Automated processing of samples conveyed within a sample container and grouping of sample containers by an assay to be performed on the samples contained therein

Abstract

To provide a system for processing multiple sample vessels.SOLUTION: A system for processing multiple sample vessels each containing a sample with at least one valid assay associated with it, includes: two or more analyzers, each configured to perform at least one functional assay in a receptacle device comprising two or more receptacle vessels of a certain number of processes; a carrier for transporting the vessels to the analyzer; a buffer queue associated with each analyzer for holding vessels to be processed by the associated analyzer; and a scanning device associated with each analyzer. Each scanning device scans machine-readable identification information associated with each vessel transported by the carrier past the scanning device, and a valid assay for that vessel is identified based on the scanned information.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 014,624, filed on April 23, 2020; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 015,129, filed on April 24, 2020; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 143,705, filed on January 29, 2021, the individual disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an automated system and method for grouping sample containers according to an assay to be performed on a sample contained within a discrete sample container such that multiple samples can be processed simultaneously by an analyzer.

Background Art

[0003] Various types of analytical tests and assays are performed in laboratories for patient diagnosis and therapy. Such assays can be performed by analyzing liquid samples taken from a patient's body fluid or abscess, and typically are performed using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer loaded with liquid containers such as tubes or vials containing the patient sample specimen thereon. The analyzer extracts a quantity of the liquid sample from the container, combines the extracted sample with various reagents in a special reaction container (e.g., a tube), exposes the resulting reaction mixture to reaction conditions, detects a measurable output such as a light output, and then the assay result can be determined.

[0004] In some laboratories, an automated or modular approach may be employed. Laboratory automation systems transport samples, for example, via a track, between sample processing modules or multiple modules and an analyzer or multiple analyzers. Different analyzers can be configured to perform a certain type of assay. Samples are typically provided to an analyzer by an operator placing a container, typically within a rack holding multiple containers, into an input module, and the container is then automatically transferred from the input module to the track, using a robotic mechanism or the like, and the container is then transported by the track to an analyzer configured to perform the assay required for each sample. After the sample has been extracted from each container to perform the required assay, the sample can be transferred from the track to an output module, for example, into a rack within an output module configured to hold multiple containers, and the container can then be removed from the output module by an operator. This automation system allows different types of assays to be performed on multiple samples in different interconnected analyzers and / or allows two analyzers configured to perform the same assay to be connected to increase sample processing capacity.

[0005] Conventional laboratory automation systems lack significant intelligence or autonomy to allow samples to move independently between analyzers or to enable intelligent grouping of sample containers that require a common assay to allow for more efficient processing of such samples. Another issue associated with such automation systems relates to the handling of STAT samples. STAT samples are samples desired by an operator or ordering physician to be moved to the head of the line so that results regarding that sample can be returned quickly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0006] The following presents a simplified overview in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects described in this specification. This overview is not an extensive overview of the claimed subject matter. It is not intended to identify key or essential elements of the claimed subject matter or to delineate its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0007] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container. The system may include two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container. The one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by each of the other analyzers. Each analyzer may be configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device that includes two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, and each analyzer may be configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. That is, each analyzer performs the same assay on the samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. The system may include a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device, a transporter configured to transport the sample container between two or more analyzers, a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue, a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter, and one or more controllers.One or more controllers identify one or more valid assays per sample container based on identification information detected by a scanning device, determine whether the sample container is a STAT sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device, and, if the valid assay for that sample container corresponds to the functional assay of an analyzer associated with a buffer queue, redirect the sample container from a carrier to one of the buffer queues, monitor the buffered container count for each buffer queue, where the buffered container count may include the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay for each buffer queue, monitor the buffered container hold time for each buffer queue, where the buffered container hold time may include the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was redirected to the buffer queue, and may be configured to perform at least one defined task using a sample transfer device of the associated analyzer. The defined task is: a) transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device from each of the number of sample containers of the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay, if the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for that assay is equal to at least a certain number of processes; b) transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device from each of the number of sample containers of the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay, if the buffered container hold time for the associated buffer queue for that valid assay reaches a maximum hold time and the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for that assay is less than a certain number of processes; or c) transfer a portion of the sample into one of the process containers of the receptacle device from a STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when a STAT sample container is diverted to an associated buffer queue, one or more controllers are configured to: (i) transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of one or more receptacle devices from each of any blocked sample containers that were diverted to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container; (ii) move any blocked sample containers from which the sample was transferred in step (i) out of the buffer queue; and (iii) then transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container diverted to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when the valid assay of a blocked sample container is the same as the valid assay of a STAT sample container, the sample is transferred from each of the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container into different process containers of the same receptacle device in steps (i) and (iii) of the foregoing aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when the valid assay of a blocked sample container is different from the valid assay of a STAT sample container, the sample is transferred from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container to different receptacle devices in steps (i) and (iii) of the foregoing aspect of the present disclosure.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when a STAT sample container is diverted to an associated buffer queue, one or more controllers are configured to: (i) move any blocked sample containers that were diverted to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container out of the buffer queue without transferring any sample from the blocked sample containers into the process containers of the receptacle device, and then (ii) transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container diverted to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0012] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each analyzer may be configured to simultaneously perform the same one or more than one functional assay of the analyzer on different samples contained within each process vessel of the receptacle device.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the sample transfer device may include a robotic pipettor.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a first track, and the system may further include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to transport the container holder on the first track.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to hold and transport the container holder, and the system may further include a diverter configured to selectively divert the container holder and the sample container held thereby from the first track to the second track.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the scanning device may include a barcode scanning device.

