Abstract: A system for providing cyber protection to medical devices in a medical environment is presented. The system comprises a medical device comprising software services, a backend server to maintain and provide software updates to medical devices, and an interface proxy box connected to the medical device and in communication with the backend server. The interface proxy box determines the software services resident on the medical device. The interface proxy box installs the software services determined to be resident on the medical device on the interface proxy box and configures the installed software services to match the software services resident on the medical device. The interface proxy box communicates periodically with the backend server and receives and applies security updates to the software services installed and configured on the interface proxy box. The medical device utilizes the updated software services on the interface proxy box.

Abstract: A preanalytic system is disclosed. The preanalytic system comprises a cap gripper configured to grip a cap of a laboratory sample container, wherein the cap is connected to a rod of a swab located within the laboratory sample container, wherein the cap gripper is further configured to release the cap from the laboratory sample container, and a cutting device configured to cut the rod of the swab when the cap is in a position released from the laboratory sample container.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at an antibody conjugate having an antibody and a tag, wherein one or more element(s) present in the antibody exhibit an isotope ratio which differs from the naturally occurring isotope ratio of the one or more element(s), wherein the amount of the isotope which is less-common in nature, is increased to at least 4% of the atoms of the respective element in the antibody, as well as uses thereof.

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic (LC) system is herein disclosed, the LC system comprising at least one fluidic stream comprising at least one HPLC column, a downstream valve connected to the at least one fluidic stream and connectable to a detector via a valve-to-detector conduit, wherein the at least one fluidic stream is connectable to the valve-to-detector conduit via the downstream valve, and where the LC system further comprises a downstream pump fluidically connected to the downstream valve and connectable to the at least one fluidic stream via the downstream valve in order to backflush and thereby clean the at least one HPLC column. A respective automated LC method is herein also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for classifying an identification tag on a sample tube containing a sample to be processed in an automated laboratory system having a plurality of laboratory devices, the method comprising providing a sample tube having an identification tag and containing a sample to be analyzed . Each of the plurality of laboratory devices is assigned a tag reader device configured to read the identification tag for recognizing identification tag information. Further, an automated laboratory system for processing a sample tube containing a sample for at least one of pre-analytics and sample analysis is provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting at least one analyte in a test sample is provided comprising a) contacting the test sample (i) to an active chemistry matrix changing at least one electrochemical property dependent on an enzymatic activity active in the presence of the analyte, the active chemistry matrix contacting a first electrode; and (ii) to an inactive chemistry matrix, the inactive chemistry matrix contacting a second electrode, b) closing an electrical circuit including the first electrode, the second electrode, and the active chemistry matrix and inactive chemistry matrix, followed by determining a first value of the at least one electrochemical property, c) inverting electrical polarity of the electrical circuit of b), followed by determining a second value of the at least one electrochemical property, and d) detecting the at least one analyte based on the first value and on the second value.

Abstract: Systems for analyzing a biological sample include a separation unit configured to separate a component from the biological sample, an ionization unit configured to generate a plurality of ions from the component, an adjustable mass-selective filtering element, a detector configured to detect ions that pass through the mass-selective filtering element, and a controller connected to the mass-selective filtering element and to the detector, where the controller is configured so that during operation of the system, the controller adjusts the mass-selective filtering element and activates the detector to measure at least three different ion signals corresponding to the plurality of ions, and determines a mass axis shift of the system based on the at least three different ion signals.

Abstract: A method for delivering medical samples with a laboratory request from an extraction point to a laboratory is presented. The availability of the test to be performed on a sample during a time at a first laboratory is checked. If the test cannot be performed during that time, laboratory attributes available at laboratories are checked via laboratory broker devices. A suitable candidate laboratory can be identified amongst the laboratories based on the laboratory attributes of the suitable candidate laboratory. The identified suitable candidate laboratory and the first laboratory communicate with each other regarding the feasibility of the suitable candidate laboratory to perform the test on the sample. If feasible to perform the test at the suitable candidate laboratory, the sample and the laboratory request are delivered to the suitable candidate laboratory for testing. After test performance at the suitable candidate laboratory, the test results are communicated to the extraction point.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to specific binding agents binding to different PIVKA-II forms as compared to antibodies known so far in the art. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the specific binding agents to detect the presence of PIVKA-II.

Abstract: A method for multiple transition monitoring of at least one analyte in a sample using a quadrupole mass analyzer is provided and comprises at least one voltage application step, wherein a direct current (DC) voltage and a radio frequency (AC) voltage are applied between two pairs of electrodes of at least one mass filter of the analyzer, wherein the AC voltage has an amplitude VAC and the DC voltage has an applicable voltage VDC, wherein a supplementary AC voltage is superimposed on top of the AC and the DC voltage, wherein an amplitude ?VDC of the supplementary AC voltage is ? V DC , max 2 b + 1 , wherein VDC,max is a maximum voltage output of the DC voltage and b is a bit size of at least one electronics board of the mass filter of the analyzer; and wherein at least one transition of the analyte is determined with at least one detector of the analyzer.

