Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor assembly including a flow channel; two or more working electrodes located in the flow channel; and one or more reference electrodes located in the flow channel, wherein a total number of working electrodes is greater than a total number of reference electrodes. Volume in the flow channel may be minimized Liquid testing apparatus and methods of testing test liquids are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a fitting for tubing connection, a male fitting assembly, and a torque adaptor. The fitting for tubing connection includes a head including a plurality of first gripping portions, each first gripping portion extending from a top of the head; and a shaft attached to the head, wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of external threads.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a specimen container or specimen in a diagnostic laboratory system includes moving the specimen container on a track within the diagnostic laboratory system; moving a sensor module on the track; and monitoring at least one characteristic of the specimen container or a specimen located in the specimen container using the sensor module. Other methods, sensor modules, and diagnostic laboratory systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an imager of a reagent analyzer, comprises positioning a dry reagent pad at a first read position in a field of view of the imager, the first read position illuminated by an illumination source with a first intensity, detecting a reference optical signal by the imager, indicative of a first reflectance value of the dry reagent pad at the first read position, positioning the dry reagent pad at a second read position, the second read position illuminated with a second intensity different from the first intensity, detecting a first optical signal by the imager, indicative of a second reflectance value of the dry reagent pad at the second read position, and calculating, by a processor, a calibration factor for the dry reagent pad at the second read position based on a difference between the reference optical signal and the first optical signal.

Abstract: Kits containing a multiplexed chemiluminescent detection system and microfluidics devices and methods for detecting the presence and/or concentration of biotin and at least one target analyte in a sample are disclosed. The kits, microfluidics devices, and methods utilize singlet oxygen-activatable chemiluminescent compounds in combination with two or more fluorescent molecules that emit light at different wavelengths.

Abstract: Kits containing a chemiluminescent detection system and microfluidics devices and methods for determining the concentration of biotin in a sample are disclosed. The kits, microfluidics devices, and methods utilize a sensitizer capable of generating singlet oxygen in its excited state and having avidin or an analog thereof directly or indirectly bound thereto, as well as a singlet oxygen-activatable chemiluminescent compound having biotin or an analog thereof directly or indirectly bound thereto.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a specimen container or a specimen in an automated diagnostic system includes capturing an image of a specimen container containing a specimen using an imaging device. The method further includes characterizing the image using a first AI model and determining whether a characterization confidence of the image is below a pre-selected threshold. The first AI model is retrained with the image having the characterization confidence below the pre-selected threshold to a second AI model, wherein the retraining includes data selected from one or more of a group of: non-image data, and text data. Quality check modules and systems configured to perform the method are also described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A lysis device including a sample vessel, at least one piezo element, and a controller is disclosed. The sample vessel has a microchannel formed therein. The sample vessel has at least one port extending through a surface to the microchannel. The piezo element is attached to the surface of the sample vessel. The controller has logic to cause the controller to emit a first signal including a series of frequencies to the at least one piezo element to cause the at least one piezo element to generate ultrasonic acoustic standing waves in the sample vessel, to receive a second signal indicative of measured vibration signals from the sample vessel detected by the at least one piezo element, and to determine a resonant frequency of the sample vessel using the measured vibration signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring a fluid sample from a fluid sample collection apparatus to a liquid sample analyzer. The apparatus includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber. The first end has an inlet opening and the second end having an outlet opening. The first end of the barrel has a barrel connection portion engageable with a portion of the fluid sample collection apparatus and the second end of the barrel has a tubular portion configured to engage with the liquid sample analyzer so a combination of the fluid sample collection apparatus and the barrel is attachable to the liquid sample analyzer with no additional support.

Abstract: Methods of mitigating lipoprotein interference in in vitro diagnostic assays for target hydrophobic analytes are disclosed, as well as compositions, kits, and devices useful in said methods. A pretreatment reagent is utilized that includes at least one enzyme that digests lipoprotein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a failure of a device connected to a sensor is disclosed. The method includes a machine learning model receiving a trace signal from the sensor indicating a status of the device, the machine learning model encoding the trace signal into a plurality of vector representations, and the machine learning model determining whether the trace signal is valid or invalid based on the plurality of vector representations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing bubbles from a fluid sample. The apparatus has a barrel and a filter member. The barrel has a first end, a second end, a sidewall, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber. The first side has an inlet opening and the second side has an outlet opening. The filter member is slidably disposed within the internal chamber and defines an inlet side and an outlet side of the internal chamber. The filter member has a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane which permits the gas portion of the fluid sample to pass across the filter member. The barrel has a second gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane which provides a fluid-tight seal across the outlet opening.

