Abstract: The present description relates to a method for identifying a patient who is eligible for an intensification of heart failure therapy. Furthermore, the description relates to a method for optimizing B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)-type peptide guided heart failure therapy. The methods are based on the measurement of the level of at least one marker in a sample from a patient who has heart failure and who receives B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)-type peptide guided heart failure therapy. Further described are kits and devices adapted to carry out the described method.

Abstract: A method and cartridge for determining an amount of at least two analytes in a biological sample and an automatic analyzer are disclosed. The cartridge may comprise a cartridge inlet, a sample holding chamber fluidically connected to the inlet, and two or more metering chambers. Each metering chamber may comprise a sample inlet, a sample outlet, and a metered outlet for dispensing a predetermined volume. At least one sample distribution channel is connected between the sample outlet of a metering chamber with a sample inlet of another metering chamber. For each metering chamber, a connecting tube fluidically connects the sample inlet with the sample holding chamber, a microfluidic structure for processing the sample into a processed sample connects to the sample outlet, and a measurement structure fluidically connects to the microfluidic structure and enables measurement of the processed sample to determine the amount of the analyte in the processed sample.

Abstract: A pipetting device comprising a head and a nozzle with a longitudinal axis mounted to the head is disclosed. An actuator member is arranged around and partially covering the nozzle and coupled to the head or to the nozzle. The actuator member and the nozzle move with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis. A contact member is coupled to and arranged around and partially covering the actuator member. The contact member and the actuator member move with respect to each other. The contact member comprises a rim for contacting a container. The actuator member comprises a rim for opening a cap of the container when the contact member is in contact with the container. The actuator member and the contact member move with respect to each other creating a passage through the cap when the nozzle and the actuator member move with respect to each other.

Abstract: An automated system and method for storing/retrieving vessel holders is presented. A first storage compartment comprises first storage sections. A first translating mechanism vertically translates one storage section to a loading level for loading holders into the first storage compartment and translates one storage section to a handing-in level for handing in holders to/from an analyzer. A second storage compartment comprises second storage sections. A second translating mechanism vertically translates one second storage sections to a handing-out level and translates one storage section to an unloading level for unloading holders from the second storage compartment. A first transport mechanism comprises a first conveyor for transporting holders from a first storage section at the handing-in level to a handing-over station. A second transport mechanism comprises a second conveyor for transporting holders from the handing-over station to a second storage section at the handing-out level.

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 formulations, systems, and methods disclosed herein permit automated preparation of specimens (e.g., biological specimens) for examination. The disclosed formulations, systems, and methods provide fast, efficient, and highly uniform specimen processing using minimal quantities of fluids. The methods include at least a fixing phase for fixing a specimen to a substrate such as a microscope slide, a staining phase for staining the specimen, and a rinsing phase for rinsing the specimen. One or more of the fixing, staining, and rinsing phases include one or more agitation phases for distributing reagents evenly and uniformly across the specimen. The systems can be implemented as a standalone device or as a component in a larger system for preparing and examining specimens.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a multi-epitope fusion protein as well as to its use as calibrator and/or control in an in vitro diagnostics immunoassay for detecting HCV core antigen. The multi-epitope fusion protein has two to six different non-overlapping linear peptides present in the amino acid sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein, wherein each of the peptides is separated from the other peptides by a spacer consisting of a non-HCV amino acid sequence and having a chaperone amino acid sequence. No further HCV specific amino acid sequences are present in the polypeptide. A further aspect relates to a reagent kit for detecting HCV core antigen containing said multi-epitope fusion protein as calibrator or control or both.

Abstract: A method is described herein to detect and treat hypoglycemia. An example of this method involves the detection of hypoglycemia in a patient with a computing device, computation of a recommended carbohydrate amount to ingest by the patient with the computing device in response to said detecting the hypoglycemia, output of the recommended carbohydrate amount with the computing device, and the performance of a hypoglycemia surveillance with the computing device to determine whether the recommended carbohydrate amount remedied the hypoglycemia.

Abstract: A method of monitoring detection of an analyte in a liquid sample using a measuring cell, the measuring cell comprising a working electrode for excitation of electrochemiluminescence in the liquid sample, an optical detector for detecting the excited electrochemiluminescence, the excitation and detection being performed in an measurement cycle, the measurement cycle comprising transporting the liquid sample via a transport path to the working electrode using a support liquid, the method comprising: coupling light of a light source into the transport path during part of the measurement cycle, the transport path forming a light guide between the light source and the optical detector, detecting the coupled light by the optical detector, analyzing the detected light for a gas bubble in the transport path, providing a measurement state if the result of the analysis deviates from a target state regarding the presence of a gas bubble in the transport path.

Abstract: A transport device unit for a transport device assembled using a plurality of transport device units is presented. The transport device unit comprises a base plate module with a base plate for fixing the transport device unit to a support frame, an actuator module with a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators, where the actuator module is supported by the base plate module, and a driving surface module with a driving surface element, where the driving surface element is arranged above the actuator module covering the actuators and configured to carry sample container carriers. A transport device, a system for at least partially disassembling the transport device, and a laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport device are also presented. In addition, a laboratory automation system comprising a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.

Abstract: The present description relates to a method for binding to a target molecule having an aldehyde compound derived from N-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrole, which compound also has a moiety of interest, to compounds (conjugates) obtained by this method, having both the target molecule and the moiety of interest and to novel substances derived from N-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrole.

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: The present invention relates to a method for determining the total amount and/or concentration of an analyte in the presence of a binding molecule as well as kits, compositions and uses relating thereto.

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: The present disclosure relates to use of a reagent for the lysis of erythrocytes, a method of lysing erythrocytes and a kit comprising the reagent.

Abstract: A method of estimating an operating state of a drive system is presented. The drive system comprises an electric motor and a mechanical unit being moved by the electric motor. The method comprises a) operating the electric motor using electrical properties, b) determining movement properties regarding the movement of the mechanical unit using the electrical properties, repeating steps a) and b) for a number of times using changed electrical properties, and generating a distribution function. The distribution function allocates electrical properties to the resulting movement properties. The method also comprises estimating the operating state in response to the generated distribution function.

Abstract: A binding agent of the Formula A-a?:a-S-b:b?-B:X(n), wherein A as well as B is a monovalent binder, a?:a as well as b:b? is a binding pair wherein a? and a do not interfere with the binding of b to b? and vice versa, S is a spacer of at least 1 nm in length, :X denotes a functional moiety bound either covalently or via a binding pair to at least one of a?, a, b, b? or S, (n) is an integer and at least 1, — represents a covalent bond, and the linker a-S-b has a length of 6 to 100 nm. Also disclosed are methods of producing such binding agent and certain uses thereof.

Abstract: A method of handling laboratory sample containers is presented. The method comprises moving a laboratory sample container to a target position. The target position is a position at which the laboratory sample container is inserted into a corresponding orifice of a laboratory sample container rack provided that the laboratory sample container rack is placed at an intended position. The laboratory sample container is prevented from moving horizontally more than a predetermined horizontal distance if inserted into the corresponding orifice of the laboratory sample container rack. The method also comprises applying a force in a horizontal direction (xy) to the laboratory sample container, determining if the laboratory sample container moves in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance, and performing an error procedure if it is determined that the laboratory sample container moves in the horizontal direction (xy) more than the predetermined horizontal distance.

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.