Provided is a connection device to which an automatic analysis device can be connected from a plurality of directions, and a specimen inspection automating system provided with the connection device. A connection device (220) is provided with: a specimen carrier conveyance part (225) that conveys a specimen carrier (10) housing a specimen; and a carousel (221) that is configured so as to be able to hold a plurality of specimen carriers (10) carried in from the specimen carrier conveyance part (225) and that conveys the held specimen carriers (10) to specimen sampling positions (293a, 293b, 293c) for receiving a specimen sampling mechanism (305) from an external automatic analysis device (300) at a prescribed interval.

An apparatus is provided for scanning and decoding barcodes in a tray or other container containing multiple items, such as tissue samples, that are identified with discrete barcodes. The apparatus includes an imager, a lighting system, and a processor. The imager is configured to capture images within a selectable field of view. At least a portion of a bulk sample container, which is configured to carry a plurality of sample/tissue containers, is positioned within the field of view. The lighting system is configured to evenly light the field of view. The processor is configured to receive the captured images from the imager. The processor is further configured to analyze a first image of the captured images and to detect and decode the barcodes present in the first image.

A method for operating a laboratory system comprising instruments for processing samples and a control unit connected by a communication network is presented. The method comprises receiving and identifying a biological sample and retrieving an order list from a database. The list comprises a plurality of targets defining one or more processing steps to be carried out on the biological sample by one or more of the laboratory instruments. The method also comprises selecting a workflow strategy and retrieving workflow acceptance criterion corresponding to the workflow strategy. The control unit determines a sample workflow for processing the sample based on the workflow strategy and determines whether the sample workflow satisfies the workflow acceptance criterion. If the sample workflow does not satisfy the workflow acceptance criterion, workflow strategy and the workflow acceptance criterion is refined and the sample workflow is determined again until it satisfies the workflow acceptance criterion.

A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises recording time at which samples are first identified; retrieving an order list comprising test orders for the samples; retrieving a degradation limit to each test order; determining workflows for each sample; instructing the laboratory instruments to carry out the test orders according to the workflows. Determining the workflows comprises i) determining target instruments capable of carrying out the test orders; ii) determining a sequence/timing of the test orders; iii) calculating an estimated completion time for each test order; iv) determining a lead time for each sample and test order; v) prioritizing test orders if the lead time exceeds the degradation limit. Steps ii) to v) are repeated until the lead time doesn't exceed the degradation limit for any of the test orders; or until steps ii) to v) have been repeated for a number N of iterations.

The automatic analysis device 100 is provided with: a specimen dispensing mechanism 101 that dispenses subject blood plasma and/or normal blood plasma to be added to correct the coagulation time of the subject blood plasma, into a plurality of specimen containers 103; reaction containers 104 that contain the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma; a reagent dispensing mechanism 106 that dispenses a reagent into the reaction containers 104; and a detecting unit 113 which applies light from a light source 115 to the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma to which the reagent is added in the reaction containers 104, and which measures the coagulation time on the basis of the obtained scattered light and/or transmitted light.

An automatic analyzer including a function for operating control materials and its operation method are provided. The analyzer is configured to start sampling by giving priority to an entirety of control materials corresponding to all assay items required for measurement. The analyzer is also configured to automatically start sampling of a patient specimen based on a preliminarily set sampling timing after completion of sampling of the entirety of control materials. The analyzer is also configured to stop, when an abnormality is present in a measurement result of at least any one of control materials in the group of control materials, sampling of a patient specimen corresponding to a control material in which the abnormality is found, and notify a tester of the abnormality.

An automated analyzer is provided with one or more dispensing lines 109, 209 that are each for loading and unloading, at one end thereof, a sample rack 101 having placed therein one or more sample containers accommodating a sample for analysis and for conveying the sample rack back and forth from a dispensing position for dispensing the sample from the sample containers and sample rack removal parts 111, 211 that are provided adjacent to the other ends of the dispensing lines 109, 209 and provide and receive sample racks to and from the dispensing lines 109, 209. According to this configuration, it is possible to convey an urgent sample while suppressing device complexity, preventing cost from increasing, and also maintaining speed.

A method of operating an analytical laboratory is disclosed. The method comprises receiving and identifying sample containers and sorting them into a sample rack, retrieving an order list A comprising test orders corresponding to the sample containers within the sample rack, determining an optimal transportation route for the sample rack based on the order list A, a set of constraints and an objective function, the optimal transportation route being indicative of a list and/or sequence of laboratory instrument(s) required to complete the order list A, re-determining the optimal transportation route upon a change of the constraint(s) and/or of the objective function, transporting the sample rack to one or more of the laboratory instruments according to the optimal transportation route by the sample transportation system, and processing the biological samples according to the corresponding test orders by the target laboratory instrument(s).

The automatic analysis device 100 is provided with: a specimen dispensing mechanism 101 that dispenses subject blood plasma and/or normal blood plasma to be added to correct the coagulation time of the subject blood plasma, into a plurality of specimen containers 103; reaction containers 104 that contain the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma; a reagent dispensing mechanism 106 that dispenses a reagent into the reaction containers 104; and a detecting unit 113 which applies light from a light source 115 to the subject blood plasma and/or the normal blood plasma to which the reagent is added in the reaction containers 104, and which measures the coagulation time on the basis of the obtained scattered light and/or transmitted light.

A specimen treating and measuring system according to the present invention comprises: a treatment part having a plurality of lanes for carrying out parallel processing of a plurality of specimens, and mounting cartridges in each of the plurality of lanes; a cartridge storing unit storing a plurality of types of cartridge to be used for different processes corresponding to the plurality of specimens; a sample storing unit storing and conveying sample tubes containing the plurality of specimens; a pickup unit transferring each of the plurality of types of cartridge to each lane, and transferring each of the plurality of specimens from the sample tubes to each of the plurality of lanes; and a control unit controlling the transfer of the plurality of types of cartridge and the transfer of the plurality of specimens, performed by the pickup unit.