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of one or more controllers may be programmed to identify one or more valid assays of each sample container by accessing a database in which the identification information of each sample container is correlated with one or more valid assays.

[0018] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop that is configured and controlled such that (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container, or (2) the sample container is translated between two or more analyzers until the sample container has first traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, after the sample has been extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container, or after the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period, the transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container to a container storage module.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre-analysis modules. Each pre-analysis module may be configured to process the sample container before the sample container is made available to two or more analyzers, and the transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container between two or more analyzers.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre-analysis module may include one or more of a container de-capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container, a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container, and a sample transfer module configured to transfer the sample from a first type of sample container to a second type of sample container that will be made available to two or more analyzers.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include an input module coupled to the carrier and configured to hold a sample container.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the carrier.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module may be configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may include a recirculation section configured to transfer each sample container in parallel to two or more analyzers, a pre-analysis section, and an input module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to hold a sample container.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the recirculation section may include a continuous recirculation loop configured to (1) extract the sample from the sample container for performing all valid assays of the sample in the sample container, or (2) transfer each sample container in parallel between two or more analyzers until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the pre-analysis section, and the pre-analysis section may be configured to transfer the sample container in parallel from the input module to the recirculation section.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, whether or not a sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section, or the order in which the sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section, may be controlled independently of any identification information associated with each sample container and / or any valid assays of the sample containers.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module contains an area dedicated to STAT sample containers, and the STAT sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section before any other sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section.

[0031] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pre-analysis scanning device configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre-analysis section, and the controller identifies one or more valid assays of each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and configures to transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis section to the recirculation section if one or more functional assays of two or more analyzers correspond to at least one of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to receive the sample container from the pre-analysis section into the container storage module, and the controller may be configured to transfer the sample container on the carrier to the container storage module if none of the two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches any of the one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre-analytical section may include a continuous pre-analytical loop, and the controller may be configured to transport the sample container around the pre-analytical loop if any of the two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay that matches any one or more of the valid assays of one or more sample containers.

[0034] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the two or more analyzers may include a molecular testing instrument.

[0035] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the molecular testing instrument may include a module for performing a nucleic acid-based amplification reaction.

[0036] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each process container of each receptacle device may include a test tube, and the receptacle device may include a certain number of interconnected test tubes configured in an aligned array.

[0037] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a shuttle module associated with each analyzer, and the shuttle module may be configured to transfer the sample container between the associated buffer queue and the associated analyzer.

[0038] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot associated with each analyzer, the pick-and-place robot may be configured to transfer the sample container from the associated buffer queue to the sample container handoff position on the shuttle module, and the shuttle module may be configured to transfer the sample container between the sample container handoff position and the pipetting location within the associated analyzer.

[0039] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample from a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle. One or more controllers, after a number of sample containers associated with the same valid assay are diverted to a buffer queue, at the start of the first process cycle, transfer a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers in the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device, after the buffered container hold time for the associated buffer queue for that assay reaches the maximum hold time, at the start of the first process cycle, when the buffered container hold time for the associated buffer queue for that valid assay reaches the maximum hold time and the buffered container count in the associated buffer queue for that assay is below a number of processes, transfer a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers in the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device, or after STAT samples are diverted, at the start of the first process cycle, transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container diverted to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0040] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample from a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the maximum hold time may include at least the remaining time of the process cycle in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted to the buffer queue.

[0041] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the maximum holding time may include the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is redirected to the buffer queue + the duration of one additional process cycle.

