Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of sweet steviol glycoside compounds, particularly rebaudioside B, in sweetening compositions. Sweetening compositions comprising selected amounts of rebaudioside B have been shown to possess favorable flavor profiles when compared to other high intensity sweetener compounds and are useful in the preparation of consumables.

Abstract: A container includes a base with a top wall, a vessel depending from a top wall aperture in the top wall, a fluid retainer projecting above the top wall and surrounding the top wall aperture, and a skirt surrounding the vessel and including opposed grooves for gripping the container. A lid is disposed on a top end of the base and includes a cover wall with a lid aperture generally aligned with the top wall aperture of the base. A septum is disposed between the top wall of the base and the cover wall with a portion of the septum disposed between the lid aperture and the top wall aperture. Fluid retainer/return structure is configured to prevent fluid deposited on the septum from dripping off the container and to allow at least a portion of the fluid deposited on the septum to run off the septum and into the vessel.

Abstract: Clusters of multiple diagnostic analyzers, as well as, alternatively, to one single analyzer that consists of multiple parallel cores (basic analyzer modules) to provide a scalable and user-friendly system architecture. The invention provides a terminal for loading, identifying and hosting samples and/or consumables to at least two automated analyzer systems, the system comprising a distribution robot with four linear drives and a rotational drive, wherein a first linear drive comprises a sledge that can only move linear and horizontally on a rail; the rotational drive comprises a platform that can rotate around the sledge; a second linear drive comprises a carrier that can only move linear and horizontally on the platform; a third linear drive comprises a hook that can only move linear and horizontally on the carrier; and a fourth linear drive comprises a drive for vertically moving the platform over the sledge.

Abstract: A sample holder for holding a liquid sample for laboratory processing, such as PCR thermal cycling. The sample holder includes at least one vessel having a bottom and sidewall defining an interior volume and a rim defining an opening to the interior volume. The vessel has a first portion that defines at least a part of the bottom and sidewall of the vessel and is made of a first material, and a second portion that defines the rim of the vessel and is made of a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test barrel for placing a test paper card. The test barrel comprises a barrel body and a barrel lid; wherein the barrel body comprises a place reminding board arranged on the barrel body; and the barrel lid comprises an elastic piece arranged on the barrel lid and mating with the place reminding board. The test barrel for placing a test paper card according to the present invention is simple in structure and convenient in operation, and greatly reduces time for test. In addition, a place reminding structure is arranged on the test barrel, which facilitates use of the test barrel for the user and achieves sealing reminding. Further, the test result is accurate, the reusage rate is high, and cleaning is convenient.

Abstract: A reagent storage device of the present disclosure includes a shutter and a moving mechanism. The shutter is configured to open and close an opening in a reagent compartment for housing a reagent container, the reagent compartment being provided with the opening for insertion and removal of a probe used to extract a reagent from inside the reagent container housed in the reagent compartment. The moving mechanism is configured to move the shutter to an overlay position opposing the opening and separated from the opening before moving the shutter downward so as to close off the opening, and is also configured to move the shutter that is closing off the opening upward to open up the opening before withdrawing the shutter from the overlay position over the opening.

Abstract: A method, system and storage medium for providing an alarm for indicating that an abnormality is present in a sample analyzer are provided. The method includes: mixing a first aliquot of a blood sample with a diluent agent to prepare a first test sample; mixing a second aliquot of the blood sample with a lytic reagent to prepare a second test sample; detecting electrical impedance signals of the first test sample; detecting at least two types of optical signals of the second test sample; acquiring first platelet detection data based on the electrical impedance signals; acquiring second platelet detection data based on the at least two types of optical signals; acquiring an evaluation result based on a difference between the first platelet detection data and the second platelet detection data; determining whether the evaluation result meets a preset condition to provide an alarm.

Abstract: In a pre-processing system, a state in which a sample dispensing probe 20a and a syringe pump 81 communicate with each other through a channel 91 and a state in which the sample dispensing probe 20a and a culture tank 301 communicate with each other through the channels 91, 93, and 94 can be switched by operation of the three-way valves 82 and 83. For this reason, the liquid sample in the culture tank 301 can be automatically discharged from the sample dispensing probe 20a without requiring the user to directly sample the liquid sample. As a result, in the pre-processing system, the user's manual sampling work can be omitted, and the user's work can be simplified.

Abstract: A reagent for use in the measurement of hemoglobins by liquid chromatography, the reagent comprising a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: (i) polyoxyethylene (10) decyl ether; (ii) polyoxyethylene (6) 2-ethylhexyl ether; (iii) polyoxyethylene (9) isodecyl ether; (iv) polyoxyethylene (10) nonyl ether; (v) polyoxyethylene (16) isostearyl ether; (vi) polyoxyethylene (20) behenyl ether; and (vii) polyoxyethylene (20) polyoxypropylene (6) decyltetradecyl ether.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for preventing the release of metal particles from an autosampler that could otherwise be detected within a sample during sample analysis. In an example implementation, an autosampler systems includes, but is not limited to, a sample probe support structure; a z-axis support; an outer shuttle coupled with an outer surface of the z-axis support; and an inner shuttle linearly moveable within an interior volume of the z-axis support, the inner shuttle magnetically coupled with the outer shuttle to translate linear motion of the inner shuttle to the outer shuttle.

