A carrier strip having a plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens may have a backing, a cover coupled to the backing along side regions located along opposite longitudinal edges of the carrier strip and along lateral intermediate regions positioned between each of the plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens. The carrier strip may be configured to individually retain each of the anatomical pathology specimens in one of the plurality of areas for retaining anatomical pathology specimens between the backing and the cover. Diagnostic studies of anatomical pathology specimens may be facilitated by distributing a digital copy of an image of the specimen may be to a pathologist. A diagnosis may be received from the pathologist based on the digital image of the specimen.

In blood clotting tests, a reagent is mixed with a sample and a blood clotting reaction is initiated. The time from initiation until the reaction is complete is not fixed. As a result, during analysis, whether or not the blood clotting reaction is complete is judged at fixed intervals based on the measured amount of scattered light. Therefore, time is wasted and analysis cannot be conducted efficiently if the blood clotting reaction reaches completion more quickly than predicted. Accordingly, the automatic analysis device and method takes this problem into consideration. When information about a plurality of samples is entered, the device compares the predicted reaction time length of each requested analysis item for the plurality of samples, determines an analysis sequence to carry out the analysis for each item in order from longest to shortest, and carries out the analysis on the basis of the determined analysis sequence.

A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. Also provided herein is a method of using the sample plate and kits comprising the sample plate.

A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. Also provided herein is a method of using the sample plate and kits comprising the sample plate.

A sample analyzer is configured to execute a liquid surface detection of detecting a liquid surface in a container by a liquid surface detector prior to a lowering operation of an aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid if a liquid level information is not stored in a memory, and store a liquid level information of a container in the memory based on a detection result by the liquid surface detection. Also, a liquid aspirating method by a sample analyzer.

A device (1) for storing reagent containers on several planes for an automatic analysis appliance. The device (1) comprises a pipetting device comprising a pipetting needle (2) for pipetting of reagents, a first device (3) comprising a plurality of first receiving positions (5) for reagent containers, wherein the first receiving positions (5) are arranged on a first plane, and a second device (4) comprising a plurality of second receiving positions (6) for reagent containers, wherein the second receiving positions (6) are arranged on a second plane.

A liquid is efficiently suctioned and discharged from and to a container formed by a plurality of aligned storing portions for storing the liquid, using a plurality of nozzles. Provided is a liquid suction/discharge device including a container support device for supporting a culture container formed by a plurality of aligned storing portions, and a nozzle support device for supporting a plurality of nozzles in a state in which distal ends of the nozzles are directed downward. The nozzle support device includes a nozzle support member that swingably supports the plurality of nozzles using prescribed parts as support points, and the liquid suction/discharge device further includes a nozzle inclination device for causing each of the nozzles to be inclined with respect to the nozzle support member.

A pipetting device (100) for an apparatus for processing a sample or reagent is disclosed. The pipetting device (100) comprises a coupling mechanism, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least a first coupling unit (104) adapted to be coupled to a first pipetting tip (108) and a second coupling unit (106) adapted to be coupled to a second pipetting tip (110), and a selection element (138) for selectively allowing a coupling of the first coupling unit (104) to or releasing the first coupling unit (104) from the first pipetting tip (108) and for selectively allowing a coupling of the second coupling unit to or releasing the second coupling unit (106) from the second pipetting tip (110). The selection element (138) is mechanically coupled to the first coupling unit (104) and the second coupling unit (106). Further, an apparatus (198) for processing a sample or reagent and a method for pipetting a sample or reagent are disclosed.

A device for storing reagent containers on several planes for an automatic analysis appliance comprises a pipetting device comprising a pipetting needle for pipetting of reagents, a first device comprising a plurality of first receiving positions for reagent containers, wherein the first receiving positions are arranged on a first plane, and a second device comprising a plurality of second receiving positions for reagent containers, wherein the second receiving positions are arranged on a second plane.

The present invention is provided with: an automatic analysis device 200 for performing an analysis process to analyze a specimen that is to be analyzed; a specimen pre-processing module 100 for performing pre-processing to cause the specimen to enter a state in which the analysis process can be performed; a main conveyance line 161 for conveying a specimen container carrier 10 which accommodates the specimen that is to be analyzed and in which at least one specimen container can be mounted; and annular conveyance lines 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 411 that are disposed adjacent to the main conveyance line 161 and that are moreover disposed so as to be capable of transferring the specimen container carrier 10 to and from the main conveyance line 161, the annular conveyance lines 111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 411 being capable of circulating and conveying the specimen container carrier 10 separately without the use of another conveyance line (e.g., a return line 162). This makes it possible to maintain flexibility in conveyance of specimens while suppressing increases in device surface area.