteristics of the data carrier comprising location and size of the data carrier. Based on the data carrier characteristics, the sample is relocated relative to the read-out window from the starting position into a read-out position optimizing visibility of the data carrier through the read-out window.

Abstract: A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises container carriers, a gateway having a network interface, and transport modules. Each module comprises a transport surface and are adjacent in a row-direction and column-direction to form a transport surface. The module comprises a driver arranged below the transport surface to move container carriers on the transport surface and left, right, upper and lower network interfaces. The left and right network interfaces connect modules in rows and the upper and lower network interfaces connect modules in columns. The network interface of the gateway is connected to a network interface of a first module. The method comprises sending an explore command from the gateway to the first module, propagating an initialization command from the first module to the remaining modules, storing addresses within the modules, and using the addresses by the gateway to address the modules.

Abstract: Provided are nanopore-based methods, compositions, and systems for assessing analyte-ligand interactions and analyte concentration in a fluid solution. The compositions include an analyte detection complex that is associated with a nanopore to form a nanopore assembly, the analyte detection complex including an analyte ligand. As a first voltage is applied across the nanopore assembly, the analyte ligand is presented to an analyte in the solution. As a second voltage that is opposite in polarity to the first voltage is applied across the nanopore assembly, the analyte binds to the analyte. By comparing the total number of analyte-ligand binding pairs to a control binding count, the concentration of the analyte can be determined. In other examples, further increasing the second voltage can result in dissociation of the analyte-ligand pair, from which a dissociation voltage—and hence a dissociation constant—can be determined.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer for analyzing samples includes a lift, a part take-out station and a rack recovery station. The lift is configured to raise and lower a plurality of stacked part racks to the part take-out station and to the rack recovery station while keeping the part racks together. The part take-out station comprises a first rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when the lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so that the uppermost rack is separated from the other part racks so as to remain in the part take-out station. The rack recovery station comprises a second rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when said lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so as to remain in the rack recovery station.

Abstract: A laboratory system is disclosed. The laboratory system comprises a plurality of laboratories comprising one or more analytical instruments for performing a plurality of analytical tests (T1-n) and providing analytical test results (TR1-n) and a remote computer communicatively connected to the laboratories. Each of the laboratories is configured to define test result validation criteria (C1-n) for validating at least one of the analytical test results (TR1-n) associated with the respective analytical tests (T1-n) of one of the plurality of laboratories. The remote computer is configured to define a plurality of profiles (P1-n) of validation criteria, to assign the profiles (P1-n) of test result validation criteria (C1-n) to one or more of the laboratories (102), and to perform an automatic validation of groups (G1-n) of the analytical test results (TR1-n) according to the profiles (P1-n) of test result validation criteria (C1-n).

Abstract: A test element for electrochemically detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid is disclosed. The test element comprises at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode. The first electrode is designed as a working electrode and the second electrode is designed as a counter electrode. The test element comprises at least one capillary capable of receiving a sample of the body fluid. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged on opposing sides of the capillary. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged such that during a capillary filling the first electrode and the second electrode are wetted simultaneously and at an equal rate.

Abstract: A transport device unit for a transport device assembled using a plurality of transport device units is presented. The transport device unit comprises a base plate module with a base plate for fixing the transport device unit to a support frame, an actuator module with a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators, where the actuator module is supported by the base plate module, and a driving surface module with a driving surface element, where the driving surface element is arranged above the actuator module covering the actuators and configured to carry sample container carriers. A transport device, a system for at least partially disassembling the transport device, and a laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport device are also presented. In addition, a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

Abstract: A cartridge including a structural part with a hole surrounded at least partially by a recess, so that a wall is formed that separates the hole from the recess. The cartridge includes a liquid pack, wherein the liquid pack comprises a surrounding seal portion and a liquid containing portion. The liquid pack is arranged at least partially in the hole, in that a circumferential outer line of the seal portion protrudes over the hole.

Abstract: A method to localize a carrier on a laboratory transport system is presented. The laboratory transport system comprises a carrier associated with an identity, a multi-lane transport module, and a control unit. The carrier comprises a signal transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising information about the identity. The multi-lane transport module comprises a transport surface comprising a first and a second transport lane as well as a first signal receiver and a second signal receiver each configured to receive the transmitted signal. Based on received signal strengths, the control unit localizes the carrier on one of the transport lanes of the multi-lane transport module.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a rack on a rack placement unit of a laboratory handling system is presented. The rack is configured to carry a number of laboratory sample containers. The method comprises measuring a height profile of the rack, determining at least one corner region of the rack based on the measured height profile of the rack, and determining the position of the rack based on the determined at least one corner region of the rack.

Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing functional and/or structural abnormalities of the heart preceding heart failure, and for predicting the risk of developing heart failure, in a subject comprising measuring a cardiac troponin in a sample and comparing the measurement to a reference value. Other markers, including GDF15 and IGFBP7 are also measured in some embodiments.

Abstract: An identification, authentication and authorization method in a laboratory system is presented. The system comprises at least one laboratory device. The method comprises receiving identification data identifying a user; receiving identity confirmation data to authenticate the user; and generating authentication data upon successful authentication of the user. The authentication data is configured to enable authentication of the user based on only the identification data during a validity time period without repeated receipt of the identity confirmation data. The method further comprises receiving the identification data by an identification unit; validating the authentication data corresponding to the identification data comprising the step of verifying non-expiry of the validity time period; and granting authorization to the user for the laboratory device upon successful validation of the authentication data.