Abstract: Diagnostic analyses of medical specimens or analyses of samples taken from industrial processes, waste treatment or the environment are made based on hydraulic dosage of liquids, in which a dosage space (8) of limited volume included in the test unit is filled with the medium needed in the test by means of a liquid actuator, such as a bellows (18), the sample being combined with the medium by absorption into the dosage space with the aid of the actuator, purging a corresponding amount of medium from the space under the effect of suction. If necessary, one or more reactants required in the test are drawn into the dosage space (8) on the same principle. The quantitatively dosed liquids can then be mixed and transferred hydraulically into the incubation and/or detection spaces (25, 26) of the test unit with movements generated by the actuator (18). The system may include data transmission communications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for use in the testing of liquid samples, a test unit for implementing the method, and a system comprising the test units. The invention relates particularly to diagnostic analyses of medical specimens and analyses of samples taken from industrial processes, waste treatment or the environment. The invention is based on hydraulic dosage of liquids, in which a dosage space (8) of limited volume included in the test unit is filled with the medium needed in the test by means of a liquid actuator, such as a bellows (18), the sample being combined with the medium by absorption into the dosage space with the aid of the actuator, purging a corresponding amount of medium from the space under the effect of suction. If necessary, one or more reactants required in the test are drawn into the dosage space (8) on the same principle.