Abstract: A compact laboratory centrifuge including a centrifuge rotor and a drive unit for driving the centrifuge rotor. The drive unit includes a motor, a motor housing and a shaft. The centrifuge rotor is attached to and driven by the shaft. The centrifuge rotor includes a recess adapted to receiving the upper portion of the motor housing, which is positioned in the recess.

Abstract: A system for a clinical lab that is capable of automatically processing, including sorting, of multiple specimen containers. The system comprises a central controller, a workstation, one or more analyzers, and an automated centrifuge. The workstation has automatic detectors for detecting the presence of a holder holding specimen containers. The workstation has a bar code reader for reading bar codes on the containers. The system has a transport subsystem, preferably a workstation robotic arm and an analyzer robotic arm for transporting the specimen containers, moving them to and from the workstation, to and from the analyzers, and to and from the centrifuge. The centrifuge is loaded with buckets containing specimen containers. The workstation can be provided with a balance system for balancing the weight of the buckets used. The workstation can also have a decapper for automatically removing caps from the specimen containers.