Abstract: A silicone member used for a micro device and a micro device which achieve both electrification suppression and light transmittance are provided. The silicone member is used as a micro device and has a holding part for holding samples, or defines the holding part through the combination with a counterpart member. The silicone member includes a silicone material which has silicone and an ionic conductive agent, and the content of the ionic conductive agent is 0.01 part by mass or higher and 1 part by mass or lower with respect to 100 parts by mass of the silicone. The micro device includes the silicone member.

Abstract: An automated analyzer that receives samples prepared for analysis in an automated pre-analytical module and a method of operation of such automated analyzer. The automated analyzer includes a shuttle transfer station that receives a shuttle carrier from the automated pre-analytical system. The shuttle transfer station has a clamping assembly for the shuttle. The clamping assembly has jaws that advance engagement members into contact with a bottom portion of sample containers disposed in the shuttle. The clamping assembly secures the sample containers in the shuttle when sample is aspirated from the sample containers. The automated analyzer also has a multichannel puncture tool that is adapted to be carried by a robotic gripper mechanism. The multichannel puncture tool has multiple puncture members that each defines a channel Each channel is in communication with a different trough in the consumable. A pipette can pass through the channel in the puncture tool.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microfluidic device (100) includes depositing a bonding layer (106) on a surface of a second glass layer (104a) of a glass substrate having a first glass layer (102) and the second glass layer (104a) fused to the first glass layer (102), such that a masked region of the surface is covered by the bonding layer, and an exposed region of the surface is uncovered by the bonding layer; removing a portion of the second glass layer corresponding to the exposed region of the surface to form a flow channel (112) in the glass substrate; and bonding a cover (108) to the glass substrate with the bonding layer (106).

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in an in vitro diagnostics setting incorporating magnetic shielding to reduce exposure of any of samples, reactants, devices or people from exposure or prolonged exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields generated with the system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow cell carrier. The flow cell carrier may include a flow cell and a frame. The frame may include a pocket and a handle. The pocket may have at least one spring feature and at least one banking feature. The frame may be configured to retain the flow cell within the pocket such that a maximal surface area of the flow cell is exposed to an optical lens. Related methods and kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method to re-identify a carrier on a laboratory transport system after a system failure. The carrier is associated with an identity and is configured to move over a transport plane of the laboratory transport system. The laboratory transport system comprises a monitoring system configured to monitor motion positions of the carrier on the transport plane when the laboratory transport system is activated. After a system failure, the identity dissociates from the carrier and the carrier keeps moving on the transport plane. After reactivation of the laboratory transport system, a predicted position of the identity is compared to an actual position of the carrier by a control unit of the laboratory transport system. The control unit assigns the identity to the carrier if the predicted position of the identity matches with the actual position of the carrier.

Abstract: A liquid handling system and method, e.g., for testing blood samples. The system comprises a cartridge, and a transfer device couplable to a liquid reservoir. The cartridge comprises compartments with an inlet, closed by a seal, and an outlet, closed by a gas-permeable liquid-tight filter. Keying portions define a relative position and orientation of the cartridge and the transfer device. Penetrating elements of the transfer device penetrate the seal of each compartment, the penetrating elements having lumina for fluidly connecting the reservoir and each compartment cavity of the cartridge.

Abstract: A specimen cap. The specimen cap allows material to be transferred out of a specimen cup without exposing the user (clinician, lab tech, phlebotomist) to the sample. The cap employs a double cap system with a secondary cap providing access to a needle holder that holds a needle assembly. The needle assembly has an upward extending needle, with an optional needle cover, and a downward extending draw or sample tube extending downward to reach the sample contained in the specimen cup.

Abstract: A synthesizer system includes a vacuum block, a sealing plate coupled to the vacuum block, a synthesis plate having a plurality of wells, and an inflatable seal coupled to both the sealing plate and the synthesis plate and forming a seal between the sealing plate and the synthesis plate.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer includes: a liquid dispensing mechanism that performs suction of a liquid; a pressure sensor that measures a change of an internal pressure of a probe provided at the liquid dispensing mechanism; a determination section that determines whether the suction of the liquid by the probe is normal suction or air suction abnormality; an analysis section; a storage section that stores a cumulative number of times of air suction abnormality per liquid and an allowable cumulative number for the cumulative number of times of air suction abnormality; and a controller that exercises operation control over the liquid dispensing mechanism, the determination section, and the analysis section. The controller exercises control such that the cumulative number of times of air suction abnormality is updated and the updated cumulative number is stored in the storage section even if the air suction abnormality occurs non-consecutively.