Methods, systems and apparatus for the tracking and managing of biological samples. A provider may check-in or register a patient at a provider facility. A sample tube may be registered to the patient, and a biological sample may be collected. The provider aggregates a plurality of sample tubes into cells of a rack. The provider then captures an image of the rack. A computer vision operation may be performed to isolate and identify a QR code affixed to the lid of each sample tube. The identified sample tubes are registered to the rack in which they are held, and the rack transferred to a destination lab. The same computer vision operation may be performed upon receipt of the rack. The samples may then be transferred to a sample plate. The samples are transferred from a cell in the rack to a corresponding well in the sample plate.

A sample rack transport apparatus for transporting a sample rack to a sample analyser, comprising: a bidirectional transmission track for bidirectionally transmitting a sample rack without passing through the sample analyser; a feed channel in parallel with the bidirectional transmission track, wherein the sample rack may be delivered from the bidirectional transmission track to the feed channel and to the sample analyser; an unloading cache region located between the bidirectional transmission track and the feed channel, the unloading cache region being used for storing the sample tack; and an unloading mechanism for delivering the sample rack in the feed channel to the unloading cache region for storage, or delivering the sample rack stored in the unloading cache region to the bidirectional transmission track. Also provided are a sample analysis device and a sample analysis system using the sample rack transport apparatus.

Contemplated herein is an automated microscope slide antigen recovery and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments for individually and independently processing a plurality of individual microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually heatable heating plate. Each slide support element may support a microscope slide. Each microscope slide can be enclosed within an individual pressurizable reaction compartment. Pressures exceeding 1 atm or below 1 atm can be created and maintained in the reaction compartment prior to, during or after heating of the slide begins. Because of the ability to pressurize and regulate pressure within the reaction compartment, and to individually heat each slide, each slide and a liquid solution or reagent thereon can be heated to temperatures that could not be obtained without the enclosed pressurized environment of the reaction compartment. A reagent dispensing strip having a plurality of reconfigurable reagent modules may also be used.

Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement. Further, the automated analysis device 100 includes a controller 21 which controls the drive of the reaction disk 1 such that in one cycle the reaction vessels 2 move by an amount A in the circumferential direction in such a way that N and A are mutually prime, B and C are mutually prime, and the relationship A×B=N×C±1 holds, where N is the total number of reaction vessels 2 accommodated in the reaction disk 1, the reaction disk 1 moves through C (where C>1) rotations+an amount equivalent to one reaction vessel after B (where B>2) cycles, and the number of reaction vessels 2 moved in one cycle is A (where N>A>N/B+1).

A sample processing apparatus comprises a transporting section configured to transport a sample rack that is capable of holding a sample container at a plurality of holding positions, a detecting section that is configured to detect presence or absence of a rack distinction member at a holding position of the sample rack, an aspirating section that is configured to aspirate a sample in the sample container, and a control section that is configured to control an aspirating operation of the aspirating section. The control section changes an aspirating operation with respect to the sample container held in the sample rack based on the presence/absence of the rack distinction member at the holding position of the sample rack.

An automatic positioning apparatus can be used for sucking out the specimen even if the shapes of racks differ from each other is provided. The automatic positioning apparatus includes a shape-information obtaining apparatus which obtains the shape information of the rack including arrangement information of a specimen vessel, a position determining apparatus which transports racks to arrange the specimen vessel at a specimen-sucking position, and a control unit which controls the position determining apparatus to transport racks depending on shaped of the racks based on the shape information of racks. Further, the automatic positioning apparatus includes a vessel detecting apparatus which detects whether there is the specimen vessel held in the rack, and at the same time, determines a position of the specimen vessel on the transport path as an adjustment reference position.

A clinical diagnostic sample analyzer for analyzing a sample of a patient is disclosed. The analyzer includes a telescoping closed-tube sampling assembly with a sample probe concentrically housed within a piercing probe and a venting mechanism. The closed-tube sampling assembly is used for aspirating a sample from a sample tube for analysis by a clinical diagnostic sample analyzer.

Aspects of the present disclosure include sample analysis methods and systems. According to certain embodiments, provided are methods of analyzing samples in an automated sample analysis system. The methods include introducing samples and sample preparation cartridges into the system, isolating and purifying an analyte (e.g., nucleic acids and/or proteins) present in the samples at a sample preparation station, and performing analyte detection assays in assay mixtures that include the purified analyte. Also provided are automated sample analysis systems that find use, e.g., in performing the methods of the present disclosure. In certain aspects, the methods and systems provide for continuous operator access during replenishment or removal of one or any combination of samples, bulk fluids, reagents, commodities, waste, and/or the like.

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.

Systems and methods for performing simultaneous nucleic acid amplification and detection. The systems and methods comprise methods for managing a plurality of protocols in conjunction with directing a sensor array across each of a plurality of reaction chambers. In certain embodiments, the protocols comprise thermocycling profiles and the methods may introduce offsets and duration extensions into the thermocycling profiles to achieve more efficient detection behavior.