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.

A dashboard interface may be displayed on a lab instrument to provide aggregate status information from a plurality of other interfaces organized into a single interface. The aggregate status information may be viewed by a nearby user of the lab instrument, and selecting portions of the information via a touchscreen display will navigate directly to a subsequent interface that may be used to view additional information or make configuration changes relating to the selected information. The dashboard may be used as a screensaver on a lab instrument when the instrument is not in use, or may be navigated to by an active user of a lab instrument, or both.

A laboratory system for analyzing biological samples is presented. The laboratory system comprises a plurality of laboratory instruments configured to receive and identify biological samples and to query a laboratory control unit for a processing order indicative of processing steps to be carried out on the biological sample. The laboratory control unit is configured to validate sequence of queries from the plurality of laboratory instruments against a valid query sequence pattern.

The device for handling samples that are located in sample wells (2) of a sample vessel (1) and contain magnetic particles comprises a sample handling area (8) where the samples can be processed, a plurality of probes (3) that are insertable into the sample wells (2) for removing magnetic particles from the sample wells (2) or for inserting magnetic particles into the sample wells (2), and a display (13) which is located underneath the sample handling area (8).

An adhesive-backed label having a plurality of adhesive-backed label portions, each of the adhesive-backed label portions comprising an instance of an identifying indicia, whereby one or more of the plurality of adhesive-backed label portions is applied to at least one collected sample so that the identifying indicia on the adhesive-backed label portion on the collected sample corresponds to the identifying indicia on at least one of the adhesive-backed label portions that remains on the adhesive-backed label, at least one of the adhesive-backed label portions on the adhesive-backed label also comprising a field configured to receive additional identifying indicia.

A specimen processing system includes a plate for supporting a specimen system, wherein the specimen system includes a container and a specimen contained therein. The specimen processing system further includes a camera disposed above the plate and configured to generate images of the specimen system, a light source disposed beneath the plate for radiating light towards the plate, a light stop for blocking a portion of the light from reaching the specimen system to produce darkfield illumination of the specimen at the camera, and one or more processors electronically coupled to the camera and configured to track a position of the specimen within the specimen container during a specimen processing protocol based on the images.

A method of handling laboratory sample containers by a laboratory sample container handling system is presented. The method comprises providing a laboratory sample container comprising an assigned ID information to the laboratory sample container handling system, reading the assigned ID information, checking, if the read ID information is unique or not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, and if the read ID information (2) is not unique within the laboratory sample container handling system, assigning a new ID information to the laboratory sample container. The new ID information is unique within the laboratory sample container handling system.

A sample measurement system includes: a measurement unit that measures a sample stored in a sample container; a transport unit that transports a rack capable of holding sample containers via the measurement unit; a first transport-in/transport-out unit and a second transport-in/transport-out unit in each of which racks can be set alongside in a first direction, and that send the set racks to be transported to the measurement unit and receive the racks transported from the measurement unit; and a controller that controls the first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit so that the racks are sequentially sent from the first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit. The first transport-in/transport-out unit and the second transport-in/transport-out unit are disposed alongside in a second direction crossing the first direction, and each send the racks from one side in the first direction, and receive the racks from the other side.

A sample measurement system may include: a measurement unit that measures a sample in a sample container; a transport unit that transports a rack that can hold sample containers, via the measurement unit; a collection unit that is detachably provided with a tray in which racks can be set, and that collects the rack transported from the measurement unit by the transport unit and sets the rack in the tray; a storage that stores sample identification information, rack identification information, and tray identification information in association with each other; an input part; a display part; and a controller that, in a condition in which the input part receives input of the sample identification information or the rack identification information, causes the display part to display the tray identification information stored in association with the inputted sample identification information or the inputted rack identification information.

A container management apparatus is provided with: a container storing unit that can store a plurality of tubular sample containers one by one separately, each of the plurality of tubular sample containers being provided with a two-dimensional bar code on the bottom surface thereof, and container-identifying information being coded in the two-dimensional bar code; and a reading unit that reads the two-dimensional bar code of each of the tubular sample containers stored in the container storing unit and retrieves the container identifying information. The reading unit has, in correspondence with each storing position, an LED that irradiates the two-dimensional bar code with irradiation light and an imaging unit that receives reflection light from the two-dimensional bar code.