Abstract: A method and a device for handling sample tubes are presented. A position of the sample tube is identified and the sample tube is handled depending thereon.

Abstract: A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The method comprises a number of sample container carriers on a transport plane by a number of electro-magnetic actuators. The method is adapted to compensate deviations regarding physical properties of the sample container carriers, the transport plane and the electro-magnetic actuators compared to reference components. A laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mutant 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (3-HBDH) with improved performance relative to the wild-type 3-HBDH, a nucleic acid encoding the mutant 3-HBDH, a cell having the mutant 3-HBDH or the nucleic acid, and/or a method of determining the amount or concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in a sample. Also disclosed is the use of the mutant 3-HBDH for determining the amount or concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in a sample, and a device for determining the amount or concentration of 3-hydroxybutyrate in a sample.

Abstract: An analyte detector for detecting at least one analyte in at least one fluid sample is proposed. The analyte detector comprises at least one multipurpose electrode exposable to the fluid sample. The analyte detector further comprises at least one field-effect transistor in electrical contact with the at least one multipurpose electrode. The analyte detector further comprises at least one electro-chemical measurement device configured for performing at least one electrochemical measurement using the multipurpose electrode.

Abstract: A system for dispensing vessels to an analyzer is disclosed. The system comprises a disc rotatable about an axis and comprising a groove, a drum arranged above and coupled to the disc to rotatable together about the axis, the drum comprising slots arranged along and around the axis, each slot comprising an input interface for stacking vessels in the slot and an output interface for dispensing the vessels, the output interface comprising a retainer, a crank translatable in a linear forwards and backwards direction orthogonal to the axis between a first, second, and third position. The crank comprises a pin for rotating the disc and bringing a slot into a dispensing position upon translation between the first and second position, the crank comprising an actuator pin for actuating the retainer in the dispensing position upon translation of the crank between the second and third position to dispense the vessels.

Abstract: A device for lifting a sample tube comprising a holder having holding elements for holding a sample tube is presented. The holder is supported moveably in the vertical direction between a lower holder position and an upper holder position for lifting and lowering a held sample tube. A centering tool having a pair of centering jaws extending parallel to one another in a longitudinal direction is provided. By moving the holder into the upper position, a held sample tube is lifted into a position between the centering jaws. The centering jaws are moveable to approach each other relative to the lifted sample tube for centering the lifted sample tube with respect to a vertical central axis. A sample handling device and to laboratory automation system comprising a device for lifting a sample tube and/or a sample handling device are also presented.

Abstract: A gripping device for handling sample containers is presented. The gripping device comprises a number of fingers having non-gripping surfaces adapted to reduce adhesion between the non-gripping surfaces and labels. A sample container processing system comprising such a gripping device is also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an antibody that specifically binds a mutated NT-proBNP having i) a mutation substituting arginine at position 46 with histidine or ii) a mutation substituting glutamic acid at position 43 with aspartic acid. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a mutated NT-proBNP or fragment thereof. Further, envisaged by the present disclosure are kits containing the antibody of the present disclosure, or the mutated NT-proBNP of the present disclosure. The present disclosure also concerns a method for diagnosing heart failure.

Abstract: A method of washing an aspiration probe of an in-vitro diagnostic system is disclosed. The aspiration probe comprises an outer surface and an inner surface forming an inner space for receiving a fluid. The method comprises dipping the aspiration probe into a first wash fluid so that the outer surface is immersed at least in part into the first wash fluid, aspirating an amount of the first wash fluid into the inner space of the aspiration probe, propagating an ultrasonic vibration to the outer surface of the aspiration probe via the first wash fluid, and rinsing the outer surface and the inner surface of the aspiration probe with a second wash fluid. Further, an in-vitro diagnostic method and an in-vitro diagnostic system are disclosed.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises carriers to carry sample containers. Each carrier comprises a magnetically active device. The system comprises a transport plane to support the carriers and electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane. The actuators move the carriers on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the carriers. The system comprises a control device to control the movement of the carriers on top of the transport plane by driving the actuators such that the carriers move along corresponding transport paths simultaneously and independently from one another and a sensor to measure supply currents and/or supply voltages. The actuators are supplied with electrical energy based on the supply currents and/or the supply voltages. The system comprises a monitoring device coupled to the sensor. The monitoring device monitors the actuators temperature based on the measured supply currents and/or supply voltages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assessing heart failure in vitro including the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker IGFBP-7, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for IGFBP-7 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of IGFBP-7 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising IGFBP-7 and a kit for measuring IGFBP-7.

