Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying and mitigating a risk of deathloss of an animal, comprising receiving, at a processor from a hematology analyzer, information obtained from a sample from said animal, wherein said information comprises a leukocyte absolute count and a leukocyte differential from said sample, said sample comprising leukocytes, analyzing, by said processor, said leukocyte absolute count and said leukocyte differential to determine a survivability index for said animal, and managing the animal based on the survivability index.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a blood sample from a subject includes loading the blood sample into a single chamber; acquiring, via an imaging system, a stack of serial focal plane images of the blood sample from a plurality of fields of view of the chamber; creating a virtual three dimensional image of the blood sample from selected ones of the stacks of serial focal plane images; and analyzing the virtual three dimensional image to identify blood formed elements within the blood sample. Identifying blood formed elements within the blood sample may include identifying a type and amount of white blood cells, and/or identifying an amount of red blood cells and/or hematocrit, and/or identifying an amount of platelets. Identifying blood formed elements within the blood sample may include determining numbers and percentage by volume in the blood sample of one or more types of white blood cells.

Abstract: Information for use in a command script for a product dispensing system is compiled by sniffing packets associated with a print job that contains information associated with a product to be dispensed, filtering the packets so as to remove fields not associated with the print job, and combining the filtered packets to generate contiguous data associated with the print job. A command script for a product dispensing system is generated by receiving data associated with a print job that contains information associated with a product to be dispensed, extracting the information associated with the product from the print job data, organizing the information associated with the product into discrete informational units, and generating the command script based on the organized discrete information units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying an animal for which antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate, comprising: a) collecting a sample from said animal; b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample; c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and d) initiating antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.

Abstract: A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus has a support frame; a cartridge magazine actuator assembly connected to the support frame; a subframe; a plurality of vibration isolators connecting the support frame to the subframe; an XYZ drive connected to the subframe; and an optical stage connected to the subframe. In some embodiments the assembly further includes a cartridge gripper connected to said XYZ drive. In some embodiments, the cartridge magazine actuator assembly includes an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input element and the output element, with the transfer assembly configured to linearly advance the output element upon linear depression of the input element.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting Mycoplasma exposure in a subject.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

Abstract: A device for detecting at least one analyte in a liquid sample generally comprises (i) a support having a chamber for receiving a biological fluid (e.g., milk) therein, wherein said chamber is an elongate chamber having a length axis; (ii) a (stationary or movable) carrier (in some embodiments in the form of an end cap, or connected to an end cap; in other embodiments in the form of an agitator in said elongate chamber).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying an animal for which antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy is appropriate, comprising: a) collecting a sample from said animal; b) performing a leukocyte differential cell count on said sample; c) comparing said leukocyte differential cell count of (b) with an index of infection; and d) initiating antibiotic treatment, anti-infective treatment, probiotic treatment, immunostimulant treatment, additional monitoring and/or a separate or alternative management strategy of said animal on the basis of said comparing step.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting Mycoplasma exposure in a subject.

Abstract: A microscope assembly for use in an automated microscope apparatus has a support frame; a cartridge magazine actuator assembly connected to the support frame; a subframe; a plurality of vibration isolators connecting the support frame to the subframe; an XYZ drive connected to the subframe; and an optical stage connected to the subframe. In some embodiments the assembly further includes a cartridge gripper connected to said XYZ drive. In some embodiments, the cartridge magazine actuator assembly includes an input element, an output element, and a transfer assembly interconnecting the input element and the output element, with the transfer assembly configured to linearly advance the output element upon linear depression of the input element.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof.

Abstract: A device for detecting at least one analyte in a liquid sample generally comprises (i) a support having a chamber for receiving a biological fluid (e.g., milk) therein, wherein said chamber is an elongate chamber having a length axis; (ii) a (stationary or movable) carrier (in some embodiments in the form of an end cap, or connected to an end cap; in other embodiments in the form of an agitator in said elongate chamber).

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in the housing configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in the outer housing; a microscope assembly in the housing (preferably in the first compartment); a microprocessor in the housing (preferably in the second compartment), and (optionally but preferably) a heat sink mounted on the housing external wall, preferably adjacent the second compartment, with the microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with the microscope assembly. Systems and methods employing the same are also described, along with component parts thereof.

Abstract: A method of automatically focusing a microscope on a specimen is carried out by capturing an image from each of a plurality of focal planes in or on said specimen, calculating a focus score for each of said images, selecting the focal plane corresponding to the image having the best focus score, and then repositioning said specimen relative to said microscope so that said microscope is focused on said selected focal plane, the method includes a plurality of exogenous targets in or on said specimen, which aids in focusing in the event particular objects of interest, such as cells/pathogens that may or may not be in the sample, are not present, or are present in low numbers. Automated microscopes and microscope cartridges useful in such methods are also described, along with methods of detecting pathogens in biological samples.

Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products for creating and modifying labels for use by pharmaceutical dispensing machines are provided. A pharmaceutical dispensing apparatus includes a touch screen, a processor, memory coupled to the processor, and a computer program residing in the memory that is executable by the processor for guiding a user through a process of designing a label via the touch screen. The computer program displays a label template adapted to receive a plurality of data fields inputted by a user therein, wherein each data field is adapted to receive and display respective data. The computer program includes a label wizard that guides a user through the process of designing a label within the label template.