Abstract: Plastic test tube for taking blood samples, comprising a hollow tubular body and an adhesive protective film able to adhere to the tubular body. The tubular body is made of polyethylene terephthalate and has: a tubular wall which delimits a working volume and defines an outer surface; an open mouth for insertion of liquids at a first end of the wall; and a bottom for closing a second end of the wall. The adhesive protective film is able to adhere to the wall of the tubular body over at least a portion of the outer surface. The test tube is characterized in that the wall of the tubular body has a thickness in the range of 1 to 3 mm and in that the protective film is defined by a layer of polypropylene, polyethylene or copolymers thereof. The layer has a thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ?m and is able to form a liquid barrier.

Abstract: A tube and float system for use in separation and axial expansion of the buffy coat includes a transparent or semi-transparent, flexible sample tube and a rigid separator float having a specific gravity intermediate that of red blood cells and plasma. The float includes a main body portion of reduced diameter to provide a clearance gap between the inner wall of the sample tube and the float. One or more protrusions on the main body portion serve to support the flexible tube. During centrifugation, the centrifugal force causes the diameter of the flexible tube to expand and permit density-based axial movement of the float in the tube. The float further includes a pressure relief system to alleviate pressure build up in the trapped red blood cell blood fraction below the float, thereby preventing red blood cells from being forced into the annular gap containing the buffy coat layers.

Abstract: An adapter for taking up a sample container and for use in a laboratory centrifuge rotor, the adapter including a closed end, an opened end and closure assembly that releasably seals the opened end. The closed end and the opened end can be of a certain diameter. The adapter can also be a certain shape. The closure assembly can also include a handle, flange, a hold down ring, a sealing ring and bottom support for the sealing ring, hold down ring, flange and handle.

Abstract: A container assembly for storing, treating, transporting and stabilizing a biological sample includes a container, a cap and a sample holder removably received in the container. The sample holder can be a platform-like device dimensioned to be supported on a ledge formed in the side wall of the container. The sample holder includes a central cavity for receiving the sample and immersing the sample in the stabilizing agent in the container. In another embodiment, the sample holder has a closure member for closing the open top end of the cavity. The container includes a liquid reagent in an amount sufficient to treat the biological sample. The biological sample is retained in a predetermined containment area of the container to maintain the biological sample immersed in the reagent without regard to the orientation of the container.

Abstract: A controlled release and self-resealing pressure-maintaining lid for reaction vessels in microwave assisted chemistry is disclosed. The lid includes a rigid perimeter, a rigid center load-bearing portion, and a flexible portion connecting the rigid perimeter to the center load-bearing portion so that the center portion can move when said flexing portion flexes. The lid can be used in conjunction with a vessel assembly. The vessel assembly can include a microwave-transparent, heat expandable reaction vessel having at least two cylindrical portions axially adjacent one another with one of the portions having a diameter larger than the diameter of the other portion, a transition portion between the two cylindrical portions, a vessel mouth in the larger-diameter portion, and a cylindrical retaining sleeve around the vessel.

Abstract: Method for providing a substrate with an anti-biofouling coating the method comprising: a. obtaining a coating composition comprising nanoparticles being grafted with reactive groups and hydrophilic polymer chains and a solvent; b. applying the coating composition to the substrate; and c. optionally curing the coating composition herein the surface tension of the coating composition at 25° C. is below 40 mN/m.

Abstract: A semen container fitted with a specialized tip includes a substantially hollow body having a sealable first end adapted for the introduction of biological fluids such as semen and a second end having a nozzle molded thereto. The nozzle terminates in a removable tip that is anchored to the container by way of a tab such that after dispensing the biological liquid from the container the tip and the container may be disposed of simultaneously thereby reducing or eliminating the need to separately collect the removed tips from the ground.

Abstract: A spinnable rotor for a high speed centrifuge includes a housing which defines a chamber interiorly thereof for receiving a whole blood sample and for containing a predetermined amount of red blood cell absorbent gel. The housing includes an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having a port formed through the thickness thereof. The upper portion has at least a portion thereof formed from a light transmissible material. A light pipe is joined to the upper portion and light transmissively communicates with the light transmissive portion of the upper portion. The light pipe extends at least partially into the chamber and has an open, lower free end. When whole blood filling the rotor chamber contacts the lower free end of the light pipe, the red color of the blood is transmissively communicated to the upper portion of the rotor housing where it is viewable by the user of the centrifuge.

