Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods transfer liquid sample from a first container having a cap with a sample collection swab coupled thereto to a second container having a cap without such sample collection swap coupled thereto. Other systems and corresponding methods remove a cap having no sample collection swab coupled thereto from a first container and remove a cap having a sample collection swab coupled thereto from a second container containing a liquid sample. The cap with the sample collection swab coupled thereto is then secured to the first container and the cap having no sample collection swap coupled thereto is then secured to the second container.

Abstract: Providing a fluid to an instrument comprises supporting a sample receptacle on a first carrier, transporting the first carrier on a conveyor adjacent a plurality of modules including at least one instrument, stopping the first carrier at the instrument, transporting the sample receptacle to a pick-up position of the instrument, transporting the sample receptacle from the pick-up position to a pipetting station within the instrument, aspirating fluid within the sample receptacle and transferring the aspirated fluid to a reaction receptacle, after aspirating fluid from the sample receptacle, transporting the sample receptacle to the pick-up position, transporting the sample receptacle from the pick-up position to a second carrier the conveyor, in the instrument, performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of an analyte in the aspirated fluid, and transporting the second carrier on the conveyor to one or more of the plurality of modules other than the analytical instrument.

Abstract: Automated systems determine a level of fluid relative to a rim of a sample receptacle defining an open top of the sample receptacle. The systems utilize a distance sensor to measure the distance between the rim of the sample receptacle and the surface of a fluid sample contained in the sample receptacle, where at least one of the sensor and the sample receptacle is moved relative to the other to enable the sensor to obtain a sequence of discrete measurements of distances between the sensor and the rim of the sample receptacle and between the sensor and the surface of the fluid sample. A controller processes an output signal from the sensor to determine a level of the fluid relative to the rim of the sample receptacle. The derivative of the sequence of discrete measurements may be used to identify the rim and the fluid surface in the output signal.

Abstract: Automated systems and methods determine a level of fluid relative to a rim of a sample receptacle defining an open top of the sample receptacle. The systems and methods utilize a distance sensor to measure the distance between the rim of the sample receptacle and the surface of a fluid sample contained in the sample receptacle, where at least one of the sensor and the sample receptacle is moved relative to the other to enable the sensor to obtain a sequence of discrete measurements of distances between the sensor and the rim of the sample receptacle and between the sensor and the surface of the fluid sample. A controller processes an output signal from the sensor to determine a level of the fluid relative to the rim of the sample receptacle. The derivative of the sequence of discrete measurements may be used to identify the rim and the fluid surface in the output signal.

Abstract: Automated systems and methods determine a level of fluid relative to a rim of a sample receptacle defining an open top of the sample receptacle. The systems and methods utilize a distance sensor to measure the distance between the rim of the sample receptacle and the surface of a fluid sample contained in the sample receptacle, where at least one of the sensor and the sample receptacle is moved relative to the other to enable the sensor to obtain a sequence of discrete measurements of distances between the sensor and the rim of the sample receptacle and between the sensor and the surface of the fluid sample. A controller processes an output signal from the sensor to determine a level of the fluid relative to the rim of the sample receptacle. The derivative of the sequence of discrete measurements may be used to identify the rim and the fluid surface in the output signal.

Abstract: A receptacle clamping mechanism of an instrument includes a carriage configured to move between a first location and a second location of the instrument. The carriage includes one or more support members configured to removably support a receptacle therebetween and a pair of opposed support pads configured to apply a clamping force to a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location and release the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location. The clamping mechanism further includes a sensing system configured to determine whether a receptacle is supported by the carriage.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument includes a carriage, a puck supported by the carriage, and a first shelf. The carriage is configured to move from a first location of the instrument to a second location of the instrument. The puck is configured to removably support a receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the receptacle is substantially coincident with a vertical axis of the puck. The first shelf comprises (a) a base extending substantially transverse to the vertical axis of the puck and (b) a first opening defined by the base, and when the carriage is positioned at the second location, the longitudinal axis of a receptacle seated in the puck extends through the first opening.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle in a carriage, activating an electric motor to move the carriage between a first location and a second location of the instrument while the receptacle is supported by the carriage, applying a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first location to the second location, and releasing the clamping force from the receptacle as the carriage moves from the second location to the first location.

Abstract: A sample receptacle can be used for ordering assays to be performed by an automatic sample processing instrument. The sample receptacle can include a body defining a chamber for containing a sample and a label. The label can include discrete areas configured to be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. The label can also include assay-identifying indicia indicating the respective assay associated with a respective discrete area. A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having one or more assay order states can include automatically determining assay order states of the discrete areas and performing an assay on the sample, using the automatic sample processing instruments, based on the determined assay order states of the discrete areas.

Abstract: A method of processing a sample in a receptacle having one or more assay order states can include automatically determining assay order states of the discrete areas and performing an assay on the sample, using the automatic sample processing instruments, based on the determined assay order states of the discrete areas. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. Each discrete area can be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. The method includes a step of automatically determining assay order states of the plurality of discrete areas by determining whether each discrete area has been altered from the first assay order state to the second assay order state.