Abstract: Described are compositions, in particular lyophilizates, containing proteolytic enzymes, and methods for producing the compositions. Typically these compositions contain one or more proteases with collagenase activity and a neutral protease, for example, thermolysin. The compositions are free of acetate salts. Surprisingly, such compositions can be dissolved in water more rapidly than lyophilized protease mixtures of the state of the art.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of identifying a patient having heart failure as likely to respond to a therapy with a statin. The method is based on measuring the level of at least one marker selected from GDF-15 (Growth Differentiation Factor 15), Urea, SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin), Uric acid, PLGF (Placental Growth Factor), IL-6 (Interleukin-6), Transferrin, a cardiac Troponin, sFlt-1 (Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1), Prealbumin, Ferritin, Osteopontin, sST2 (soluble ST2), and hsCRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) in a sample from a patient. Further envisaged is a method of predicting the risk of a patient to suffer from death or hospitalization, wherein the patient has heart failure and undergoes a therapy with a statin. The method is also based on the measurement of the level of at least one of the aforementioned markers.

Abstract: A method of producing a plurality of analytical test strips using a reel-to-reel process, comprising providing at least one continuous first layer web, having disposed on a first side at least one first electrode layer, the first layer web having a first layer edge; continuously disposing at least one continuous spacer layer web onto the first side of the first layer web, wherein the spacer layer web has a spacer layer edge, wherein the disposing is position-controlled in a master-slave fashion by using a position of the first layer edge as a master position and a position of the spacer layer edge as a slave position; and continuously disposing at least one continuous second layer web onto the spacer layer web, the second layer web having disposed on a first side at least one second electrode layer, wherein the second layer web has a second layer edge.

Abstract: A method for calibrating at least one analytic device with repeated hardware components is disclosed and comprises providing at least one calibrator sample i having a known target value of a concentration of at least one analyte; at least one measuring step, wherein the measuring step comprises conducting at least one measurement on the calibrator sample using the analytic device, wherein at least one detector signal sijk is acquired; at least one calibration step, wherein a relationship between the detector signal and the concentration of the analyte and/or between the detector signal and a theoretical signal value is determined, wherein the calibration step comprises providing at least one parametrized function; determining calibration values by conducting a calibration based on the parametrized function; and determining an analysis function on basis of an inverse of the parametrized function and the determined calibration values.

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic (LC) system and a method of exchanging a liquid in an LC system are disclosed. The LC system includes an LC pump with at least one pump head having a primary and a secondary pump head, each with a syringe-like cylinder body having an inner wall surface and a plunger translatable through the cylinder body leaving an interspace between the inner wall surface and the plunger when the plunger is translated through the cylinder body, an upstream inlet valve configured to allow liquid into the cylinder body and a downstream outlet valve configured to allow liquid out of the cylinder body. The LC system further includes at least one liquid-exchange pump connected either to the upstream inlet valve of the primary pump head or to the downstream outlet valve of the secondary pump head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing whether a subject shall be subjected to an imaging based diagnostic assessment. The method is based on the determination of the amount(s) of a cardiac Troponin and/or Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) in a sample from the subject, and on the comparison of the, thus, determined amount(s) with a reference amount (reference amounts). The present invention also relates to a system for performing an assessment whether a subject shall be subjected to an imaging based diagnostic assessment and to reagents and kits used in performing the methods disclosed herein. Moreover, the present invention is directed to a method for predicting the risk of mortality and/or of a cardiovascular event. Also encompassed is a method for diagnosing an early stage of LVH in a subject having a preserved left ventricular ejection.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a cap closing a laboratory sample container, the apparatus comprising a cap gripper being adapted to grip a cap to be removed and being adapted to remove the cap being gripped from the laboratory sample container, a displaceable chute comprising a cap inlet, a linear guide defining a linear trajectory, wherein the displaceable chute is mechanically coupled to the linear guide such that the displaceable chute is displaceable along the linear trajectory, and a drive being adapted to cause a displacement of the displaceable chute along the linear trajectory to a dropping position, wherein in the dropping position the removed cap being gripped by the cap gripper is at least partially inserted into the cap inlet of the displaceable chute.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crystalline (thio)nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts, methods of making such crystalline salts, a pharmaceutical composition comprising same, and use of said crystalline salts as nutritional (dietary) supplements. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition comprising amorphous (thio)nicotinamide ribofuranoside salts and its use as nutritional (dietary) supplement.

Abstract: A medical instrument and method thereof for performing a measurement on a biological sample using a test strip are disclosed. The medical instrument may comprise: an analytical unit for analyzing the test strip, wherein the analytical unit comprises a test strip mount which receives the test strip to perform the measurement; a test strip port which receives the test strip, wherein the test strip port is aligned with the test strip mount along an insertion direction; and a shutter movable between open and closed positions, the shutter comprises a test strip opening, wherein the test strip opening is aligned with the test strip port and the test strip mount when the shutter is in the open position, wherein the shutter comprises a shutter mechanism that rotates the shutter parallel to the insertion direction about a rotational axis to move the shutter between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A method for calibrating at least one mass spectrometry device having a first defined hardware configuration comprises at least one manufacturer-site pre-calibration step establishing at least one reference calibration function fp for a generic type of mass spectrometry devices having a second defined hardware configuration, wherein the second defined hardware configuration is equivalent to the first defined hardware configuration, wherein the reference calibration function fp describes a relationship of at least one concentration c of at least one analyte in at least one calibrator sample, wherein the reference calibration function fp is a parametrized function fp(concentration), with p=(p1,p2, . . . pn) being a set of parameters of the reference calibration function and n being a positive integer; determining calibration values {circumflex over (p)}=({circumflex over (p)}1,{circumflex over (p)}2, . . .