The specimen-container loading or storing unit includes: a plurality of types of specimen trays having a different size of a specimen tray that is provided with a plurality of specimen container installation parts for holding a specimen container; a specimen container transferring mechanism for transferring the specimen container between a conveyance line and the specimen tray; and a specimen tray installation part capable of installing the plurality of types of specimen trays.

A method and apparatus for processing a sample is presented. The apparatus comprises a chamber, a first input for inputting a first vessel into the chamber, a second input for inputting a second vessel into the chamber, the second input is different from the first input, a rotor comprising a first compartment for receiving the first vessel and a second compartment for receiving the second vessel, a gripper to grip the first vessel and to transport the first vessel to the first compartment, and a pipettor to pipette a sample from the first vessel and/or second vessel. The rotor rotates between a first position where the first vessel is transportable to the first compartment by the gripper, a second position where the second vessel is loadable into the second compartment, and a third position where the sample of the first vessel and/or second vessel is aspiratable by the pipettor.

A method and a device for transferring tubes between a laboratory automation system and a sample archiving system are presented. When transferring a tube from the laboratory automation system to the sample archiving system, a tube carrier carrying a tube is conveyed to a first take-over module via a first conveyor. At the first take-over module, the tube is removed from the tube carrier and the empty tube carrier is conveyed away from the first take-over module via a second conveyor. When transferring a tube from the sample archiving system to the laboratory automation system, an empty tube carrier is conveyed to a second take-over module via a third conveyor. At the second take-over module, at least one tube is inserted into the tube carrier and the tube carrier carrying the at least one tube is conveyed away from the second take-over module via a fourth conveyor.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to methods for rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput nucleic acid testing of biological samples, e.g., blood, serum, or plasma samples from donors, as well as systems capable of performing such high-throughput nucleic acid testing.

A method for determining a position of a rack on a rack placement unit of a laboratory handling system is presented. The rack is configured to carry a number of laboratory sample containers. The method comprises measuring a height profile of the rack, determining at least one corner region of the rack based on the measured height profile of the rack, and determining the position of the rack based on the determined at least one corner region of the rack.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes and a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube. The device also comprises a scheduler arranged to specify an order of sampling from the tubes independently of the order in which the tubes are positioned in the respective racks and the order in which the racks are inserted into the device. The scheduler is arranged to control the agitator and the sampling apparatus to process the tubes in accordance with the sampling order.

Described herein is a modular robotic system for processing a biological sample, and methods of using a modular robotic system for processing a biological sample. The modular robotic system includes a bidirectional plate transportation track to transport plates within the modular robotic system, as well as robotic arms that can transport the plate from a node on the bidirectional plate transportation tack to a sample processing module. Through this system, the sample and/or consumable plates can be transported throughout the processing system. Additionally, the modular robotic system is configured to be expandable, so that the system can be easily adapted to scale up biological sample processing laboratories.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes, a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube, and a changer capable of gripping a tube on a rack received in the agitator and moving it to the sampling apparatus. The agitator is capable of agitating at least three racks simultaneously, and the device also comprises a scheduler capable of determining destination data for a tube and destination data for the rack which receives this tube, and of determining for each tube a final location based on the destination data of the tube and the destination data of the racks received in the device, which final location designates a rack, received on the agitator and a position on this rack and can be different from the location of the tube when the rack that received it has been introduced into the device, and arranged to control the changer in order to grip a tube, present it to the sampling apparatus and replace it after sampling at the final location.

A specimen transfer device having high flexibility is implemented, where a specimen can be transferred between carriers purposed for different kinds of conveyance without decreasing processing speed for the specimen. A plurality of trays that can retain specimen carriers of a transfer destination is provided, and these trays can be freely grouped, and therefore, while a carrier is fed from a tray, a specimen is automatically executed to a carrier in a different tray.

A sample carrier includes a bottom, at least one side wall, and a contact face for receiving a sample. The side wall extends upward relative to the bottom. A circumferential rim is provided on the contact face. The sample carrier can be used in a sample handling system which includes a counterpart support element and a sample storage for receiving the sample carrier. Multiple sample storages are combined to sample storage rails with can be arranged on a sample storage shelf. The sample carrier can be part of a system for performing thermomechanical analysis, including the sample handling system while the samples, arranged in the sample carriers, are stored in the sample storages of the sample storage rails arranged in the sample storage shelves from where they are transported to the sample support with the help of the counterpart support element.