Abstract: Specimen collection slides, methods of fabricating and methods of utilizing such specimen collection slides whereby each specimen collection slide includes a top rigid layer with an opening, a bottom rigid layer with an opening substantially the same size as the top layer opening, a middle rigid section having an opening larger than the openings in both the top and bottom layers, and a filtration media residing within the opening in the middle section. The top, bottom and middle are secured together to provide the resultant slide with thickness and rigidity that lends the slide to be utilized in automated handling processes and instruments. The middle section of the slide encases the filtration media and sandwiches it between the top and bottom layers so that the filtration media is protected from damage. Each slide may have its own unique identifier.

Abstract: Specimen collection slides, methods of fabricating and methods of utilizing such specimen collection slides whereby each specimen collection slide includes a top rigid layer with an opening, a bottom rigid layer with an opening substantially the same size as the top layer opening, a middle rigid section having an opening larger than the openings in both the top and bottom layers, and a filtration media residing within the opening in the middle section. The top, bottom and middle are secured together to provide the resultant slide with thickness and rigidity that lends the slide to be utilized in automated handling processes and instruments. The middle section of the slide encases the filtration media and sandwiches it between the top and bottom layers so that the filtration media is protected from damage. Each slide may have its own unique identifier.

Abstract: Specimen collection slides, methods of fabricating and methods of utilizing such specimen collection slides whereby each specimen collection slide includes a top rigid layer with an opening, a bottom rigid layer with an opening substantially the same size as the top layer opening, a middle rigid section having an opening larger than the openings in both the top and bottom layers, and a filtration media residing within the opening in the middle section. The top, bottom and middle are secured together to provide the resultant slide with thickness and rigidity that lends the slide to be utilized in automated handling processes and instruments. The middle section of the slide encases the filtration media and sandwiches it between the top and bottom layers so that the filtration media is protected from damage. Each slide may have its own unique identifier.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems having first and second imaging stations for processing a specimen collection slide having a specimen adsorbed there-through. The first imaging station having a first camera adjacent a first surface of the sample slide and a first lighting assembly directed at an opposite surface of the slide to capture the first surface image, while the second imaging station has a second camera adjacent the second surface and a second lighting assembly directed at the first slide surface to capture a second surface image. A computing device having sets of instructions receives and analyzes the imaging data from the first and second imaging stations, and identifies a location of the absorbed specimen for removal. A punch removes this identified location of the absorbed specimen on the sample slide.

