The present invention provides improved methods, facilities and systems for parallel processing of biological cellular samples in an efficient and scalable manner. The invention enables parallel processing of biological cellular samples, such as patient samples, in a space and time efficient fashion. The methods, facilities and systems of the invention find particular utility in processing patient samples for use in cell therapy.

Biological reagent carrier devices and methods are disclosed, which employ RFID techniques to associate information with biological reagents.

A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a memory array including a plurality of sections, and an inter-hamming difference analyzer. Each section includes a plurality of bits, and the numbers of the bits of the plurality of sections are the same. The inter-hamming difference analyzer is configured to obtain contents of the plurality of sections operating in different operating conditions, to obtain a plurality of inter-hamming differences of the contents, and to provide a maximum inter-hamming difference and a minimum inter-hamming difference among the inter-hamming differences of the plurality of sections. The inter-hamming difference represents the number of unlike bits between the content of one section corresponding to a first operating condition and the content of another section corresponding to a second operating condition that is different from the first operating condition.

A system for performing a molecular analysis workflow includes a reaction holder or a reaction substrate, such as a multi-well reaction plate, with a reaction holder/substrate RFID tag, and/or a reagent container with a reagent container RFID tag, and an instrument and/or device that includes an RFID reader/writer operable to read and/or write information to and from the reaction holder/substrate RFID tag and/or the reagent container RFID tag. The reaction holder/substrate RFID tag and the reagent container RFID tag can be utilized separately or together to send and receive and store information, for example, for a workflow of a molecular analysis, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Provided are a PCR tube that can reliably perform management of a sample, and an RFID sample management system and an RFID sample management method using the PCR tube. The PCR tube 40 includes a tube body 42 that has an opening at one end and has a collar part 46 around the opening, and a lid part 44 that is attachably and detachably mounted on the tube body 42 and seals the opening of the tube body 42 at the time of the mounting. An RFID tag 48 having a passive antenna built therein is provided at the collar part 46 or the lid part 44, and the antenna has directivity in a direction opposite to a bottom face 42a of the tube body 42.

An automated analyzer is described. The analyzer includes a housing, a consumable insert, a consumable support device, a reader and a control system. The housing has a sample port. The consumable insert has a consumable insert type and an identification component and receives a consumable. The consumable support device is disposed within the sample port, supports the consumable insert, and is moveable to a testing position within the internal cavity. The consumable support device has an identifier component configured to identify the consumable insert type based in part on the identification component and configured to output a first data signal indicative of the consumable insert type. The reader outputs a second data signal indicative of a reading from the consumable. The control system receives the first and second data signals, and interprets the second data signal based on the first data signal.

A sample analyzing method of a sample analyzer for measuring samples, using a reagent container which comprises a writable and readable storage medium, the sample analyzing method including: storing information regarding a remaining amount of a reagent in the reagent container to a memory of the analyzer read from the storage medium; updating the information in the memory in response to an aspiration of the reagent; and writing updated information in the memory to the storage medium when an aspiration of the reagent in a plurality of measurements is completed. The writing of the updated information is postponed until the aspiration of the reagent in the plurality of measurements is completed.

A specimen collection assembly and method for detecting the same are disclosed. The specimen collection assembly includes a specimen collection container having an open top end, a closed bottom end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior adapted to receive a biological specimen. The specimen collection container also includes first indicia containing information. The assembly further includes a cap having thereon second indicia, the cap being removably engagable with the open top end of the container. The second indicia contains the same information as the first indicia.

Disclosed is a method of operating a laboratory instrument (100, 1000), wherein the laboratory instrument is configured for receiving a sample rack (112) with one or more sample tubes (126), wherein the laboratory instrument comprises a robotic head (106) for bringing a pipettor (108) into fluidic contact with the one or more sample tubes when the sample rack is in an operating position (122), wherein the robotic head is configured for loading the sample rack into the operating position, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving (200) the sample rack by the laboratory instrument; and loading (202) the rack into the operating position using the robotic head.

A control device for wireless tags which are respectively attached to a plurality of articles supported respectively on a plurality of support portions and respectively store identification numbers of the articles, includes positioning portions that are respectively provided corresponding to the plurality of support portions, and input devices that are positioned respectively in the positioning portions. The input devices are individually controllable and each is configured to switch a flag status of one of the wireless tags.