Abstract: The invention relates to a container for a rack of a diagnostic robot comprising: —a container body comprising a sidewall or multiple sidewalls, a bottom and a top wherein the container body is of round, oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal or polygonal cross sectional shape, —the top is provided with an opening that matches the size and form of a filter membrane/supporting body of an object carrier which is placed over the opening in the top of the container for filtration of a sample, wherein the opening exhibits a rim and —the top is provided with a top-guiding-means which matches with a corresponding object-carrier-guiding-means on or in the object carrier so that the object carrier locks with a predetermined surface faced up into a predetermined position on the top and —the container is equipped with an adapter which matches a gas outlet on the rack.

Abstract: A characterization apparatus including pattern generation. The characterization apparatus is configured to characterize a specimen and or a specimen container in some embodiments. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more light panel assemblies including pattern generation capability located adjacent to the imaging location and configured to provide back lighting. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container using the pattern generation are described herein, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A location based dynamic information provision system integrates operator positional awareness within a laboratory environment with a laboratory environment asset site map. At least one operator proximity metric, defining a distance threshold for establishing whether an operator within the laboratory is proximate to a respective asset, is defined for each asset. Operator detection and position is provided by an indoor positioning system. A signaling device associated with each operator is in communication with a laboratory process management platform for receiving operator information contingent upon the respective operator being within the proximity metric for a respective laboratory asset and the asset having communicated status of a given urgency to the process management platform. The signaling device may enable the operator to communicate with the process management platform and may provide a tactile or other attention attracting signal to the operator.

Abstract: Hydrophilic, high quantum yield, chemiluminescent acridinium compounds with increased light output, improved stability, fast light emission and decreased non specific binding are disclosed. The chemiluminescent acridinium esters possess hydrophilic, branched, electron-donating functional groups at the C2 and/or C7 positions of the acridinium nucleus.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, and devices that include calibration and/or quality control reagent(s) for monitoring the performance of blood gas, electrolyte, and/or metabolite instrumentation are disclosed. Different oxygen levels in the calibration and/or quality control reagent(s) can be generated using an oxygen scavenger. Methods of accurately measuring the oxygen levels so generated using a by-product of the oxygen scavenger are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions, devices, kits, and methods for calibrating at least one oxygen sensor in a blood gas, electrolyte, and/or metabolite instrument utilizing a calibration fluid comprising a pyrogallol oxygen scavenger.

Abstract: A magnesium sensing membrane is disclosed for use in a potentiometric ion selective electrode that exhibits improved stability upon exposure to surfactant-containing reagents. Kits containing same are disclosed, along with methods of production and use of the magnesium sensing membrane.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to devices, systems and methods that enable the quick and reliable detection of hemolysis in a sample such that a sample which exhibits an unacceptable level of hemolysis can be flagged or disregarded in an associated diagnostic test.

Abstract: Maintenance carriers can include one or more tools to perform a maintenance operation. These carriers may include removable cartridges that include the tool or consumables, such as a cleaning fluid, compressed gas, or disposable items. Maintenance carriers can also be configured to move along with other carrier traffic in the automation system and may be selectively deployed.

Abstract: In one illustrative embodiment, a test strip with a first planar substrate has coplanar electrodes on a first planar surface and a second planar substrate (which opposes the first surface of the first planar substrate) has coplanar electrodes on a second planar surface. The first planar surface of the first planar substrate having a first sensing area electrically connected to a first electrical contact. The second planar surface of the second planar substrate having a second electrical contact electrically connected to the first electrical contact via a conductive element, the conductive element extending between the first surface of the first planar substrate and the second surface of the second planar substrate without passing through the first planar substrate, the second planar substrate, or any intermediate layers.

Abstract: A method for analyzing digital holographic microscopy (DHM) data for hematology applications includes receiving a plurality of DHM images acquired using a digital holographic microscopy system. One or more connected components are identified in each of the plurality of DHM images and one or more training white blood cell images are generated from the one or more connected components. A classifier is trained to identify a plurality of white blood cell types using the one or more training white blood cell images. The classifier may be applied to a new white blood cell image to determine a plurality of probability values, each respective probability value corresponding to one of the plurality of white blood cell types. The new white blood cell image and the plurality of probability values may then be presented in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: There is provided a system (10) and method (100) for improving ICC and/or ISH rare cell detection by lowering background noise and providing enhanced detection of rare cells (15). In an embodiment, background noise for an ICC and/or an ISH rare cell detection assay is reduced and rare cell signaling is enhanced via feedback control. To accomplish the feedback control, an electronic control circuit (24) can direct a fluid delivery apparatus (18) to add an adjustment amount to account for fluid loss in the system (10) when fluid loss is indicated.

