A method and system for pooling a plurality of specimens for processing, each specimen associated with a set of specimen characteristics. Each specimen is grouped based on the set of specimen characteristics, where the set of specimen characteristics includes a mass of each specimen. A set of flow cell characteristics for each flow cell included in a group of flow cells that includes at least one flow cell is identified. At least one pool is generated based on the set of specimen characteristics associated with each specimen included in the plurality of specimens and the set of flow cell characteristics for each flow cell included in the group of flow cells. Each pool is associated with a lane included in a flow cell and includes at least one specimen included in the plurality of specimens, and each lane is associated with a specimen type.

Disclosed are a dilution method and a dilution apparatus. The dilution method includes: adding a sample into a first reactor at a first station of a supply unit; transferring the first reactor to a fifth station of a transit apparatus, and receiving a second reactor at the first station of the supply unit; adding a diluent into the first reactor at the fifth station to obtain a diluted sample; uniformly mixing the diluted sample in the first reactor; transferring the first reactor from the transit apparatus to a dilution transport apparatus; transferring part of the diluted sample in the first reactor to the second reactor; transferring the second reactor to the fifth station of the transit apparatus, and continuing to add the diluent into the second reactor; and uniformly mixing substances in the second reactor. The dilution apparatus includes the supply unit and the transit apparatus.

A method to provide control samples for validating a diagnostic test within a laboratory system is presented. The laboratory system comprises an aliquoting device, a storage, a transport system, at least two analyzers, and a control unit. A total number of control sample aliquots and an aliquot volume for each control sample aliquot is determined based on a validation time schedule. A provided total control sample volume is aliquoted into the determined total number of control sample aliquots with the determined aliquot volumes. The generated control sample aliquots are transported to one or more of the at least two analyzers according to the validation time schedule.

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.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and systems for automated analysis of clinical fluid samples, such as urine, blood, or cerebral spinal fluid, where the number of fluid samples in increased or optimized without negatively impacting the accuracy of the analysis of a given fluid sample.

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.

A method for operating a laboratory system comprising instruments for processing samples and a control unit connected by a communication network is presented. The method comprises receiving and identifying a biological sample and retrieving an order list from a database. The list comprises a plurality of targets defining one or more processing steps to be carried out on the biological sample by one or more of the laboratory instruments. The method also comprises selecting a workflow strategy and retrieving workflow acceptance criterion corresponding to the workflow strategy. The control unit determines a sample workflow for processing the sample based on the workflow strategy and determines whether the sample workflow satisfies the workflow acceptance criterion. If the sample workflow does not satisfy the workflow acceptance criterion, workflow strategy and the workflow acceptance criterion is refined and the sample workflow is determined again until it satisfies the workflow acceptance criterion.

A scheduling system includes a receiving system and a transfer system. The receiving system receives a carrier carrying a biological sample. The transfer system transfers the sample carrier between biochemical reaction platform and detection platform, so that a sample in the sample carrier performs a biochemical reaction on the biochemical reaction platform, and a signal from the reacted sample can be detected on the detection platform. The present disclosure further provides a scheduling method, a scheduling control system, a biochemical analysis system and device, and a computer-readable storage medium. The present disclosure improves a degree of automation of sample carrier scheduling, and realizes simultaneous analysis of multiple sample carriers to improve a testing throughput.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for load balancing specimen containers between a plurality of automated detection apparatuses. The method may include receiving a specimen container at a container pick-up station in a first automated detection apparatus; determining loading ability, transfer status, and cell availability of the first automated detection apparatus and one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses; and transferring the specimen container from the first automated detection apparatus to a downstream automated detection apparatus when a first ratio of effective available cell count to effective capacity in the first automated detection apparatus is less than a second ratio of total effective available cell count to total effective capacity of a sum of the first automated detection apparatus and the one or more downstream automated detection apparatuses.

Systems and methods include an optimization-based load planning module for laboratory analyzers of bio-fluid samples. The optimization-based load planning module is executable on a computer server and is configured to optimize assay (lab test) assignments across a large number of laboratory analyzers based on one or more of the following user selected and weighted objectives: reduced turn-around-time, load balancing, efficient reagent usage, lower quality assurance costs, and/or improved system robustness. The optimization-based load planning module outputs a load plan comprising computer executable instructions configured to cause a system controller of a laboratory analyzer system to schedule and direct each requested test to be performed at one or more selected laboratory analyzers of the laboratory analyzer system in accordance with the user selected and weighted objectives. Other aspects are also described.