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: 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: 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: 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: A method for multiple transition monitoring using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry device is disclosed and comprises determining at least one data set from at least one data base, the data set comprising at least one reference measurement of at least one transition of at least one analyte with the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry device; determining at least one reference peak information of the transition of the analyte using an initial setting of a measurement window, wherein the measurement window is defined by a time frame of retention times; determining an actual setting of the measurement window considering the reference peak information, wherein the determining comprises adjusting the time frame; measuring the transition of the analyte with the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry device and determining a measured peak information of the transition of the analyte using the actual setting of the measurement window.

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: 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 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, . . .

Abstract: The present invention relates to reagents suitable in the mass spectrometric determination of analyte molecules such as carbohydrates as well as adducts of such reagents and analyte molecules and applications of said reagents and adducts. Further, the present invention relates to methods for the mass spectrometric determination of analyte molecules.

Abstract: A method of performing an optical measurement of an analyte in a processed biological sample using a cartridge is provided. The cartridge is operable for being spun around a rotational axis. The method comprises: placing the biological sample into a sample inlet; controlling the rotational rate of the cartridge to process a biological sample into the processed biological sample using a fluidic structure; controlling the rotational rate of the cartridge to allow the processed biological sample to flow from the measurement structure inlet to an absorbent structure via a chromatographic membrane, and performing an optical measurement of a detection zone on the chromatographic membrane with an optical instrument. An inlet air baffle reduces evaporation of the processed biological sample from the chromatographic membrane during rotation of the cartridge.

Abstract: An analysis method includes: an inflow process of a solution containing a test object, a magnetic support on the surface of which a complex including an antibody labeled with a luminescent agent and recognizes the test object is formed, and a reaction aid to assist reaction of the luminescent agent in a flow cell; a process of capturing the magnetic support over a working electrode by a magnetic field; a process of making the luminescent agent illuminate by applying a voltage to the working electrode; and a process of measuring an amount of luminescence of the luminescent agent. The luminescent process includes: luminescence from action of a first neutral radical, produced from the reaction aid through a cation radical; and luminescence from action of a second neutral radical, produced not through a cation radical, on the luminescent agent. This increases the luminous efficiency of ECL and enhances detection sensitivity.

Abstract: A method for packaging articles for transportation including: a) preparing at least one pallet, wherein the pallet includes a base plate; b) placing at least one article to be transported onto the base plate; c) providing a transport box that is open toward the base plate over the at least one article to be transported, wherein the transport box is placed on the base plate in such a manner that the transport box together with the base plate forms an interior of a transport packaging unit which receives the at least one article to be transported; d) a closure step, wherein the transport box comprises a closable opening on a side opposite the base plate, wherein the closable opening is closed in the closure step; and e) at least one fixing step including fixing the transport box on the base plate with at least one fastening element.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting laboratory data to a user are presented. The system comprises a perception component for continuously gathering in-situ context data regarding a laboratory and the user, a user modeling component for receiving the in-situ context data from the perception component to create a user specific model for each user, a laboratory device awareness component for monitoring the status, performance, alarms, and/or maintenance of the laboratory devices, a notification component for receiving the in-situ context data from the perception component and the laboratory device status data from the laboratory device awareness component and for processing and determining which data from the in-situ context data and the laboratory device status data are to be presented to the user, and a presentation component for presenting the processed data from the notification component. The presented data comprises both public and private notification of the data to the user.

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: An enclosure device for a decapper for removing a cap from a laboratory sample container, a decapper and an apparatus comprising a decapper. The decapper comprises a cap gripper comprising at least two gripping jaws. At least one of the at least two gripping jaws is displaceable between a holding position and a release position in a radial direction. The enclosure device comprises an outer enclosure portion and an inner enclosure portion disposed within the outer enclosure portion. The outer enclosure portion comprises a wall portion and a reservoir portion at a bottom of the wall portion. The wall portion is configured to enclose the two gripping jaws. The inner enclosure portion is configured to receive a laboratory sample container and comprises at least two openings configured to allow the two gripping jaws to extend therethrough. The enclosure device is configured to be mounted to the cap gripper.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an in vitro method for measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, wherein the potentially interfering compound 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is blocked by a binding agent specifically binding to 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and not binding to 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

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: A method to store sample tubes in a laboratory storage and retrieval system is presented. The laboratory storage and retrieval system comprises a storage section, a database comprising a sample tube inventory of the storage section, a control device, and at least one sample tube transport system. The storage section comprises at least two storage subsections. In a first step of the method, the control device identifies at least two sample tubes with at least one substantially identical sample tube attribute and distributed over the at least two storage subsections. In a second step of the method, the at least one sample tube transport system consolidates the at least two sample tubes in at least one storage subsection, wherein the control device further determines in which of the at least two storage subsections the identified sample tubes are consolidated.

Abstract: A drive system for driving a belt is presented. The system comprises a frame, a driving shaft connected to a motor, a controller, a driven shaft, two pulleys connected to the driven and driving shafts, and a belt. The frame supports the driving and driven shafts to mount the belt on the pulleys. A signal element is mounted on and drives with the belt. At least two detection elements are mounted on the frame so that when the signal element passes the detection elements, a signal is generated as the belt moves. The detector elements are connected to a controller which controls the motor so that when the system starts, the belt moves until the signal element generates a signal in a first detector element to fix a zero point of the belt movement. The signal of the second detector element checks the zero point during normal drive operation.