Abstract: A depth-sensitive system for monitoring for and detecting a predefined condition at a specific location within a visually monitored portion of an area. Plural depth-sensitive cameras are oriented with respect to the area whereby each camera has a field of view within the area that at least partially overlaps with the field of view of another of the plural cameras. The combined field of view encompasses all portions of interest of the area. A system for providing a notification of the visual detection of a predefined condition at a particular location or set of locations within an area of interest is provided, as is a system for generating a visual representation of human activity at one or more specific locations within an area of interest.

Abstract: Methods for image-based detection of the tops of sample tubes used in an automated diagnostic analysis system may be based on a convolutional neural network to pre-process images of the sample tube tops to intensify the tube top circle edges while suppressing the edge response from other objects that may appear in the image. Edge maps generated by the methods may be used for various image-based sample tube analyses, categorizations, and/or characterizations of the sample tubes to control a robot in relationship to the sample tubes. Image processing and control apparatus configured to carry out the methods are also described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A quality check module for characterizing a specimen and/or a specimen container including stray light compensation. The quality check module includes an imaging location within the quality check module configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices configured to capture images of the imaging location from one or more viewpoints, and one or more light sources configured to provide back lighting for the one or more image capture devices, and one or more stray light patches located in an area receiving stray light from the one or more light sources enabling stray light affecting the images to be compensated for and to provide a stray light compensated image.

Abstract: A software-implemented, alert-enabled passive element and method that allows a user to receive updates from unrelated sources and to provide alerts and status information within a centralized information source without customization or modification of the unrelated sources. Data and information from multiple, independent systems is integrated into a single element that provides a centralized information source. A user is provided with the ability to specify the type of data to be gathered from the independent systems, the specific location where the data is to be retrieved, and a reference value for each instance of data to be retrieved. A comparison between the retrieved data and the reference value is thus enabled. Information regarding a mismatch or retrieved value beyond or outside an acceptable value or range of values may then be provided to the user within the passive element.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing a specimen and/or specimen container. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, a light source configured to provide lighting of the imaging location, and a hyperspectral image capture device. The hyperspectral image capture device is configured to generate and capture a spectrally-resolved image of a small portion of the specimen container and specimen at a spectral image capture device. The spectrally-resolved image data received at the spectral image capture device is processed by a computer to determine at least one of: segmentation of at least one of the specimen and/or specimen container, and determination of a presence or absence of an interferent, such as hemolysis, icterus, or lipemia. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container, and specimen testing apparatus including a characterization apparatus are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum and plasma portion of a specimen in regions occluded by one or more labels. The characterization may be used for Hemolysis, Icterus, and/or Lipemia, or Normal detection. The method captures one or more images of a labeled specimen container including a serum or plasma portion, processes the one or more images to provide segmentation data and identification of a label-containing region, and classifying the label-containing region with a convolutional neural network (CNN) to provide a pixel-by-pixel (or patch-by-patch) characterization of the label thickness count, which may be used to adjust intensities of regions of a serum or plasma portion having label occlusion. Optionally, the CNN can characterize the label-containing region as one of multiple pre-defined label configurations. Quality check modules and specimen testing apparatus adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of reducing carryover of liquids, such as reagent and/or samples, in analytical or immunoassay testing. The method includes providing an incubation member including a plurality of reaction vessels thereon, pre-assigning certain ones of the reaction vessels in the incubation member for only first test types or certain reagent types for all test lots; and pre-assigning other ones of a second subset of reaction vessels in the incubation member for only second test types for all test lots. By ensuring no mixing of potentially interfering test types or reagent types from test lot to test lot, sample and/or reagent carryover is mitigated. Testing apparatus adapted to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum and plasma portion of a specimen in regions occluded by one or more labels. The characterization method may be used to provide input to an HILN (H, I, and/or L, or N) detection method. The characterization method includes capturing one or more images of a labeled specimen container including a serum or plasma portion from multiple viewpoints, processing the one or more images to provide segmentation data including identification of a label-containing region, determining a closest label match of the label-containing region to a reference label configuration selected from a reference label configuration database, and generating a combined representation based on the segmentation information and the closest label match. Using the combined representation allows for compensation of the light blocking effects of the label-containing region. Quality check modules and testing apparatus and adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.