Abstract: The invention relates to a pipette having a piston and a barrel with variable diameter at least in the portion passing by the sealing point.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for analyzing and visualizing HRM data from a double-stranded nucleic acid. The HRM data is generally characterized by a plurality of data points each including a signal value associated with the concentration of a double-stranded nucleic acid in a sample and a temperature value associated with a the temperature of the sample. Embodiments of the invention analyze the HRM curves from samples using the first negative derivative of the HRM curve or a virtual standard. The first negative derivative plot method may be used to identify the melting temperature of a homogenous double-stranded nucleic acid in a sample, as well as the presence and melting temperature of heterogeneous double-stranded nucleic acids in the sample. Data points associated with the melting temperature are plotted on a scatter plot for analysis. The virtual standard allows for visualization of HRM data across data sets.

Abstract: A sample preparation and analysis system. The system 10 includes a sample preparation system 12 and a sample analysis system 14. The sample preparation system 12 prepares samples in accordance with an assay that is selected from a database containing a plurality of unique assays. The sample analysis system 14 includes an analyzer 110 that is dynamically reconfigurable based on the selected assay so as to analyze the prepared sample in accordance with that selected assay. A data communication link 115a communicates data from the sample preparation system 12 to the sample analysis system 14 to reconfigure the analyzer 110 in accordance with the selected assay.

Abstract: A sample preparation and analysis system (10). The system (10) includes a housing (16) with a sample preparation station (12) and a sample analysis station (14) positioned within the housing (16). The sample analysis station (14) is spaced away from the sample preparation station (12). A transport assembly (50) is configured to move at least one sample within the housing (16) and between the sample preparation station (12) and the sample analysis station (14).

Abstract: A handle pipette including at least one cylinder with an upper end and a lower end, said cylinder having a movable piston, an elongate handle (1), by which the pipette can be manually gripped, said handle having an upper part, and in the upper part of the handle, a sideways extending finger support (7), which finger support (7) is at least partly flexible and/or it can be shaped by the user.

Abstract: A support pipette including at least one cylinder with an upper end and a lower end, each cylinder having a movable piston, and an elongate handle (1) with an upper part and a lower part, at which handle the pipette can be manually gripped, wherein the lower part (13.1; 13.2; 13.3) of the handle (1) includes a sideways protruding lower support (10.1; 10.2; 10.3; 10.4; 10.5).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening a reaction vessel having a body forming a volume for liquid, and a lid. In the method at least one reaction vessel is placed on a transport vehicle and the reaction vessel is positioned on the vehicle so that the vessel's rotation about its own axis is prevented. Then, the at least one reaction vessel is transferred on the vehicle and a guide rod, attached to the lid that is attached by a hinge to the reaction vessel, is pushed by the movement of the vehicle against a guide surface that forces the lid to turn on the hinge so that the lid is at least partially opened.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting single and multiple reaction vessels. At least one reaction vessel is provided and at least one tray includes at least two seats for the at least one reaction vessel, and at least one gripper. One of the reaction vessel or the tray is engaged with the gripper at a first position. The gripped element is transported to a second position wherein the gripper is released. A gripping collar is provided both on the reaction vessel and the tray for the gripper to engage. At one transport stage one of the reaction vessel or the tray is engaged with the gripper at a first position by pushing the gripper from above to engage with the gripping collar and in a second stage the transported element is disengaged from the gripper by moving the gripper sideways in relation to the center axis of the gripping collar.

