Liquid level detection (LLD) is necessary for eliminating carry-over of needle's outside by limiting the depth the needle probes into liquid in auto clinical laboratory analyzers. This paper listed various demands of liquid-handling system under different situations; reviewed various LLD techniques, such as capacitive, air pressure, mechanical vibration, ultrasound, light reflection, CCD imaging etc.; briefly introduced the working principles, features, and limitation of the LLDs; and recapitulated the characteristics of contact and non-contact LLDs. Lastly, the next generation technique of LLD is prospected.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods

This paper is to introduce the conception, basic constitution and working flow of laboratory automatic systems, and the domestic and world developments of the laboratory pipelining systems. It analyses the problems and the preferred scheme which should be given careful consideration when a system is to be built in the hospital.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; Computer Systems ; Laboratories, Hospital ; standards ; Software ; Specimen Handling ; instrumentation ; methods

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors have become an advanced method for measuring biological molecular interaction. This article is focused on the principle and advantages of SPR biosensor chip technology, and its new applications in biomedical research fields. Its application prospects are also discussed.
Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; instrumentation

In this paper we briefly introduce some microdevices which have been developed recently for biomedical applications by micro-fabrication technology. These applications mainly include areas of diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering and minimally-invasive surgery.
Biomedical Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; instrumentation ; Miniaturization ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods

The clinical laboratory technology has gradually changed the traditional detection methods. The new detection technology provides a more rapid and more accurate way for the disease diagnosis. The designs of the clinical laboratory equipments pay more attention to human factors, low cost and benefit for environment protection.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; instrumentation ; trends ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Laboratories, Hospital ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Robotics ; Software

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to understand the current status of clinical laboratory practices for the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in the Republic of Korea to be well prepared for future emerging infectious diseases. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 49 clinical laboratories in medical institutions and referral medical laboratories. A short questionnaire to survey clinical laboratory practices relating to MERS-CoV diagnostic testing was sent by email to the directors and clinical pathologists in charge of the clinical laboratories performing MERS-CoV testing. The survey focused on testing volume, reporting of results, resources, and laboratory safety. RESULTS: A total of 40 clinical laboratories responded to the survey. A total of 27,009 MERS-CoV real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) tests were performed. Most of the specimens were sputum (73.5%). The median turnaround time (TAT) was 5.29 hr (first and third quartile, 4.11 and 7.48 hr) in 26 medical institutions. The median TAT of more than a half of the laboratories (57.7%) was less than 6 hr. Many laboratories were able to perform tests throughout the whole week. Laboratory biosafety preparedness included class II biosafety cabinets (100%); separated pre-PCR, PCR, and post-PCR rooms (88.6%); negative pressure pretreatment rooms (48.6%); and negative pressure sputum collection rooms (20.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical laboratories were able to quickly expand their diagnostic capacity in response to the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak. Our results show that clinical laboratories play an important role in the maintenance and enhancement of laboratory response in preparation for future emerging infections.
Clinical Laboratory Services/*standards ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques/instrumentation/methods ; Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sputum/virology ; Surveys and Questionnaires