Specimen automated preparation

They employed a FIB of 30 keV Ga ions which as focused to a spot with a diameter which could be varied between 0.05 and 1 pm. The beam current varied with focus size between 13 pA and 1.2 nA, and sputter rate typically increased with beam current from 0.005 to 0.5pm3s 1. The beam control was automated, so that the major part of the specimen preparation was performed automatically, only the final high-resolution operations being carried out by manual adjustment of the milling area. Their preparation scheme was as follows ... 

Immunocytochemical methods have become an integral part of the clinical laboratory, as well as the research setting (see Chapter 50). Clinically relevant specimens ranging from frozen sections and cell-touch preparations to whole-tissue samples are amenable to analysis (see Chapters 9-13). Panels of antibodies have been developed to aid in the differential diagnosis of tumors (see Chapter 51), and automated instrumentation has been designed to speed the handling of numerous specimens (see Chapter 52). 

The clotting of blood in specimen collection tubes, their subsequent centrifugation, and the transfer of serum to secondary tubes require time to complete. When performed manually, it has been known to cause delays in the preparation of a specimen for analysis. Consequently, to eliminate the problems associated with specimen preparation, systems are being developed to automate this process. The following developments are noteworthy. 

When an assay system has been designed to analyze whole blood samples, specimen preparation time is essentially eliminated. Automated or semiautomated ion-selective electrodes, which measure ion activity in whole blood rather than ion concentration, have been incorporated into automated systems to provide certain test results within minutes of the drawing of a specimen. This approach is now commonly used for assaying electrolytes and some other common analytes. Another approach involves either manual or automated application of whole blood to dry reagent films and visual or instrumental observation of a quantitative change. This approach is exemplified by the Reflotron Plus. 

Several manufacturers have developed fully automated specimen preparation systems. These systems are described later in the chapter. 

The MagNA Pure LC Instrument allows automated isolation and preparation of nucleic acids. The instrument performs up to 32 nucleic acid isolations in 1 to 3 hours from various specimens, which can include blood, blood cells, culture cells, plasma, serum, sputum, stool, broncho-alveolar lavage, plant tissues, or food products. 

Using the method shown in Fig.8, the electrical resistivity distribution was measured automatedly at the room temperature. To make boundary effect prominent, we prepared a SiGe specimen consisting of two phases of a large difference in doping concentration 0.027B and 0.58B. 

T. Schlaurman, R. de Boer, R. Patty, M. Kooistra-Smid, and A. van Zwet Comparative evalnation of in-honse manual, and commercial semi-automated and automated DNA extraction platforms in the sample preparation of human stool specimens for a Salmonella enterica 5 -nuclease assay. Journal of Microbiological Methods 71, 238-245 (2007)... 

Certainly, the best method of sample preparation is the so called combustion technique, which was derived from the Schoni-ger oxygen-flask method, and has been modified and improved in many ways. Besides manual procedures there are now semiauto-mated and fully-automated oxidizer models commercially available. In an oxygen atmosphere biological specimens labelled with H, or can be combusted to tritiated water,... 

The mounting operation protects the specimen edge and maintains the integrity of the sample surface features, and improves handling of irregularly shaped samples, especially for automated sample preparation. 

Soroushian, P. Elzafraney, M., Nossoni, A. (2003) Specimen preparation and image processing and analysis techniques for automated quantification of concrete microcracks and voids . Cement and Concrete Research, 33(12) 1949-62. 

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