Abstract: Method of selectively determining the concentration of beta-glucan in samples, in particular in liquid samples of cereal origin, and a kit for such analysis. The method comprises the steps of contacting of a beta-glucan containing sample and a dye in liquid phase, complexing the beta-glucan with the dye to provide a modified liquid phase, measuring photometrically the absorbance of the modified liquid phase, and determining the concentration of beta-glucan based on the absorbance of the modified liquid phase. According to the invention, the dye comprises a Calcofluor dye such as Calcofluor White or Calcofluor White M2R. It has been found that the same reagent, or reagent of the kind basic kind, gives the same result when the sample is measured using photometry as when the dye is used in a reaction wherein fluorescence is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pretreatment of a desired sample in a discrete fluid analyzing instrument comprises automated means for handling and analyzing the sample and means for performing a pretreatment step on the sample or a sub-sample of the sample. The means for pretreatment are used for immobilizing at least one substance or analyte from the sample or sub-sample wherein the substance or analyte is reversibly immobilized. Usually, the apparatus further comprises means for eluting the substance or analyte from the capture means prior to analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pretreatment of a sample of whole blood in a discrete fluid analyzing instrument comprises automated means for handling and analyzing the sample and means for performing a pretreatment step on the sample or a sub-sample of the sample. The means for pretreatment are used for immobilizing at least one substance or analyte from the sample or sub-sample wherein the substance or analyte is reversibly immobilized. Usually, the apparatus further comprises means for eluting the substance or analyte from the capture means prior to analysis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying a quantitation cycle (Cq) for a PCR reaction that includes fitting a line having a plurality of line segments to data points associated with a PCR amplification reaction. The data points include a cycle value associated with a PCR cycle and a product value associated with a PCR product. A baseline is identified and reaction segment associated with an exponential region of the PCR reaction is also identified. The reaction segment includes a subset of the plurality of line segments having a slope not less than a steepness criterion. A reaction line is fit to the data points associated with the reaction segment. The Cq is identified by calculating the cycle value for a data point defining the intersection of the baseline and reaction line.

Abstract: A cuvette (10) for an automatic analyzing apparatus according to the invention includes at least two positions (20), for each position pair one separating wall (22) connecting the positions (20), and brackets (24), which are at the outermost positions (20) and which guide the cuvette (10) into a curved shape. In a handling method of a cuvette (10) according to the invention a cuvette (10) is transported from its brackets (24) to an incubator (30) and bent into a curved shape. In the method the cuvette (10) is then loaded into an opening (34) of the incubator (30), in which opening (34) it remains by its own spring back factor, until the cuvette (10) is removed from the opening (34) after the analysis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a closure for mounting on a reagent vessel, the closure including a main body, a top wall attached by its edges to the top edges of the main body, at least one incision dividing the top wall into at least two parts, a flange attached to and extending outwards from the top edge of the top wall, and a hinge area connecting the top edge of the main body to the flange and the top wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid dispensing and concerns a multichannel pipette, which comprises on its lower tip a shelf in the transverse direction of the tip and to which lower tip a pipette tip can be attached, which pipette tip comprises at least one longitudinal claw, whereby when the pipette tip is in its place, the point of the claw is above the shelf. Each cylinder is connected with a claw opening comprising an opener so that by pressing the opener downwards the claws can be turned outwards off the shelf. The opening mechanism further comprises an organ resilient in the longitudinal direction. In accordance with the invention, the tip removal is made to function reliably, even if there were significant differences in the dimensioning of the opening constructions of the lower tips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipette tip package, which has one pipette tip (1) in an enclosure (2) with a closed bottom end and a top end tightly closed by a lid.

Abstract: With the aid of the invention, a chemical analyser, a method for sample-based analysis, a device for handling cuvettes, and a loading method are provided. The chemical analyser (1) according to the invention comprises a rotatable incubator (20), in which there are openings (21) for receiving cuvettes (70), and analysis means (60) arranged around the incubator (20), as well as a loading device (40) for loading cuvettes (70) into the openings (21). The loading device (40) of the analyser (1) comprises a feed funnel (30), which is arranged to bend a straight cuvette (70) to fit the opening (21), and a ram (41), which is arranged to load a cuvette (70) into an opening (21) in the incubator (20) through the feed funnel (30).

Abstract: A cuvette (10) for an automatic analyzing apparatus according to the invention comprises at least two positions (20), for each position pair one separating wall (22) connecting the positions (20), and brackets (24), which are at the outermost positions (20) and which are adapted to guide the cuvette (10) into a curved shape. In a handling method of a cuvette (10) according to the invention a cuvette (10) is transported from its brackets (24) to an incubator (30) and bent into a curved shape. In the method the cuvette (10) is then loaded into an opening (34) of the incubator (30), in which opening (34) it remains by means of its own spring back factor, until the cuvette (10) is removed from the opening (34) after the analysis.

Abstract: A method for controlling the dispensation of a liquid volume sample when metering amounts of liquid by sucking into a tube, probe or tip a volume of a liquid to be displaced and ejecting the sample to a different vessel. According to the method the metering act is performed normally and the liquid to be metered is displaced thereafter in a desired vessel. During the metering act and after a desired amount of liquid is sucked into the metering line, a supplementary suction step is performed wherefrom the success of the metering act can be deduced. The pressure function of the supplementary suction step is measured and this function is compared with a calibration function.