Abstract: Provided is a universal method for quantitatively determining therapeutic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors in patient samples that is sufficiently sensitive for being able to detect all therapeutic TNF-alpha inhibitors.

Abstract: A device for storing reagent containers on several planes for an automatic analysis appliance comprises a pipetting device comprising a pipetting needle for pipetting of reagents, a first device comprising a plurality of first receiving positions for reagent containers, wherein the first receiving positions are arranged on a first plane, and a second device comprising a plurality of second receiving positions for reagent containers, wherein the second receiving positions are arranged on a second plane.

Abstract: Provided herein are antigenic molecules that can be used to generate antibodies capable of binding to a vitamin D derivative, such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and/or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, or a 25-hydroxyvitamin D analog, such as a vitamin D-C22 immunogenic molecule or compound. Antibodies produced using these antigenic molecules, and related antigenic compounds, are also described. In addition, disclosed herein are methods for detecting vitamin D deficiency in a subject, methods for treating a subject suspected of having a vitamin D deficiency, methods for monitoring progression of vitamin D deficiency in a subject, and methods for monitoring treatment of vitamin D deficiency in a subject in need thereof. The methods involve the detection or quantification of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3.

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: Systems and methods for determining an evaluation of one or more patients is provided. User input for evaluating one or more patients is received. A commit bundle is retrieved from a commit database. An evaluation of the one or more patients is determined based on the user input using a medical ontology configured with the retrieved commit bundle. The medical ontology is separate from the commit database. Results of the evaluation of the one or more patients are output.

Abstract: A method, device and system for enhancing image quality of an image is provided. In one aspect, the method includes illuminating a sample with a light source associated with an imaging device. Further, the method includes simulating a transmission wave at a sensor plane of the imaging device for a light wave from illuminating the sample. Additionally, the method includes determining a phase and amplitude information associated with the light wave based on the transmission wave. The method also includes determining at least one microscope transfer function associated with the imaging device based on the phase and amplitude information. Furthermore, the method includes generating a modified mi-croscope transfer function using a Zernike function based on the at least one microscope transfer function in an iterative procedure and enhancing the image quality associated with the im-age using the modified microscope transfer function.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum or plasma portion of a specimen in a specimen container provides a fine-grained HILN index (hemolysis, icterus, lipemia, normal) of the serum or plasma portion of the specimen, wherein the H, I, and L classes may each have five to seven sub-classes. The HILN index may also have one un-centrifuged class. Pixel data of an input image of the specimen container may be processed by a deep semantic segmentation network having, in some embodiments, more than 100 layers. A small front-end container segmentation network may be used to determine a container type and boundary, which may additionally be input to the deep semantic segmentation network. A discriminative network may be used to train the deep semantic segmentation network to generate a homogeneously structured output. Quality check modules and testing apparatus configured to carry out the method are also described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An analyzer system for in vitro diagnostics includes a sample handler module having a robot arm that delivers samples from drawers into carriers on a linear synchronous motor automation track. Samples are delivered via the automation track to individual track sections associated with individual analyzer modules. Analyzer modules aspirate sample portions directly from the sample carriers and perform analysis thereon.

