Provided is an automatic analyzer capable of further reducing carryover between specimens. The automatic analyzer includes a first dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a first analysis item group having a high possibility of carryover, a second dispensing unit for dispensing a specimen related to a second analysis item group having a low possibility of carryover, an input unit for receiving an input of analysis information related to a plurality of analysis items for a specimen, a classification unit for classifying the analysis information into the first analysis item group and the second analysis item group, and a determination unit for determining a dispensing sequence for each specimen for the first analysis item group and determining a dispensing sequence for each analysis item for the second analysis item group.

A system for detecting a target bacteria is disclosed. The system comprises a flow cytometer. The flow cytometer is configured to receive a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample comprises at least a target bacteria and at least a contaminant bacteria. The flow cytometer is also configured to generate a first enumeration of a total bacteria in the fluid sample during a pre-incubation phase. The fluid sample is then incubated during an incubation phase. The flow cytometer then generates a second enumeration of the total bacteria in the fluid sample during a post-incubation phase. A computing device then determines a growth ratio of the total bacteria as a function of the first enumeration and the second enumeration. Finally, the computing device identifies the presence of the at least a target bacteria as a function of the growth ratio.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis system which, even when a large number of quality control samples is necessary, reduces the time necessary for quality control. To this end, this automatic analysis system is provided with multiple analysis devices (190), a conveyance unit (120) to which the analysis devices (190) are connected, and an operation unit (101) which operates the conveyance unit (120) to convey samples to the analysis device (190), wherein the automatic analysis system has a common storage cabinet (210) for storing the quality control samples that can be supplied to the multiple analysis devices (190), and in accordance with a rule registered in advance for each of the multiple analysis devices (190), the operation unit (101) operates the storage cabinet (210) to automatically convey a quality control sample to an analysis device (190).

Methods and devices are provided for computer implemented improvement of process performance of automated laboratory protocols that typically require at least one liquid handling step that is performed by using a liquid handling apparatus under the operative control of a processor. The methods comprise: i. defining at least one liquid handling step in the protocol that comprises a liquid handling operation; ii. selecting at least a first and at least a second process factors for the at least one liquid handling step in the protocol, wherein the first and second process factors are different and are selected from the group consisting of: an equipment process factor; a liquid process factor; and a protocol process factor; iii. assigning parameter variations for the first and second process factors selected for investigation; iv. performing a plurality of test runs on the liquid handling apparatus to determine the effects of the parameter variations for the first and second process factors; v. analysing the results of the plurality of test runs to identify the one or more test runs that show optimal process performance; and vi. amending the automated laboratory protocol to improve process performance of the liquid handling apparatus.

An automatic analyzer includes a control unit 7d that, when an accuracy control sample is put in after input of a standard sample, requests measurement of the input accuracy control sample on the same measurement item as a requested measurement item for the standard sample; and a selection screen 201 or 501 that enables selection of measurement timing of the accuracy control sample on the same item as the requested measurement item for the standard sample. The control unit 7d starts measurement of the accuracy control sample when the timing selected on the selection screen 201 or 501 is reached. This reduces consumption of the standard sample and reagent as compared with before and provides an automatic analyzer that can improve analysis throughput.

A laboratory automation device (10) includes a plurality of device components (14, 16), which are controlled by digital control commands (26). The digital control commands (26) are generated by a controller (20) of the laboratory automation device (10) from assay definition data (38) defining an assay procedure for the laboratory automation device (10).

A computer implemented method to allocate control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is provided. The laboratory system comprises a storage, a transport system, and at least two analyzers. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. Information is presented for distributing the total control sample volume into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. Information is also presented for distributing the control sample aliquots to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

A distribution system comprising a transport plane configured for distributing a plurality of tube holders, wherein the transport plane comprises at least one transportation area and at least one queue area, wherein the queue area comprises queues of a plurality of different queue types differentiating between tube holder with a sample container, empty tube holder, input queue and output queue; a drive system configured for moving the tube holders on the transport plane; a control system configured to control movement of the tube holders on the transport plane, wherein the control system comprises a routing system configured for calculating routes for the tube holders on the transportation area of the transport plane, wherein the control system comprises a queue manager configured for calculating routes for the tube holders in the queue area considering the different queue types.

When the consumable is to be conveyed by a reagent gripping mechanism 110 and a reagent conveyance mechanism 111 during analysis of the sample, a control unit operates such that an operation of a device to access the storage unit is stopped, and makes a plan of operation of the reagent gripping mechanism 110 and a reagent conveyance mechanism 111 such that the consumable is conveyed also at a timing at which an operation of the device is stopped, the timing inevitably occurring after the former stop. Accordingly, an automatic analyzer is provided in which occurrence of an unnecessary empty cycle caused when plural consumables are replaced during analysis can be suppressed compared to a prior art.

A method of assigning an additional test to an existing aliquot sample tube or to a primary sample tube in a laboratory automation system is presented. The laboratory automation system comprises a workflow control unit and analytical laboratory devices in communication with the workflow control unit. The method comprises receiving an additional test request for the existing aliquot sample tube after processing of the existing aliquot sample tube has started, determining if the existing aliquot sample tube is at a retrievable target, waiting until the existing aliquot sample tube reaches a retrievable target if not at a retrievable target, determining if an aliquot timeout has occurred once the existing aliquot sample tube is at a retrievable target, reassigning the addition test to the primary sample tube if an aliquot timeout has occurred, and performing the additional test from the existing aliquot sample tube if no aliquot timeout has occurred.