Abstract: A sample receptacle can be used for ordering assays to be performed by an automatic sample processing instrument. The sample receptacle can include a body defining a chamber for containing a sample and a label. The label can include discrete areas configured to be altered from a first assay order state to a second assay order state. Each discrete area has a known association with a different assay. The label can also include assay-identifying indicia indicating the respective assay associated with a respective discrete area.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system for an instrument of a plurality of instruments comprises a carriage supporting a puck. The carriage is configured to move with the puck from a first location to a second location within the instrument. The first location is a location where a receptacle supported by a carrier is positioned to be transferred to the puck supported by the carriage, and the second location being a location where the receptacle seated in the puck is positioned so that fluid from the receptacle can be drawn into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument.

Abstract: A system including a housing, a sample rack for holding a plurality of sample receptacles, and a reader for reading two-dimensional machine-readable labels associated with the plurality of sample receptacles as the sample rack moves between first and second positions within the housing. The system further includes a processing and control unit adapted to decode the two-dimensional machine-readable labels read by the reader and to associate each of the decoded two-dimensional machine-readable labels with an associated sample receptacle based on a measured position of the sample rack when the two-dimensional machine-readable label was read.

Abstract: A method of reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles. In the method, a sample rack is moved between a first position and a second position within a housing, where the sample rack supports a plurality of sample receptacles, and each sample receptacle has a machine-readable label. An absolute position of the sample rack is measured as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. An image of the machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle is acquired as the sample rack moves between the first and second positions. Finally, the acquired image of each machine-readable label is decoded.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system that includes a rail extending between first and second locations of an instrument and a carriage configured to move on the rail between the first and second locations of the instrument. The carriage includes a bracket having opposed first and second sidewalls and a base extending between the first and second sidewalls, where the carriage is configured to support a receptacle. The carriage further includes a pair of opposed support pads, where the pair of support pads are configured to (a) move toward a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the first location toward the second location, and (b) move away from a receptacle supported by the carriage as the carriage moves from the second location toward the first location. The carriage also includes a pair of meshed cam gears rotatably coupled to the first sidewall, where each cam gear is coupled to a different one of the support pads.

Abstract: A receptacle-supporting puck includes spring-biased fingers arranged about a vertical axis, each finger having a contact surface to contact a receptacle seated in the puck. A supporting disc of the puck includes a disc sidewall projecting from a base and defining a pocket for seating a receptacle, first cavities in the base extending toward the vertical axis, and a puck passageway extending through opposed portions of the disc sidewall transversely to and offset from the vertical axis. Each finger is rotatably coupled to the supporting disc at a corresponding first cavity. A synchronization disc is positioned in the pocket, and each of the fingers is coupled to the synchronization disc such that the contact surfaces of the fingers move synchronously toward and away from the vertical axis. A retaining ring couples the fingers, the supporting disc, and the synchronization disc together.

Abstract: A method of delivering a receptacle to an instrument includes the steps of supporting a receptacle containing a fluid on a carrier, transporting the carrier supporting the receptacle on a conveyor extending adjacent to each of a plurality of instruments, transferring the receptacle from the carrier to a puck supported on a carriage when the carriage is positioned at a first location, moving the carriage with the receptacle seated in the puck from the first location to a second location within an instrument of the plurality of instruments, and drawing at least a portion of the fluid from the receptacle seated in the puck into a tip associated with a fluid extraction device of the instrument when the carriage is positioned at the second location.

Abstract: A receptacle delivery system includes a carriage configured to move from a first to a second location of an instrument. The carriage may be configured to removably support a receptacle and may include a receptacle clamping mechanism. The receptacle mechanism may be configured to apply a clamping force to the receptacle as the carriage moves from the first to the second location and release the clamping force as the carriage moves from the second to the first location.

Abstract: A system for processing samples includes a sample database storing identification information correlated with one or more open assays associated with each sample. A conveyance transports sample containers, an input module holds sample containers, and a transfer robot transfers containers from the input module to the conveyance. An input scanner detects the machine-readable identification information on each sample container. At least one analyzer is configured to perform one or more functional assays on sample extracted from a sample container. A system controller is programmed to cause the transfer robot to transfer containers from the input module to the conveyance before scanning the machine-readable identification information and before identifying the one or more open assays associated with the sample container.

Abstract: A jig assembly for connecting first and second consoles with predefined relative positioning includes first and second positioning pins attached or attachable to the first console and a positioning connection bracket attached or attachable to the second console and including a longitudinal span and first and second transverse legs including first and second pin recesses at respective free ends thereof. The first and second pin recesses receive the first and second positioning pins, respectively, when the first and second consoles are moved laterally toward each other. The first and second transverse legs may be attached to the first console with a first and second leg attachment brackets, respectively. The first and second positing pins and the first and second leg attachment brackets may be fixed with respect to the first console by attachment to a mounting rail that is fixed to the first console.