Abstract: A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent includes one or more protease inhibitors.

Abstract: A cup assembly for holding a sample to be analyzed spectrochemically, including a sample cell having a generally cylindrical wall longitudinally extending between a first end and a second end thereof and a sleeve having a generally cylindrical wall longitudinally extending between a first end and a second end thereof, and a plurality of projections longitudinally extending from the first end of the sleeve wall. When a substantially planar film is interposed between the sample cell and the sleeve, and the first end of the sample cell is inserted into the first end of the sleeve, the film is retained between the sample cell and the annular sleeve; and the longitudinal projections are positioned to perforate the film when the film is pulled against the longitudinal projections.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube assembly includes an elongate tubular receptacle having a capped upper end. The capped upper end includes a single inlet/outlet port formed therethrough for communication with an interior of the tubular receptacle. A flexible aspiration pipe is communicably engaged with the inlet/outlet port for extending longitudinally through the cylindrical receptacle. A sealing diaphragm is attached to a distal end of the pipe. The diaphragm is longitudinally movable within the tubular receptacle and sealably interengages an interior wall of the receptacle. Biological products are introduced into and aspirated from the receptacle below the diaphragm by the fluid conducting pipe.

Abstract: A device for gripping a reaction cuvette, in particular in an automatic appliance for analyzing chemical or biological samples, the device comprising a gripper head (16) formed by a channel-section member (18) having its side flanges (20) extended by elastically-deformable tabs (22) for resiliently clamping on a reaction cuvette.

Abstract: A device for separating heavier and lighter fractions of a fluid sample is provided, the device including a container and a unitary separator located therein, the separator having an overall density between the heavier and light fractions. The separator is capable of moving between the fractions upon centrifugation, and sealing the fractions from one another when centrifugation ends.

Abstract: A device for collecting and analyzing a biological fluid is provided. The device contains a sample collecting section having at least one collection pad for collecting a sample of the biological fluid, a sample accommodating section operatively engageable with the sample collecting section for extracting and accommodating the sampled collected by the sample collecting section, a sample analyzing section, disposed within the sample accommodating section and having a sample analyzing means in fluid communication with the sample extracted and accommodated within the sample accommodating section.

Abstract: For containing a biological fluid and draining a constituent of the biological fluid, a kit includes a barrel, a piston assembly, a removable element, which is configured to move the piston assembly, a drainage element, which interacts with the piston assembly, and an interacting element, which interacts with the piston assembly. The kit allows for fluid separation without risk of contamination from the biological fluid itself or contamination of the biological fluid itself. Further, the kit offers the advantage of involving no needles or other sharp elements.

Abstract: A sample storage, in which barcodes and two-dimensional codes written on the outer surface of the sample storage can be read correctly without false recognition. A storage tube 110 is made of transparent material, comprising a top opening. An externally equipped opaque writable element 120 is assembled outside by covering storage tube 110 throughout from the bottom surface to the side surface. An externally equipped opaque writable element 120 is to be used as a medium to which coded information that can be read by means of optical reading is written. The top opening of the storage container 110 is sealed by the lid element screwed into or fitted into the externally equipped opaque writable element 120 not to the storage container 110. At least one window 125 is provided, which enables a sample 200 contained to be observed, with the externally equipped opaque writable element 120 assembled outside.

Abstract: A reagent tube configured with a stellated shaped pattern, on its bottom interior surface, configured to facilitate complete or near-complete withdrawal of fluid from the tube, via a pipette tip. The reagent tube may be used for transporting reagents and for carrying out processing operations on biological samples with the reagents, such as preparing polynucleotides extracted from the sample for amplification.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a breakable multi-specimen storage vessel. The vessel comprises a tubular container (2) comprising a lower end (2A) and an upper end (2B). At least said upper end (2B) has an open end opening (2C). The length of said container (2) is continuously formed and provided with break portions (4A, 4B) at predetermined positions alongside thereof. Said container (2) is adapted to be broken into a plurality of specimens. Further, an external surface of said container (2) may be provided with a screw thread (5). Said screw thread (5) is provided extending longitudinally along substantially the entire length of said tubular container (2) and said internal surface is substantially smooth. The invention further relates to a break tool (6) for breaking off specimens from a multi-specimen storage vessel such as a storage vessel according to the invention.