Abstract: Aqueous calibration or quality control reagents that include urea are disclosed; the reagents may further include at least one amino acid-containing composition to provide pH stability thereto. Methods of production and use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for coupling photometers to an incubation ring for use in in vitro diagnostics comprises one or more light sources, and an incubation ring assembly, and two photometers. An incubation ring assembly comprises an internal trough and an external trough. Each trough comprises (a) an internal wall comprising an internal aperture and (b) an external wall comprising an external aperture. A first photometer comprises: a first optics housing directing light from the light sources through the external aperture of the internal trough, and a first detector positioned to receive the light through the internal aperture of the internal trough. A second photometer comprises a second optics housing directing the light from the light sources through the internal aperture of the external trough, and a second detector positioned to receive the light through the external aperture of the external trough.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to membranes, sensors, systems and process for the detection of magnesium ions in protein-containing samples. The novel membranes, sensors, systems, and processes are based upon the discovery that the lipophilcity of the plasticizer (or blend of plasticizers) utilized in the formulation of magnesium ion selective membranes for clinical use is inversely proportional to the sensitivity of the plasticizer(s) and directly proportional to the use life thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a fluid metering device, including: a first fluid supply port for receiving a first fluid; a first fluid dispense port for dispensing the first fluid; a second fluid supply port for receiving a second fluid; a second fluid dispense port for dispensing the second fluid; a waste discharge port for discharging a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid; a valve assembly including a plurality of valves; a manifold connected to the metering pump, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of fluid channels, and the manifold is used for communicating between the valve assembly and each port; a first tube connected between the second valve and the third valve for accommodating the mixture or the first fluid; and a second tube connected between the third valve and the fourth valve for accommodating the second fluid.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for a sandwich assay for a small molecule having a molecular weight of about 500 to about 2,500. The method comprises the use of a first antibody that binds to the small molecule and a second antibody that binds to the small molecule at a portion of the small molecule other than a portion to which the first antibody binds. The second antibody is prepared from an immunogen that comprises a hapten that is not the small molecule or a derivative of the small molecule wherein the hapten comprises a moiety that is structurally similar to that of the second portion of the small molecule. The antibodies may be employed in sandwich assays for the small molecule.

Abstract: A pipette assembly configured to aspirate liquid from a well having a cover includes: a pipette including a terminal end; a pipette tip detachably coupled to the terminal end; and a vibration inducer configured to vibrate the pipette tip when at least a portion of the pipette tip is located in the well thus reducing stiction between the cover and the pipette tip. This minimizes the pipette tip from getting detached from the pipette and stuck in the cover. Other systems and methods including vibrating a pipette tip are disclosed.

Abstract: A pipette tip configured to aspirate and dispense liquids. The pipette has a tip comprising an opening, wherein the pipette has one or more blades having a length extending at least partway from the tip, and at least some of the one or more blades include an acute-angled cutting edge along the length. In some embodiments, the pipette tip is part of a detachable pipette tip having a tip body with a first end configured to detachably couple to a pipette. Other detachable pipette tips, pipette tips, pipette assemblies, aspiration and dispense systems, testing apparatus, and methods of accessing a well through a well cover are disclosed.

Abstract: Non-limiting embodiments of a system(s) of generating interfering flags to reduce false diagnosis due to interfering conditions present in urinalysis results, and method(s) related thereto.

Abstract: A luminescence detection system for use in immunoassay testing. Luminescence detection system comprises a sample holder configured to hold a test sample including labeled components, wherein the labeled components in the test sample undergo a chemiluminescent reaction and emit luminescent emissions over a first wavelength range, a photodetector having a light entrance window configured to receive light emissions, the photodetector having a maximum detection efficiency wavelength range, and a conversion member provided adjacent the light entrance window that operates to cause conversion of the luminescent emissions over the first wavelength range to incident emissions of a second wavelength range wherein an incident peak of the incident emissions falls within the maximum detection efficiency wavelength range where the quantum efficiency of the photodetector is 10% or more. Methods of luminescence detection are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Methods of identifying a defect in a machine vision system. Embodiments of the method include providing a first imaging device having a first field of view; moving a reflective tool through the first field of view; capturing a plurality of images of the reflective tool at different locations in the first field of view using the first imaging device; and analyzing at least one of the plurality of images to identify one or more defects in the machine vision system. Systems and apparatus configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are immunoassays for detecting an anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody in a biological sample from a subject and/or diagnosing a thyroid disease in a subject. The disclosed immunoassays employ a recombinant cynomolgus monkey thyroid peroxidase (rTPO) and assess the level of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody-induced formation or disruption of complexes comprising a solid support and the rTPO.

Abstract: Methods of troubleshooting non-event malfunctions include providing a database including pre-populated non-event issues and associated corrective actions, receiving search criteria regarding a particular non-event issue via entry of a search string at a user interface, parsing and normalizing the search string into a meta-data schema to produce a normalized search string, searching the database with the normalized search string to generate a listing of one or more particular corrective actions, and receiving the listing of one or more particular corrective actions that are associated with the normalized search string. Apparatus configured to carry out the methods are provided, as are other aspects.