Abstract: Pipette tips, pipetting system and methods for eluting an analyte from a solid phase filtration media that resides within an upper portion of the pipette tips. Each pipette tip includes an upper barrel containing and retaining the solid phase filtration media and a lower cannula. The solid phase filtration media resides between the upper barrel and the lower cannula. An eluting solvent is provided into the pipette tips for eluting the analyte from the solid phase filtration media by soaking, ultrasonic agitation or agitation by mixing. A sorbent material may reside within the cannula portion of each pipette tip for filtering or treating the eluted analyte containing solution prior to it being dispensed from the pipette tip into a microplate for subsequent analytical processing.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a pipettor head, including: a body; one or more solenoid valves disposed in the body; each one or more solenoid valves having an outlet at a lower end and an inlet at an upper end; each one or more solenoid valves having an outlet attached to a dispensing passageway; each one or more solenoid valves having its inlet attached to a standpipe; and the standpipe having an open top communicating with an interior of a closed vacuum/pressure chamber defined in the pipettor head, the closed vacuum/pressure chamber being arranged such that vacuum or pressure may be selectively applied to the closed vacuum/pressure chamber. A method of using the pipettor head is also provided.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a precious reagent container, including; a horizontally elongated body; a plurality of vertical, aligned reagent wells defined in the body, the reagent wells having a common depth; and a common vertical channel joining the vertical, aligned reagent wells, the common vertical channel having a depth equal to the common depth. A method of using the precious reagent container is also provided.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a pipettor reservoir for particulate-containing liquid, including: a body portion; a shallow reservoir portion defined in an upper surface of the body portion; fluid-flow channels defined in the body portion to deliver the particulate-containing liquid from an inlet port to a plurality of openings defined in a bottom of the reservoir portion, the plurality of openings being arranged such as to agitate the particulate-containing liquid to keep particulate matter in suspension therein.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of performing biological assays, including: providing a longitudinally extending carrier tape having thermally formed therein a plurality of reagent receiving wells; adding a reagent to each of said reagent receiving wells; permitting each of said reagent receiving wells to incubate at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time; and performing a biological analysis on each of said reagent receiving wells.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an eluter instrument for an SPE system, including: a housing; an upper seal mounted in the housing for up and down motion with respect thereto; a lower seal mounted in the housing for up and down motion with respect thereto, and the upper seal and the lower seal being moveable between a first position in which the upper seal and the lower seal are spaced apart and not in proximity and a second position in which the upper seal and the lower seal are in proximity and spaced apart sufficiently only to clamp therebetween a first area of a plurality of areas of an SPE medium, the first area containing therein one or more compounds of interest, such as to permit elution of the one or more compounds of interest to another instrument.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a microplate cassette, including: a generally hollow housing to contain therein a plurality of microplates; and a memory device associated with the cassette and adapted to be placed in operational contact with a portion of a processing device.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for automated magnetic separation of materials in laboratory trays, including: a frame upon an upper surface of which a multiwell laboratory tray may be placed; a base plate on which is mounted a plurality of upstanding magnets disposed below the upper surface; and apparatus to raise the base plate such as to insert the upstanding magnets into interwell spaces in the laboratory tray.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of performing a reagent protocol using polymerase chain reaction, including: indexing patterns of reagent wells on a continuous basis through at least one step of reagent addition to the reagent wells; and then indexing the patterns of reagent wells on a continuous basis through a plurality of individual heat transfer stations, whereby at each of the individual heat transfer stations, the patterns of reagent wells are subjected to a unique temperature change to cause one amplification step, with the plurality of individual heat transfer stations providing total amplification required for the protocol.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a small volume pipettor, including: a plurality of pistons; a plurality of liquid delivery needles; motive means to cause one of the pistons to move axially within one of the needles to cause a liquid to be selectively drawn into and discharged from the needle; sealing apparatus disposed around the pistons to effect sealing of upper ends of the needles; assembly apparatus in which the needles and the sealing apparatus are disposed; and apparatus to permit the assembly apparatus to be removed from the pipettor as a one-piece unit. Further provided are novel apparatus to seal upper ends of the needles around the pistons.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a polymerase chain reaction temperature control system, including: a first tank into which a multiwell sample carrier may be placed; apparatus to introduce first temperature controlled heat transfer medium into the first tank for a first predetermined length of time; and apparatus to subsequently introduce at least a second second temperature controlled heat transfer medium into the first tank for at least a second predetermined length of time.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a pipettor reservoir for particulate-containing liquid, including: a body portion; a shallow reservoir portion defined in an upper surface of the body portion; fluid-flow channels defined in the body portion to deliver the particulate-containing liquid from an inlet port to a plurality of openings defined in a bottom of the reservoir portion, the plurality of openings being arranged such as to agitate the particulate-containing liquid to keep particulate matter in suspension therein.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for automated magnetic separation of materials in laboratory trays, including: a frame upon an upper surface of which a multiwell laboratory tray may be placed; a base plate on which is mounted a plurality of upstanding magnets disposed below the upper surface; and apparatus to raise the base plate such as to insert the upstanding magnets into interwell spaces in the laboratory tray.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an eluter instrument for an SPE system, including: a housing; an upper seal mounted in the housing for up and down motion with respect thereto; a lower seal mounted in the housing for up and down motion with respect thereto, and the upper seal and the lower seal being moveable between a first position in which the upper seal and the lower seal are spaced apart and not in proximity and a second position in which the upper seal and the lower seal are in proximity and spaced apart sufficiently only to clamp therebetween a first area of a plurality of areas of an SPE medium, the first area containing therein one or more compounds of interest, such as to permit elution of the one or more compounds of interest to another instrument.

Abstract: The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, an ultrahigh throughput fluorescent screening apparatus for a microplate having a plurality of vertical sample wells, the apparatus including: at least a first light guide adapted to be disposed between an illumination source and a top of one of the plurality of vertical sample wells; and at least a second light guide adapted to be disposed between at least a first detector and the top of one of the plurality of vertical sample wells.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a combination stacker/incubator for microplates, including: a housing; an escapement mechanism disposed at a lower end of the housing to feed the microplates to and from the housing, such that the combination stacker/incubator serves as a stacker for more than one active microplate instrument; and heating apparatus disposed in the housing, such that the combination stacker/incubator serves as an incubator for the microplates.