Abstract: An apparatus, vortex generator assembly and method for automated cell lysis and nucleic acid purification and processing. The vortex generator assembly includes sample holder having a lysis well, at least one wash well, and an elution well. The vortex generator assembly also includes a sample holder cover having a plurality of vibration rods for creating a vortex in the wells of the sample holder. The apparatus includes motor operating a rotating cam to cause the vibration rods to vibrate and create the vortex in a well holding fluid and magnetic beads, wherein the vortexing speed is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the beads and disperse the beads in solution, to collect nucleic acids such as DNA.

Abstract: Methods of real-time detection of short-sample aspiration faults in an automated diagnostic analysis system include spectral analysis of a pressure slope waveform based on aspiration pressure measurement signals. The spectral analysis may include using a moving average filter or a wavelet transform, such as, e.g., a continuous wavelet transform (CWT) or a discrete wavelet transform (DWT), to identify distinct transient behavior in the pressure slope waveform. These methods accurately identify short-sample aspiration faults such that an automated diagnostic analysis system can timely terminate an analysis of a detected short sample to avoid a possibly erroneous sample test result. Apparatus for real-time detection of short-sample aspiration faults is also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a tube retainer system, including: an outer body; a diaphragm having a circular opening; a valve including a valve head and a valve stem attached to the valve head; a cam; a camshaft extending through the cam; a drive gear attached to the camshaft; a restraint gear attached to the camshaft; a push bar located below the diaphragm; and a pawl. The diaphragm, the cam, the drive gear, the restraint gear, the push bar, and the pawl are all provided in the outer body, when a bottom of a tube is inserted into the circular opening and a downward pressure is applied on the diaphragm, the cam is oriented to close the valve to form a partial vacuum in the outer body to secure the bottom of the tube within the circular opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing bubbles from a fluid sample. The apparatus has a barrel and a filter member. The barrel has a first end, a second end, a sidewall, and an inner surface defining an internal chamber. The first side has an inlet opening and the second side has an outlet opening. The filter member is disposed within the internal chamber and defines an inlet side and an outlet side of the internal chamber. The filter member has a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane which permits the gas portion of the fluid sample to pass across the filter member from the inlet side to the outlet side. The gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane provides a fluid-tight seal across the filter member. The filter member is pierceable so a probe may be passed through the filter member to withdraw the liquid portion of the fluid sample from the internal chamber.

Abstract: Methods and reagents are disclosed for minimizing a false result in an assay measurement for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The method comprises pretreating both an antibody and a sample to be subjected to a non-agglutination immunoassay. In the method the antibody and the sample are combined with a pretreatment agent selected from the group consisting of hydroxyphenyl-substituted C1-C5 carboxylic acids and metallic salts thereof and halogen-substituted C1-C5 carboxylic acids and metallic salts thereof in an amount effective to enhance the accuracy of the non-agglutination immunoassay.

Abstract: Improved analyte detection system within a blood gas analyzer, the improved system comprising and/or consisting of at least one CO-oximetry system that is formed as an integrated, unitary structure(s) with an electrochemical sensor module, and methods of use related thereto.

Abstract: Methods of early real-time detection or prediction of aspiration faults in an automated diagnostic analysis system include an artificial intelligence algorithm configured to use either cluster analysis or probabilistic graphical modeling based on an aspiration pressure measurement signal waveform. Aspiration faults may include short-volume aspiration and unwanted gel pick-up. These methods may allow for timely termination of an aspiration process so as to avoid or minimize possible detrimental downstream consequences such as faulty sample test results and/or instrument downtime for servicing and cleanup. Apparatus for early real-time detection or prediction of aspiration faults are provided as are other aspects.

Abstract: Reagents are disclosed for use with potentiometric magnesium ion selective electrodes, along with kits containing same as well as methods of use thereof.