Provided herein are apparatus for independently manipulating the temperature of a plurality of reaction vessels, e.g., for automated processing of nucleic acids present in the vessels. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprising a mount area arranged to have mounted thereon a through-hole thermoelectric device (TED) to facilitate independent temperature control of reaction vessels are also provided, as well as methods relating to the same.

Method and associated system for reading machine-readable labels on a plurality of sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, a machine-readable label associated each of the plurality of sample receptacles is read with a first label reader when the rack is at a first location. The sample rack is then moved from the first location to a second location, where a rack identifier on the sample rack is sensed with a sensor separate from the first label reader. Finally, the rack identifier is associated with the machine-readable labels of the plurality of sample receptacles.

A transport mechanism is disposed in a measuring device used for dispensing biological samples from sample containers configured to contain the biological samples to cuvettes so as to perform a predetermined measurement, and transports a sample rack configured to hold the sample containers. The transport mechanism includes: a table on which the sample rack is provided in plurality and sequentially placed; a container sensor unit configured to identify the sample containers held on the sample rack; and a transport device configured to transport the sample rack holding the sample container identified by the container sensor unit to a dispensing position at which the biological samples are dispensed. The container sensor unit is disposed in the transport device, so that the transport device transports a preceding sample rack while the container sensor unit identifies sample containers held on a subsequent sample rack.

A biological analysis system comprises at least two biological analysis devices connected to one another by a conveyor defining a closed circuit, each biological analysis device comprising at least one inlet and one outlet for racks of tubes, and at least one exchange region for exchanging racks of tubes with the conveyor, which exchange region is distinct from the inlet and from the outlet. The inlet of at least two biological analysis devices each form an inlet of the biological analysis system for racks of tubes, and the outlet of at least two biological analysis devices each form an outlet of the biological analysis system for racks of tubes. The biological analysis system further comprises a controller designed to command the transfer of a rack of tubes received in the biological analysis system via the conveyor to another biological analysis device according to the operations to be performed on the tubes in that rack and/or according to a respective workload status of the biological analysis devices.

Systems and methods are provided for automatically tailoring treatment of samples in sample containers carried in a rack. The systems and methods may identify sample containers in the rack and/or detect various characteristics associated with the containers and/or the rack. This information may then be used to tailor their treatment, such as by aspirating and dispensing fluid from the sample containers in a way that accounts for the types of the samples/containers carrying them.

A method for calibration and/or error detection in an optical measurement device for biological samples having at least a first and a second measurement channel is described. The method comprises calculating an updated reference factor for the second measurement channel based on the first and second detection signals, comparing the updated reference factor with at least one current reference factors and depending on the result of the comparison, storing the updated reference factor as a current reference factor for use in a later measurement in the second measurement channel or keeping the current reference factors for use in a later measurement in the second measurement channel.

A sample testing system comprising: a transporting apparatus; a testing apparatus for obtain a sample and performing testing on the obtained sample; and a controller. The controller executes operation of: controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample rack in first direction, such that each sample container held in a sample rack is transported to a obtaining position on which the testing apparatus obtains a sample and then the sample rack is transported toward the second position; changing, when retesting of a sample contained in a sample container is necessary, the transporting direction from the first direction to second direction, and then controlling the transporting apparatus so as to transport the sample container accommodating the sample, for which retesting is necessary, to the obtaining position again. Sample testing method and a computer program product are also disclosed.

A sample rack used to hold a sample container containing a sample and to transport the held sample container, includes a container holding part configured to hold the sample container; and a mark indicating an amount of the sample stored in the sample container held by the container holding part.

A method of preparing a measurement specimen according to one or more embodiments may include removing red blood cells from a blood sample using a solid phase substance capable of binding to red blood cells and reacting the blood sample from which the red blood cell is removed with a reagent to immunostain cells. Removing red blood cells may include forming a complex comprising red blood cells and the solid phase substance; and separating the formed complex.

An apparatus comprising a magnetic assembly and methods for operating the apparatus are provided. The magnetic assembly may be used to manipulate molecules in a liquid preparation, for example to isolate or separate the molecules from the liquid. The magnetic assembly may be used to wash and/or isolate nucleic acid molecules of interest from a liquid preparation.