A method and a device for transferring tubes between a laboratory automation system and a sample archiving system are presented. When transferring a tube from the laboratory automation system to the sample archiving system, a tube carrier carrying a tube is conveyed to a first take-over module via a first conveyor. At the first take-over module, the tube is removed from the tube carrier and the empty tube carrier is conveyed away from the first take-over module via a second conveyor. When transferring a tube from the sample archiving system to the laboratory automation system, an empty tube carrier is conveyed to a second take-over module via a third conveyor. At the second take-over module, at least one tube is inserted into the tube carrier and the tube carrier carrying the at least one tube is conveyed away from the second take-over module via a fourth conveyor.

A switch for a conveying line for transporting a laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier is presented. The conveying line comprises a first line portion and a second line portion. The switch comprises a curved first guiding surface and a second guiding surface. The switch is moveable between a first position, in which the laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier is transportable along the curved first guiding surface from the first line portion to the second line portion, and a second position, in which the laboratory diagnostic vessel carrier is further transportable along the second guiding surface on the first line portion. A switch assembly and a conveying line are also disclosed.

A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises sample container carriers comprising a magnetically active device and configured to carry a sample container, interconnected transport plane modules configured to support carriers, and electro-magnetic actuators arranged in rows and columns below each transport plane module and configured to move a carrier on top of the transport plane modules by applying a magnetic force to the carrier. The method comprises assigning transport plane modules to a route category. At least two traffic lanes are formed on the route categorized transport plane module. The carriers are moved within each traffic lane in a transport direction. The transport directions are opposite to each other. The method also comprises assigning another transport plane module to a waypoint category. A change from one transport direction to the opposite transport direction is possible on the waypoint categorized transport plane module.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes and a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube. The device also comprises a scheduler arranged to specify an order of sampling from the tubes independently of the order in which the tubes are positioned in the respective racks and the order in which the racks are inserted into the device. The scheduler is arranged to control the agitator and the sampling apparatus to process the tubes in accordance with the sampling order.

A device for agitating and collecting biological liquid samples comprises an agitator of racks of tubes, a sampling apparatus capable of collecting a biological liquid sample in a tube, and a changer capable of gripping a tube on a rack received in the agitator and moving it to the sampling apparatus. The agitator is capable of agitating at least three racks simultaneously, and the device also comprises a scheduler capable of determining destination data for a tube and destination data for the rack which receives this tube, and of determining for each tube a final location based on the destination data of the tube and the destination data of the racks received in the device, which final location designates a rack, received on the agitator and a position on this rack and can be different from the location of the tube when the rack that received it has been introduced into the device, and arranged to control the changer in order to grip a tube, present it to the sampling apparatus and replace it after sampling at the final location.

Methods and systems for processing samples in an analyzer utilizes a track system with a plurality of track portions. A queue of samples for processing can be handled on a first portion, while priority samples may be handled on another portion. An instrument in a module may process samples in queues and priority samples. The instrument may process priority samples while a queue of samples remains on the first portion and resumes processing the queue of samples along the first portion upon completion of processing the priority sample.

An apparatus for moving and testing biological samples is described, comprising a laboratory automation system for moving transporting devices of single test tubes containing biological material samples, a testing module of said biological material samples contained in said test tubes adapted to receive linear containers of a plurality of test tubes arranged in a series of consecutive housings along a line, and an interconnection module between said laboratory automation system and said testing module.

An automatic analyzer capable of avoiding carry-over between samples, and a sample dispensing method, are provided. To that end, an automatic analyzer (1) for performing analysis of both assay menu with a high carry-over avoiding level and assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level, includes: a first sample dispensing apparatus (6) loaded with a disposable tip (60a) for sample dispensing for assay menu with a high carry-over avoiding level, and for subdividing and dispensing a sample for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level; an aliquot container (9) for subdividing and containing a sample for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level, subdivided and dispensed by the first sample dispensing apparatus (6); and a second sample dispensing apparatus (5) loaded with a reusable probe (50), for sample dispensing for assay menu with a low carry-over avoiding level.

A method and a device for transferring tubes between a laboratory automation system and a sample archiving system are presented. When transferring a tube from the laboratory automation system to the sample archiving system, a tube carrier carrying a tube is conveyed to a first take-over module via a first conveyor. At the first take-over module, the tube is removed from the tube carrier and the empty tube carrier is conveyed away from the first take-over module via a second conveyor. When transferring a tube from the sample archiving system to the laboratory automation system, an empty tube carrier is conveyed to a second take-over module via a third conveyor. At the second take-over module, at least one tube is inserted into the tube carrier and the tube carrier carrying the at least one tube is conveyed away from the second take-over module via a fourth conveyor.

The present invention addresses the problem of inefficient utilization in a specimen pre-processing connection system due to integrated operation of a portion for connecting with pre-processing and a portion for connecting with an automated analysis system. The specific structure of the present invention contributes to providing a highly efficient system by causing a function for connecting to pre-processing and receiving a specimen from a pre-processing system and a function for connecting to an automated analysis system and transferring a specimen to the automated analysis system to each operate independently in a single unit, so that the functions do not affect each other during reset processing, and making it possible for either function to operate alone.