The apparatus has a containing body with a flat upper functional floor for containing receptacles of reagents, diluents and samples, as well as housings for gel cards and incubators for the same; a lower floor containing receptacles for washing liquids and the collection of waste and cards and for housing the fluid control and electronic control system; a series of longitudinal and transverse guides associated with the upper part of the apparatus, suitable for carrying in suspension the moving heads of the apparatus, the heads being movable on the transverse guides; two heads, respectively for perforation and pipetting and for the transport of gel cards; two centrifuges and a gel card reader; and a folding touch screen providing information and control.

A sample container of patient sample material includes a sample container barcode containing patient-identifying information. The sample container barcode on the sample container is read, and a tubular reaction vessel is provided to a printer module configured to print a barcode directly onto a surface of the tubular reaction vessel. The printer module prints a barcode on the surface of the reaction vessel by a thermal printing method, and the barcode printed onto the reaction vessel is associated with the sample container barcode.

Described is a method for loading a sample-vial carrier into a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system. The method includes placing a sample-vial carrier onto a transfer drawer having first and second drawer magnets. The transfer drawer is transported into a sample tray of a sample manager using a drawer drive system of a transfer drawer receiving apparatus. The drawer drive system has a drive magnet that is engaged with the first drawer magnet during transport. The transport of the transfer drawer is terminated when the second drawer magnet is engaged with a sample tray magnet on the sample tray. The sample tray is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of transport of the transfer drawer to provide a shear force to disengage the first drawer magnet from the drive magnet.

An automated analyzer with an on-board fridge for long-term cooling of reagents, and a method for isolating and analyzing an analyte comprising long-term cooling of reagents.

An automated analyzer with an on-board fridge for long-term cooling of reagents, and a method for isolating and analyzing an analyte comprising long-term cooling of reagents.

A transport tool for transporting a laboratory article using a pipette of a pipetting system includes at least one plug-in sleeve, which is implemented for the releasable plugging-in of a receptacle cone of a pipette, and which can be plugged onto the receptacle cone of the pipette instead of a disposable pipette tip. In addition, the transport tool comprises an article holder having at least one holding part, which is implemented to form a support connection with a laboratory article. A connecting part connects the article holder to the plug-in sleeve, so that holding axes of the at least one article holder and the sleeve axis of the plug-in sleeve are arranged coaxially or axially-parallel to one another. The laboratory article has at least one flat, at least approximately horizontal surface. The article holder has a holding plate or a holding sleeve.

A sample analyzer is provided that does not require a plurality of reagent containers containing the same type of reagent to be connected, that can continue measurement even when a reagent container becomes empty, and that allows the timing of replacement of the reagent container to be recognized suitably. A reagent storage section is provided that is connected to a reagent container containing a reagent through a fluid channel and that stores the reagent transferred from the reagent container. A message for prompting replacement of the reagent container is outputted when it is detected that the remaining amount in the reagent container is a predetermined amount or less. A message for prompting to suspend sample measurement in the measurement section is outputted when it is detected that the remaining amount in the reagent storage section is a predetermined amount or less.

In an automated analyzing apparatus, problems arise when a reagent container is carried in during analysis, since it is necessary to stop all accesses of mechanisms etc. to a location of the apparatus where the reagent container is placed and, in a situation in which measurements have been already started, it is impossible to carry the reagent container after waiting about several minutes. To address the problems, when a remaining amount of a reagent corresponding to a predetermined item becomes equal to or less than a first threshold value, a pause cycle of reagent suction is generated in which the reagent dispensing mechanism does not suction the reagent from inside of a reagent container of a reagent disc at regular intervals, and a reagent container containing the same kind of reagent in the reagent disc by the reagent container carrying mechanism is automatically carried in the pause cycle.

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.

Apparatus for automatically filling wells of plates with biological material from a laboratory automation system for conveying biological samples or reactants contained in test tubes, and automatically routing said plates towards processing modules of said biological material. Said apparatus contains a platform interposed between said laboratory automation system and a handling system of consumable products, which includes a horizontal crosspiece whereon a first robot and a second robot are sliding mounted, the first robot being provided with gripping means of pipettes adapted to collect and release the biological material or the reactant, and a second robot being provided with gripping means of consumable products.