Abstract: There is described a liquid dispensing system for the transfer of liquids from one location to another. The liquid dispensing system includes a pipette in combination with a sound source and a sound detector. The liquid dispensing system can be used in combination with an automated clinical analyzer and can be utilized to provide one or more of a number of functions including sensing the proximity of a pipette tip to a surface, determining the depth to which a pipette tip has penetrated into a volume of liquid, determining whether a pipette tip has been affixed to a pipette stem and determining the amount of liquid aspirated into a pipette tip.

Abstract: An automated analytical instrument for conducting assays for components of interest in fluid samples. The instrument includes a rotably mounted supply unit or segment adapted to hold a plurality of foil-sealed magazines containing assay modules, a testing system for assaying a fluid sample for a component of interest using an assay module, an assay module transport assembly for transporting an assay module from a magazine in the supply unit to the testing system, and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the automated analytical instrument.