Abstract: A pump insert (128) has an inner surface which in use defines a portion of a volute (124) of a pump (110) wherein said pump insert (128) is adapted to be coupled with a pump casing (116) by an inter-engaging profiled coupling arrangement (166). In one disclosed embodiment the pump insert (128) is adapted to engage a pump casing closure plate (148) which is locatable about a pump shaft (112) and between the pump inert (148) and the pump casing (110).

Abstract: The present invention relates to cost effective analytical instruments for determining the presence or amount of an analyte in a sample. The analytical instruments utilize an assay cartridge which has a sample receiving port and a rotatable carousel containing a plurality of reagent wells. Each reagent well includes a piston element for delivery of reagent to a test surface. The instrument is capable of indexing the assay cartridge to deliver sample and reagents to a test surface in a predetermined and flexibile manner, thus providing an assay protocol which is specific to the type of sample under analysis. The invention also relates to components, features, disposables, reagent delivery systems, accessories, and methods for using such instruments. Appropriate applications include infectious disease testing, cancer detection and monitoring, therapeutic drug level monitoring, allergy testing, environmental testing, food testing, diagnostic testing of human and veterinary samples, and off-line process testing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an effective chemical blocking agents for use with nylon membrane suitable for use in immunodiagnostic assays, flow-through assays and nucleic acid detection assays and methods of preparing and using same and to effective chemical blocking agents for treating unreinforced and reinforced nylon membrane and methods for the preparation thereof and the application thereof to unreinforced and reinforced nylon membrane, the chemical blocking agent including an effective amount of alkaline treated casein; an effective amount of polymer; and an effective amount of surfactant.