A treatment device (1) for treating histological or cytological samples has a plurality of containers (6) for different treatment agents and a detection apparatus (2) for detecting a code which unequivocally identifies a type of a treatment agent or a type of a group of treatment agents from a package or replacement container of a treatment agent or group of treatment agents. The device furthermore has an evaluation apparatus (18) that, based on a detected code, ascertains which of the containers is or are to be replenished or replaced, and an indicating apparatus (4) which communicates to a user the ascertained container (6) or containers (6) that is or are to be replenished or replaced. The indicating apparatus may include a display (5) presenting a schematic image of the plurality of containers (6) with image(s) of each ascertained container being marked, and/or a light source (15) that illuminates each ascertained container.

A method of obtaining and analyzing at least one tissue sample includes forming, in a tissue container, first tracking data associated with the at least one tissue sample. Second tracking data is formed, in a transport container. The second tracking data is associated with the at least one tissue sample. The at least one tissue sample is placed in the tissue container. The first and second tracking data from the tissue container and the transport container are scanned with an electronic scanning system to ensure that the first and second tracking data are both associated with the removed tissue sample.

A system and methods for consumer use of a microarray product are provided. A method includes obtaining a microarray product and contacting the microarray product with a sample and performing bioassays. The method further includes obtaining a decoding information data package from a manufacturer of the microarray product for correlating bioassay signals from the bioassays with respective analytes, wherein the microarray product is obtained at a first time different and discrete from a second time that the decoding information data package is obtained.

A laboratory system for a laboratory automation system is presented. The laboratory system comprises a sample container carrier. The sample container carrier is configured to carry a laboratory sample container and comprises a removal detector. The removal detector is configured to interact with the laboratory sample container to detect a removal of the carried laboratory sample container from the sample container carrier. Furthermore, the laboratory system is configured to determine based on the detected removal that a before valid logic assignment of the sample container carrier to the carried laboratory sample container is invalid.

A two-dimensional code is attached to a location of a reagent storage unit which is visually recognizable from the outside, and a coordinate position of the two-dimensional code in a coordinate system of the two-dimensional code and coordinate information of an installation position of a reagent bottle are held. After that, an image of the two-dimensional code is captured by a portable terminal so that a coordinate system of an image capture unit of the portable terminal is converted into the coordinate system of the two-dimensional code using AR technology. The coordinate information of the installation position of the reagent bottle in the coordinate system of the two-dimensional code is regarded as positional coordinates in the captured image on the basis of the conversion, thereby ascertaining the position of the reagent bottle on the captured image and displaying the ascertained position on a display unit.

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.

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.

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.

Tissue sample cassettes for receiving tissue samples include an upper tray including compartments separated by dividers, a lower tray coupled to the upper tray and having a central recess, and an absorbent material located in the recess of the lower tray. Related systems and methods for automated gross processing of tissue samples are also disclosed.

A fluid handling unit is configured for handling a fluid contained or to be contained in a receptacle bearing a marking. The unit includes a needle having an elongated shape with an open end and for aspirating the fluid from the receptacle and/or dispensing the fluid into the receptacle. The fluid handling unit further includes a needle drive for positioning the needle with respect to the receptacle, a detection unit for detecting the marking of the receptacle, and a control unit. The control unit is configured for analyzing the detected marking for determining at least one feature that is part of the marking or the marking itself, determining a target position based on the detected at least one feature, and operating the needle drive to position the open end of the needle relative to the determined target position.