Abstract: A laboratory analyzer is disclosed. The laboratory analyzer comprises a housing at least partially enclosing at least one analyzing instrument and at least one display device, wherein the display device comprises at least one screen, wherein the screen is partially transparent and reflective, wherein the screen is integrated into the housing, wherein the display device is configured for displaying screen information on the screen such that the screen information is visible and/or readable from outside the housing.

Abstract: A connecting joint for adjustably connecting at least two components of a laboratory automation system is disclosed. The connecting joint comprises a horizontal bearing unit connectable to a first component of the at least two components of the laboratory automation system; a vertical bearing unit connectable to a second component of the at least two components of the laboratory automation system; and a slider bar connecting the horizontal bearing unit with the vertical bearing unit, wherein the slider bar is movably mounted along a vertical axis within the vertical bearing unit; and wherein the slider bar is adjustably mounted in the horizontal bearing unit, wherein the slider bar is adjustable in at least one dimension essentially perpendicular to the vertical axis by the horizontal bearing unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laboratory system to monitor reference points of laboratory devices. The laboratory system comprises a first laboratory device comprising a first reference point, a second laboratory device comprising a second reference point, and a coupling element. The coupling element couples the first reference point and the second reference point. The coupling element comprises a detectable part adapted to be moved between a starting position and at least one detection position when the relative position of the first reference point and the second reference point to each other changes. The laboratory system further comprises a sensor configured to detect the detectable part of the coupling element in the at least one detection position. In addition, a method of operating the laboratory system as described is disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a modular transport plane with a plurality of transport module units, each transport module unit comprising an actuator assembly with a back iron, and with an infrastructure system arranged below the transport module units and supporting the transport module units on a floor, characterized in that the transport module units are floatingly connected to the infrastructure system to allow a relative horizontal movement between the transport module units and the infrastructure system, wherein neighboring transport module units are connected via the back irons for a horizontal force transmission between neighboring transport module units in response to a relative horizontal movement between neighboring transport module units.

Abstract: A support element for a modular transport plane with a plurality of transport module units each comprising a driving surface assembly is presented. The support element has an upper support surface supporting the driving surface assemblies of at least two neighboring transport module units. The upper support surface has driving surface assembly interfaces engaged with complementary interfaces of the supported driving surface assemblies. The support element comprises a lower part having a mounting structure and an upper part having the upper support surface. The upper part connects lengthwise to the lower part via a connection structure. The connection structure restrains a relative movement between the lower part and the upper part in the longitudinal direction of the support element and allows a limited relative movement between the lower part and the upper part in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support element.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a sensor device, a method of operating the sensor device and an IVD analyzer for receiving the sensor device for determining chemical and/or physical characteristics of a fluid. The sensor device comprises at least two fluidic conduits for repeatedly receiving fluids, each fluidic conduit comprising at least one sensory element arranged such as to come in contact with a fluid in the respective fluidic conduit. In particular, the fluidic conduits comprise different sensory elements, respectively, wherein the sensory elements are separated in the respective fluidic conduits according to compatibility or susceptibility to deterioration or operating temperature. Alternately, the fluidic conduits comprise at least in part the same sensory elements, wherein the sensor device is operated in a primary operating mode and in response to a trigger event, switches to an extended operating mode.

Abstract: A diagnostic laboratory distribution system, wherein the distribution system comprises a number of carriers adapted to carry one or more goods. The distribution system comprises a transport plane adapted to support the carriers and a drive device, wherein the drive device is adapted to move the carriers on the transport plane, and a control device to control the drive device. The distribution system comprises a cover for the transport plane, and humidity sensors connected to the control device and airflow generating devices connected to the control device. The airflow generating devices are distributed over the distribution system to generate an airflow between the cover and the transport plane. The control device is configured to start the airflow generating devices if the humidity sensors measure a humidity above a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for calibration and/or error detection in an optical measurement device for biological samples having at least a first and a second measurement channel is described. The method comprises calculating an updated reference factor for the second measurement channel based on the first and second detection signals, comparing the updated reference factor with at least one current reference factors and depending on the result of the comparison, storing the updated reference factor as a current reference factor for use in a later measurement in the second measurement channel or keeping the current reference factors for use in a later measurement in the second measurement channel.

Abstract: A packaging for a needle-like component of a mass spectrometry (MS) system is provided. The packaging includes a receptacle configured for storing the needle-like component in a secured position inside the receptacle. The packaging further comprises an actuator configured to move the needle-like component from the secured position inside the receptacle to a mounting position in which the needle-like component projects out of the receptacle for mounting the needle-like component to the MS system.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry (MS) apparatus is provided. The MS apparatus includes a mass spectrometer, an ionization source coupled to the mass spectrometer, and a flow injection system (FIS) coupled to the ionization source. The ionization source is configured to provide an ionized gas flow of an analyte towards an entrance of the mass spectrometer. The ionization source is further configured to provide a second gas flow of a second gas. The MS apparatus is configured to measure a mass spectrometer (MS) signal of the analyte. The MS apparatus is further configured to analyze a dependency of the MS signal of the analyte versus a parameter of the second gas flow or a state of the second gas flow and to determine a condition of the apparatus based on the analyzed dependency.

Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system is provided comprising: a number of container carriers, wherein the container carriers each comprise a magnetically active device and are adapted to carry a sample container; at least one fan being adapted to cause an airflow; and a number of transport modules, the transport modules being arrangeable adjacent to one another and respectively comprising: a transport surface being adapted to carry the container carriers; a number of heat dissipating electromagnetic actuators being stationary arranged below the transport surface, the electromagnetic actuators being adapted to move container carriers placed on top of the transport surface by applying magnetic forces to the container carriers; and an air guiding element being adapted to guide the airflow first towards an underside of the transport surface and afterwards towards the electromagnetic actuators.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatic peak integration of at least one chromatogram of at least one sample. The method comprises retrieving at least one chromatogram of the chemical related substance and at least one chromatogram of the analyte; evaluating the chromatogram of the chemical related substance, wherein the evaluating comprises determining at least one initial value for analyte retention time by determining retention time of the chemical related substance and adding the retention time of the chemical related substance with a pre-determined or pre-defined constant offset and/or multiplying the retention time of the chemical related substance with a pre-determined or pre-defined constant factor; evaluating the chromatogram of the analyte, wherein the evaluating comprises at least one position determining step; and at least one peak integration step, wherein analyte peak area and analyte peak shape are determined by applying at least one fitting analysis to the chromatogram of the analyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a core polypeptide of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a sample from a subject with the steps of (a) contacting the sample with a surfactant comprising a cationic detergent; (b) contacting the sample with a binding compound; and (c) detecting a core polypeptide of the HCV in the sample; wherein step a) is immediately followed by step b). The present disclosure further relates to a method for pre-processing a sample from a subject for detection of an HCV core polypeptide, involving (a) contacting the sample with a surfactant comprising a cationic detergent and, optionally, with an agent inducing a pH shift, immediately followed by (b) contacting the sample with a binding compound. Moreover, the present disclosure further relates to uses, devices, and analytical systems related to aforesaid methods.

Abstract: A method for operating a laboratory system comprising laboratory instruments and a laboratory information system is presented. The method comprises grouping laboratory instruments into instrument cluster(s) and providing a cluster manager thereto. The plurality of laboratory instruments publishes their instrument resource descriptions. Each cluster manager maintains an inventory of cluster resources and publishes a list of processing capabilities of the instrument cluster. The laboratory information system assigns processing of test order(s) to instrument clusters. Each cluster manager assigns resources of the laboratory instruments corresponding to test orders from the laboratory information system in view of the inventory of cluster resources. Each laboratory instrument carries out the processing step(s) on the biological sample as instructed by the cluster manager.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against a flavivirus in an isolated biological sample having a flavivirus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence, wherein no amino acid sequences from the NS1 ß-ladder domain of said flavivirus are present in the polypeptide. In an embodiment, the flavivirus is selected from Zika virus (ZIKV), West-Nile virus (WNV), Dengue virus types 1-4 (DENV1-4), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), yellow fever virus (YFV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Also disclosed is a method for producing said flaviviral NS1 wing domain specific polypeptides, a method for detecting antibodies specific for a first flavivirus species, the use of said flaviviral NS1 wing domain specific polypeptides for detecting antibodies as well as a reagent kit for detecting said flavivirus antibodies that has a flavivirus NS1 wing domain polypeptide.

Abstract: Disclosed is an immunoassay method for detecting an analyte such as an antigen or an antibody in an isolated sample suspected to contain the analyte by incubating the sample with a plurality of binding partners, one of which carries a detectable label, wherein a label-specific binding partner is added that does not carry a label but binds to the detectable label. The method is applicable for a large variety of analytes and has proven particularly useful for analyte antibodies of the IgG and IgM class present in samples due to infections by pathogens. Also disclosed is a reagent kit useful for the method comprising at least two analyte-specific binding partners one of which carries a detectable label and a label-specific binding partner that binds to said detectable label but itself does not carry a detectable label.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) apparatus including an ionization source coupled to a mass spectrometer and a liquid chromatographic (LC) system coupled to the ionization source. The LC system comprises multiple fluidic streams alternately connectable to the ionization source, thereby assigning a detection time window to each fluidic stream from the multiple fluidic streams when connected to the ionization source. The LC-MS apparatus further comprises a controller configured to carry out steps of monitoring an ionization current of the ionization source for the multiple fluidic streams and identifying differences in flow conditions between the multiple fluidic streams based on the monitored ionization current.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika virus in an isolated biological sample having a Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence and variants thereof, wherein no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in the polypeptide. This polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus, Dengue virus 1-4, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus or Japanese encephalitis virus, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 antigen. Also disclosed is a method of producing a soluble and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 polypeptide as well as methods and kits for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises the steps of: setting a load limit for each laboratory instrument at maximum instrument capacity; dispatching biological samples to laboratory instrument(s) at a dispatch rate not greater than the instrument load limit; each laboratory instrument sending test order queries to the laboratory middleware upon identifying a biological sample; in response to the test order queries transmitting test orders to the laboratory instruments corresponding to the biological samples; the laboratory middleware monitoring a query rate of the plurality of laboratory instruments in order to determine an effective flow rate corresponding to each laboratory instrument; decreasing the load limit of a first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is lower than the dispatch rate; increasing the load limit for the first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is greater than or equal to the dispatch rate.

Abstract: A point of care (POC) testing system and a method for configuration of a POC testing system are disclosed that provide a workflow solution for the configuration management of POC analyzers. In some embodiments, the system and method provide for convenient assisted workflows that enable efficient management of POC analyzer operator certifications.