Disclosed is a specimen analyzer comprising: a rack transport part configured to transport a rack accommodating a plurality of specimen containers; an agitating part configured to agitate a specimen in each of the specimen containers; a suction part configured to suction the specimen from the specimen container; a container transport part configured to transport the specimen container between the rack on the rack transport part, the agitating part, and a suction position for specimen suctioning by the suction part; a measurement part configured to measure a measurement sample prepared from the specimen suctioned by the suction part; and a controller configured to control at least the agitating part, the suction part, and the container transport part, wherein the specimen analyzer is configured such that control by the controller causes, during a period from start to end of agitation of one of the specimen containers, at least one of transferring to the suction position, suctioning of a specimen, and returning to the rack to be executed on another one of the specimen containers.

An aspect of the present invention relates to an archiving method for archiving in a storage, in particular in a cold storage, at least one sample tube containing a biological sample using at least one tube rack, the method comprising the following steps: receiving, by a computing system, a request for archiving the at least one sample tube, placing the at least one sample tube in at least one receptacle of the at least one tube rack to receive the at least one sample tube, recording and/or updating, in a memory unit of the computing system, sample-tube-storage-data including sample tube data and/or tube rack data and/or storage data, storing the at least one tube rack in the storage. Further aspects relate to a retrieving method and a tube rack.

A method and system for automatic in-vitro diagnostic analysis are described. The method includes adding a first reagent type and a second reagent type to a first test liquid during a first and second cycle times respectively. The addition of the first reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a second reagent type to a second test liquid during the first cycle time. The addition of the second reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a first reagent type to a third test liquid during the second cycle time, respectively.

Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

There is described an apparatus for depositing and retrieving large volumes of test tubes in/from a warehouse, comprising an input/output module of a first and a second container with a plurality of test tubes, a multiple pick up device of test tubes, a single pick up device of test tubes, a first and second station for the provisional allocation of said containers and a motorized traveling lift able to carry said first and second container simultaneously on two distinct coplanar locations.

A method and system for automatic in-vitro diagnostic analysis are described. The method includes adding a first reagent type and a second reagent type to a first test liquid during a first and second cycle times respectively. The addition of the first reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a second reagent type to a second test liquid during the first cycle time. The addition of the second reagent type to the first test liquid includes parallel addition of a first reagent type to a third test liquid during the second cycle time, respectively.

Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.

When a specimen transport system transfers a specimen container to a transport rack, the specimen container located at a position adjacent to a transfer position thereof is inclined on the rack, and there is a possibility that the one specimen container may collide with the other specimen container when the one specimen container is transferred. Where the transferred specimen container is inclined after being transferred, and a specimen container transfer mechanism is raised from the location, there is also a possibility that the one specimen container and the other specimen container adjacent thereto may collide with each other. Consequently, an inclination angle of a transferred specimen container and a specimen container adjacent thereto is corrected by loading a specimen container inclination correction mechanism including two inclination correction units at a specimen container transfer position. In this manner, a contact risk is suppressed and a stable transfer process is made possible.

A sample tube includes a barcode split into components at the bottom of the sample tube. Each barcode component stores less than the full data output from the barcode, but the components combine to full data output. Redundant diagonal components provide for error checking. A center region between the barcode components supports an electrical circuit or an optical or acoustic window. The sample tube may have a sidewall with a substantially cylindrical open end and non-cylindrical end closed with a bottom, the non-cylindrical end orienting the sample tube in a rack. Additional non-cylindrical surfaces are provided to orient the sample tube relative to complementary surfaces at a gripper. The sample tube of a particular application is positioned in an acoustic dispensing system where acoustic waves are transmitted through a center window for surveying and dispensing.

A sample tube rack (10) for receiving at least one sample tube is provided, comprising: a bottom surface (12) comprising at least one opening (14) for receiving the sample tube, and at least two guiding elements (16, 16, 16a-d) arranged on the bottom surface (12) adjacent to the opening (14), wherein each guiding element (16, 16, 16a-d) extends substantially parallel to a vertical axis (18) of the opening (14) from the bottom surface (12) towards a top side (20) of the sample tube rack (10). The guiding elements (16, 16, 16a-d) are arranged at different positions (17a-d) around the opening (14), such that a tube compartment (24) for receiving the sample tube is formed by the guiding elements (16, 16, 16a-d) and the opening (14), wherein the guiding elements (16, 16, 16a-d) are spaced apart from each other along a perimeter (21) of the opening (14), thereby forming at least two clearances (22) between the guiding elements (16, 16, 16a-d) along the perimeter (21) of the opening (14).