Abstract: A biological indicator reader is provided for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process. Each biological indicator is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed. Each reader comprises a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the biological indicators, a UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through a first aperture on the side of each holder and an optical detector positioned under a second aperture on the bottom of the biological indicator holder, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A method of using the biological indicator reader is provided. A biological indicator system is also provided.

Abstract: A biological indicator reader is provided for reading a plurality of biological indicators to determine the effectiveness of at least a sterilization process. Each biological indicator is configured to exhibit fluorescence when the sterilization process has failed. Each reader comprises a housing having a plurality of biological indicator holders, a heater coupled to the housing and configured to heat the plurality of biological indicator holders to a preselected temperature to incubate the biological indicators, a UV light emitter configured to emit UV light through a first aperture on the side of each holder and an optical detector positioned under a second aperture on the bottom of the biological indicator holder, the optical detector configured to detect fluorescence intensity indicating the effectiveness of the sterilization process. A method of using the biological indicator reader is provided. A biological indicator system is also provided.

Abstract: An activation/retraction mechanism for a lancing device comprising a pusher (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) comprising a first biasing member arranged to displace the pusher in a distal direction; and a lancet holder comprising a lancet for penetrating the skin of a subject, and a second biasing member arranged to displace the lancet holder in a proximal direction; wherein the lancet holder and the pusher are arranged in a housing of the lancing device in such a way that a distal end of the pusher engages a proximal end of the lancet holder to push the lancet holder in a distal direction when the first biasing member displaces the pusher distally. The distal end of the pusher and the proximal end of the lancet holder are arranged to disengage from each other when the pusher has been displaced dis-tally a predetermined length from its initial position, whereby the lancet holder may re-turn to its initial position under influence of the second biasing member.