Abstract: An automated sorting system provides the ability to receive specimens for any number of diagnostic test procedures and to selectively transfer specimens to designated ones of a plurality of specimen processors based upon criteria of the laboratory facility such as the particular laboratory to perform the requisite diagnostic test, timing aspects like a lab's hours of operation or delivery schedule, type of specimen (e.g. tissue, blood, serum, and the like) or other factor that may affect specimen throughput efficiency.

Abstract: An optically-readable data disc includes piracy-protection featuring noncontiguously sequenced data files in zones separated by head-derailing barriers. The disc includes a plurality of data-placement zones and read-blocking barriers constructed along the spiral track over gaps which separate the zones. Data files are recorded in each of the zones, and an address-information data file includes data which identifies addresses of data files to be sequentially read in noncontiguous zones. By arranging the data files noncontiguously with barriers in gaps between the data files, efforts to duplicate the master disc by attempting to read the data files contiguously are deterred and/or prevented.