Abstract: A method of automatically customizing user training on a laboratory system is presented. The method comprises retrieving a configuration file of the laboratory system, logging into the laboratory system by a laboratory user, identifying and authenticating the laboratory user for use and training on the laboratory system, after the laboratory user is identified and authenticated by the laboratory system, retrieving training credentials required for that laboratory user for the laboratory system based on a user profile of the laboratory user, and based on the training credentials of the laboratory user, automatically assigning training material required for the laboratory user to use the laboratory system based on the training credentials of the laboratory user and the configuration file of the laboratory system and loading the assigned training material.

Abstract: An analyzer that has a simple configuration, that is inexpensive, that can improve safety, and that can inhibit proliferation of microorganisms using ultraviolet light is realized. A first electric power switch, a second electric power switch, and a third electric power switch are connected in series between an ultraviolet LED that irradiates an interior of a shared reagent storage container with ultraviolet light and a power supply that supplies electric power to the ultraviolet LED. The first electric power switch, the second electric power switch, and the third electric power switch are configured with two contact points and a connection section that connects and disconnects the two contact points. The first electric power switch is opened when a reagent storage door is opened, and the second electric power switch is opened in response to an action of extracting an ultraviolet irradiation section from a shared reagent storage container.

Abstract: A container for receiving vessels for use in an automated analyzer is presented. The container comprises a wall assembly including a first wall and a second wall. The wall assembly forms a receptacle for receiving a vessel having one or more covers or lids. At least one of the first and second walls moves to provide a first open configuration for receiving the vessel and a second closed configuration. The container further comprises an actuator configured to translate the vessel from a first position after being received in the container to a second position and the wall assembly in the second closed configuration is positioned so that at least one engaging element attached to the wall assembly engages with the covers or lids of the vessel to open the covers or lids while the vessel is being translated by the actuator from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method to handle tubes in a diagnostic laboratory automation system comprising a control device and a tube-analyzing device is presented. The tube-analyzing device comprises a tube identification reader, a tube type recognition unit, a sample color determination unit, and a tube consistence unit. The tube identification reader reads tube identification device. The tube type recognition unit identifies tube type. The sample color determination unit determines sample color. The tube consistence unit determines sample consistency. The sample tube type, the tube type, the sample color, the sample consistency are send to the control device. The control device determines a construed tube type from one or more of the information of the tube type, the sample color, and the sample consistency. The control device checks whether the tube type matches the construed tube type and changes a used tube type from the tube type to the construed tube type.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus comprising a revolving device, being adapted to move a sample container carrier supplied to the revolving device along a circular path P, and wherein the circular path P has at least one ascending ramp. The present disclosure relates further to a laboratory sample distribution system comprising such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a distribution system to move carriers on a transport plane. The distribution system comprises at least one first carrier and at least one second carrier, a transport plane comprising a number of moving positions, a drive device adapted to move each carrier to the moving positions, and a control device adapted to control the drive device. The control device plans moves for each carrier, checks the planned moves and plans new moves if required before the carriers are moved on the transport plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a vertical position of at least one interface between a first component and at least one second component, the components comprised as different layers in a sample container. The apparatus comprises a first sensing unit and a first light detector configured to generate a first sensing signal, a second sensing unit comprising a second light detector configured to generate a second sensing signal, a driving unit configured to move the sample container, a position sensing unit configured to output a position sensing signal indicative of a vertical position of the sample container, a vertical position determining unit configured to match the first and the second sensing signal such that first and the second sensing signal correspond to identical vertical positions, and to determine the vertical position of the at least one interface in response to the matched sensing signals and the position sensing signal.

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 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.