Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A storage module for a laboratory automation system, a method of operating a laboratory automation system, and a laboratory automation system are presented. Items used by laboratory stations are stored centrally in a storage module and can be transported to the laboratory stations using a laboratory sample distribution system.

Abstract: A method for supplying consumable items to an automated sample analyzer is presented. The automated analyzer comprises a consumable repository including two or more storage areas. Each area is configured to store a plurality of consumable items. The method comprises receiving one or more orders for analytical tests to be carried out by the analyzer, reserving consumable items corresponding to one or more sets of consumable items required for the analytical tests in a first area, switching to a second area for reserving consumable items in response to determining that a predetermined consumable item in the first area has been reserved, supplying the reserved consumable items for use in the one or more analytical tests and indicating that the first area can be replenished in response to determining that a particular consumable item of the first storage area has been used.

Abstract: Embodiments related to analysis system for analyzing biological samples, a data processing method and a computer program product are disclosed. An analyzer is coupled to an control computer and has a control application program which receives control data, sends analytical data, and generates a host screen image. A remote computer is coupled to the control computer, and provides a data manager application program which sends the control data to the control computer, receives the analytical data, and generates a first window. A remote application program interoperates with a host application program which generates a second window containing a duplicate of the host screen image. A user interface program displays a first display window and a second display window, the first display window being one of the first and second windows and the second display window containing a screen shot of the other one of the first and second windows.

Abstract: Embodiments related to analysis system for analyzing biological samples, a data processing method and a computer program product are disclosed. An analyzer is coupled to an control computer and has a control application program which receives control data, sends analytical data, and generates a host screen image. A remote computer is coupled to the control computer, and provides a data manager application program which sends the control data to the control computer, receives the analytical data, and generates a first window. A remote application program interoperates with a host application program which generates a second window containing a duplicate of the host screen image. A user interface program displays a first display window and a second display window, the first display window being one of the first and second windows and the second display window containing a screen shot of the other one of the first and second windows.