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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for predicting the risk of recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in a subject based on determining the amount of the biomarker Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and optionally of at least one further biomarker in a sample from the subject. The present disclosure also contemplates a method of diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation in a subject suspected to suffer from Atrial Fibrillation based on determining the amount of the biomarker Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and optionally of at least one further biomarker in a sample from the subject. Further envisaged are devices adapted to carry out the method of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable about a rotational axis, has fluid and aliquoting chambers, a metering chamber connected to a vent that is nearer to the rotational axis than the metering chamber, first and second ducts connecting the fluid and aliquoting chambers, and the metering and aliquoting chambers, respectively. Metering chamber side walls taper away from a central region, wherein capillary action next to the walls is greater than in the central region. Fluid flows to the metering chamber using capillary action via the second duct that has an entrance and exit in the aliquoting and metering chambers, respectively; the exit being closer to the rotational axis than the entrance. A downstream fluidic element connects to the metering chamber via a valve. A fluidic structure receives and processes a biological sample into the processed biological sample and has a measurement structure that enables measurement of the processed biological sample.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method and kits for measurement of an analyte in a microparticle-based analyte-specific binding assay. In the assay, the microparticles are coated with the first partner of a binding pair, mixing the coated microparticles and at least two analyte-specific binding agents, each conjugated to the second partner of the binding pair, and a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The second partner of the binding pair is bound to each of the analyte-specific binding agents via a linker comprising from 12 to 30 ethylene glycol units (PEG 12 to 30), thereby binding the analyte via the conjugated analyte-specific binding agents to the coated microparticles. The method also entails separating the microparticles having the analyte bound via the binding pair and the analyte-specific binding agent from the mixture and measuring the analyte bound to the microparticles.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method for determining an analyte in a sample in an interaction assay, including contacting a sample with an interaction modulator, wherein the interaction modulator is Poly-(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSM), aminodextran, carboxymethyldextran, Poly-(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (PAMPS), triethylamine, triethanolamine, taurine, or dodecylsulfate. The disclosure includes a method for determining an analyte in an interaction assay, including contacting the sample with an interaction modulator, wherein the interaction modulator is an enhancer of the interaction assay at low analyte concentrations and is a retarder of the interaction assay at high analyte concentrations and wherein the interaction modulator is Poly-(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) (PSSM) and/or Polyacrylic acid (PAA). The disclosure further relates to a kit having a detection agent specifically detecting an analyte and at least one interaction modulator.

Abstract: A laboratory system and a method for separating interfering substances contained in test samples is presented. The laboratory system comprises separation vessels comprising solid surfaces and capturing molecules which are immobilized on the solid surfaces. The capturing molecules of the separation vessels are configured to bind interfering substances of laboratory tests of different analytical methods.

Abstract: The invention concerns soluble and antigenic HTLV p24 variants that can be fused to chaperones and their use in diagnostic applications such as immunoassays for detecting antibodies against HTLV-I or HTLV-II in an isolated biological sample. In particular, the invention relates to a soluble HTLV-I or HTLV-II p24 antigen comprising either the N- or the C-terminal domain of p24 and lacking the other domain. Moreover, the invention covers recombinant DNA molecules encoding these HTLV-I and -II fusion antigens as well as their recombinant production using expression vectors and host cells transformed with such expression vectors. In addition, the invention focuses on compositions of these HTLV p24 antigens with HTLV gp21 antigen and on an immunoassay method for detection of HTLV antibodies using the antigens of the invention. Also the use of HTLV p24 antigens in an in vitro diagnostic assay as well as a reagent kit for detection of anti-HTLV-antibodies comprising said HTLV antigens is encompassed.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly comprising a cartridge holder is presented. The cartridge holder can receive a cartridge for dispensing a fluid. The cartridge can comprise a reservoir for receiving the fluid. The reservoir can comprise an outlet. The reservoir can have an adjustable volume for forcing the fluid through the outlet. The cartridge can further comprise a nozzle for dispensing the fluid. The nozzle can be connected to the outlet. The dispensing assembly can further comprise an actuator for actuating the adjustable volume. The dispensing assembly can further comprise an impulse generator for imparting an impulse to the nozzle. The impulse generator can comprise an actor for contacting the nozzle. The dispenser assembly can further comprise a controller for controlling the actor and the impulse generator.

Abstract: A pressure transmission liquid for a cellular analyzer, a system for transferring a liquid cellular sample for analysis by a cellular analyzer, and a method for transferring a liquid cellar sample for analysis are disclosed. The pressure transmission liquid includes an aqueous solution which is isotonic and substantially non-conductive characteristics. The cellular analyzer includes a pipetting module having a pipetting tip, a device for positioning the pipetting module, a sensor for detecting a liquid level of a liquid cellular sample to be analyzed, a pressure transmission liquid, and a pressure transmission liquid conduit connected to the pipetting tip and the pressure transmission liquid reservoir.