The invention relates to a method for controlling a laboratory system comprising at least partially networked laboratory devices for processing samples by means of laboratory processes performed by the laboratory devices, the method comprising:-a process detection step (S1), in which samples to be processed and/or laboratory processes to be performed with the samples are detected via a detection unit (05);-a status determination step (S3), in which a response of networked laboratory devices regarding the current and/or future status and/or the termination of sample processing is obtained by the laboratory devices;-a task update step (S4), in which a task list, at least for the processing of certain samples by means of a certain laboratory device or a plurality of certain laboratory devices in a certain order, is created or updated by a task generation unit at least from the detected samples and/or laboratory processes and/or on the basis of the status of the laboratory devices, in particular by considering predefined prioritisation rules and/or weighting factors;-a management step (S5), in which management instructions are generated and output by a management system on the basis of the current task list, by means of which management instructions detected samples are brought at least indirectly to at least one laboratory device; and-a transport means control step (S6), in which transport means control instructions are generated by a transport means control system on the basis of control instructions and are transmitted to at least one transport means configured as a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle (04)) at least for the transport of detected samples.

Disclosed are high-throughput vessel supply systems and methods of supplying sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for supplying a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.

A storage and incubation device is provided. The device is configured to accommodate a plurality of assay chips, each assay chip including a unique identifier. The device comprises: a plurality of berths each sized to accommodate an assay chip; a communication module configured to receive information about the identifier of each assay chip; a clock timer configured to monitor the timing of the assay within each assay chip; a completion module to manage each assay chip when the assay is complete.

Disclosed are high-throughput vessel sorting systems and methods of sorting sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for sorting a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample is disclosed.

Disclosed are high-throughput vessel receiving systems and methods of receiving sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for receiving a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample, and systems and apparatus for guiding, reorienting, collecting, and transporting a plurality of articles, including vessels, are disclosed.

Disclosed are high-throughput vessel receiving systems and methods of receiving sample vessels, such as samples stored in test tubes. A system for receiving a plurality of individual vessels that each contains a sample, and systems and apparatus for guiding, reorienting, collecting, and transporting a plurality of articles, including vessels, are disclosed.

An inspection result of a specimen inspection automation system can be reported within a prescribed time, even if a large number of urgent specimens have been input. An instruction reception unit receives turn around time (TAT) information and a discharge instruction. The necessity of discharging a specimen for which the instruction was issued with the discharge instruction is determined and a discharge instruction unit creates a discharge destination and a conveyance route to the discharge destination for the specimen. A discharge mechanism discharges the specimen for which the instruction was issued. Even for a specimen which is caused to wait for processing due to the occurrence of specimen congestion and for which there is a risk of an inspection result reporting delay, an inspection result can be reported within a prescribed time by switching from automatic processing by the system to manual processing by an operator.

The automatic analysis system comprises an analysis device which introduces sample containers which have been placed at a predetermined placement location into an analysis unit to perform analysis on the samples, and a management device which has a function of transmitting identification information for a sample to said analysis device when an analysis request has been made for that sample. The analysis device comprises a sample information management unit which retains sample identification information transmitted from the management device as analysis-requested sample information and retains identification information for samples which have been analyzed by the analysis unit as analysis-completed sample information.

A method of operating a laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises container carriers, a gateway having a network interface, and transport modules. Each module comprises a transport surface and are adjacent in a row-direction and column-direction to form a transport surface. The module comprises a driver arranged below the transport surface to move container carriers on the transport surface and left, right, upper and lower network interfaces. The left and right network interfaces connect modules in rows and the upper and lower network interfaces connect modules in columns. The network interface of the gateway is connected to a network interface of a first module. The method comprises sending an explore command from the gateway to the first module, propagating an initialization command from the first module to the remaining modules, storing addresses within the modules, and using the addresses by the gateway to address the modules.

A specimen conveyance system and a specimen conveyance method are realized, in which a conveyance route of a specimen can be reset even when information about an additional request is received after loading of the specimen. When an abnormality occurs in the analysis result, a notification of the abnormality is sent to an operation control unit and a host computer through a communication cable and information about the additional request for changing the conveyance route is created. After the specimen is conveyed from the analysis device to the transfer machine, information about the additional request is checked at a destination determination point, and the conveyance route is changed according to the additional request. Accordingly, the specimen container can be conveyed to the appropriate analysis device without being returned to the storage unit once, and thus the specimen analysis time can be reduced.