An automated laboratory system for processing biological samples in a batch type manner is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may receive assay instructions for biological samples processing among a plurality of devices. The devices may include a pre-analytical instrument and one or more analysis systems. The system may include an orchestration core application for determining an order of performance for the assays ordered for the samples.

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.

A process and system for handling biological tissue samples through work stations in which at least one work station includes a plurality of independent work locations. The handling system includes a main transport apparatus operatively connected to input and output stations and to the work stations for moving bidirectionally the samples among these; a plurality of secondary transport apparatuses operatively connected to the main transport apparatus and each respectively operatively connected to independent work locations of one of the work stations and configured to move bidirectionally the samples among these; and a control arrangement of the transport apparatuses for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work stations according to a work protocol associated with the samples and for managing routing and handling of the samples in the work locations according to a workload of the work locations and the work protocol associated with the samples.

A smart cluster control unit for water quality monitoring of water filtration systems which, in one embodiment, utilizes multiple sensors, including dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, temperature, oxidation reduction potential, and pH sensors. The sensors connect through the control unit which collects and analyzes the information, and to utilize models/relationships to extrapolate additional water quality information. The apparatus allows for the measurement of filter condition by testing the water quality before and after filtration to characterize filter effect and filter performance.

The invention has an object to provide an automatic analyzer and a control program that can shorten total analysis time. The automatic analyzer comprises: a sample rack that houses a sample; a sample dispensing mechanism that aspirates the sample from the sample rack and dispenses the sample into a reaction container; a plurality of detection units that detect a reaction liquid in the reaction container; and a control unit that controls the sample dispensing mechanism and the detection units. The control unit checks the measurement item specified for the sample and checks one of the detection units that is specified by the measurement item. When measurements specifying the same detection unit among the detection units are specified consecutively, the order of dispensing by the sample dispensing mechanism is changed so that measurements specifying different detection units are made consecutively.