Abstract: The method of detecting and referencing two-dimensional position of a cassette in a drawer of compartments distributed according to columns and rows includes positioning at least one inserted cassette with the upper face turned towards the top within a compartment. Systematic detection of all compartments is performed automatically by verifying the presence of a cassette and by verifying the presence of a cassette within each compartment. The detection can be optical and include displacing an optical sight relatively with respect to the top of the drawer according to at least one trajectory passing through all compartments. When detecting a cassette within a compartment, the two-dimensional position is identified by coordinates, according to column and row. If an error occurs during a first pass, the detection and reading are displaced directly to the position where the error occurrence was noted and previously recorded, without undertaking a new detection of all compartments.

Abstract: The device for storing and ordering biological sampling blocks, each block being in the form of a housing provided with identification information on one surface thereof, includes: storage for at least one element as a horizontally-extending drawer for positioning the blocks vertically in columns and rows with the above-mentioned surface facing upward, and with a nesting device provided as regularly spaced projections or recesses, forming male and female parts on the base, in which the blocks can be inserted; and a device for referencing the position of each block within the storage. The device for referencing includes a device for reading the identification information of each block and for the computerized recording of the position. The method includes using this device.