[0042] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for automatically processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container, and the samples being processed at one or more of two or more analyzers. Each analyzer may be configured to perform one or more functional assays, and two or more analyzers may be configured to perform the same or different functional assays. Each analyzer may be configured to perform each of one or more functional assays within a receptacle device that includes two or more operationally associated process containers for a certain number of processes, and each analyzer may be configured to perform the same one or more of the functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. That is, each analyzer performs the same assay on the samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. The method includes a) automatically transporting sample containers between two or more analyzers; b) identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container during step a); c) redirecting the sample container to a buffer queue associated with one of two or more analyzers if at least one valid assay identified in step b) for the sample container corresponds to a functional assay configured to be performed by the associated analyzer; d) monitoring the buffered container count for each buffer queue and for each functional assay of the associated analyzer, where the buffered container count may include the number of sample containers held within each buffer queue for each functional assay of the associated analyzer; e) monitoring the buffered container hold time for each buffer queue, where the buffered container hold time may include the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was redirected to the buffer queue; f) detecting, for each buffer queue, the first to occur of a first process state, a second process state, and a third process state, where the first process state is where the buffered container count for the first assay is equal to the number of processes,This means that the buffered container holding time for the assay has not reached the maximum holding time. The second process state means that the buffered container count for the first assay is less than the number of processes and the buffered container holding time for the first assay has reached the maximum holding time. The third process state means that the redirected sample container in the buffer queue is designated as STAT. Steps: g) If the first process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, transfer an amount of sample from each of the sample containers of that number of processes that request the first assay held in the buffer queue into one of the process containers of that number of processes of the receptacle device. h) If the second process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, transfer an amount of sample from each of a number of sample containers that request the first assay held in the buffer queue into one of a number of process containers of the receptacle device, where the number of sample containers is less than the number of processes. i) If the third process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, transfer an amount of sample from the STAT sample containers held in the buffer queue into the process containers of the receptacle device. It may include steps.

[0043] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the process containers operatively associated with the receptacle device are physically interconnected.

[0044] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if a third process is detected, step i) may include: (1) transferring a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device from each of any blocking sample containers having the same valid assay that have been redirected to the buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container; (2) moving the blocking sample containers into which the sample was transferred in step i)(1) out of the buffer queue; (3) moving any blocking sample containers that were not moved out of the buffer queue in step i)(2) out of the buffer queue; and (4) then transferring a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0045] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if a third process is detected, step i) may include: (1) moving any blocking sample containers redirected to the buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container out of the buffer queue without transferring any sample from the blocking sample containers, and after step i)(1), (2) transferring a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0046] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each analyzer may be configured to simultaneously perform the same one or more than one functional assay of that analyzer on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device.

[0047] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the step of transferring an amount of sample may include transferring the sample from the sample container to the process container using a robotic pipette.

[0048] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step a) may include securing each sample container within a container holder and transporting the container holder on a first track.

[0049] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to hold and translate a container holder, and the step of diverting each one of the sample containers into the buffer queue may include engaging at least one of the sample container and the container holder with a diverter configured to selectively divert the container holder and the sample container held thereby from a first track to a second track.

[0050] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step a) may include transporting each sample container on a first track.

[0051] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to hold and translate a sample container, and the step of diverting each one of the sample containers into the buffer queue may include engaging the sample container with a diverter configured to selectively divert the sample container from a first track to a second track.

[0052] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step b) may include detecting machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported between two or more analyzers and accessing a database in which the identification information of each sample container is correlated with one or more valid assays.

[0053] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step a) may include transporting each sample container between two or more analyzers until (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) the sample container first traverses a carrier loop that connects two or more analyzers a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0054] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include processing the sample container using one or more pre-analysis modules before making the sample container available to two or more analyzers, and step a) may further include transporting the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container between two or more analyzers.

[0055] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre-analysis module may include one or more of a container de-capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container, a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container, a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from a first type of sample container to a second type of sample container that will be made available to two or more analyzers, and a sample purification module configured to isolate and purify a target substance within the sample.

[0056] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include, prior to step a), receiving the sample container in an input module and transporting the received sample container from the input module to a pre-analysis section.

[0057] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, transporting the received sample container from the input module to the pre-analysis section may include moving each received sample container from the input module to the pre-analysis section using a pick-and-place robot.

[0058] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step b) may include detecting machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre-analysis section and identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected on the pre-analysis section.

[0059] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include transferring a sample container from the pre-analysis section to the recirculation section if at least one functional assay of two or more analyzers corresponds to at least one of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0060] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the recirculation section may include a continuous recirculation loop, and step a) may include (1) the sample being withdrawn from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) transporting each sample container between two or more analyzers on the recirculation loop until the sample container has first traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period.

[0061] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may further include transferring the sample container to a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis section or to an output module coupled to the pre-analysis section if none of the two or more analyzers has a functional assay corresponding to any of one or more valid assays of the sample container when one or more valid assays of the sample container are identified.

[0062] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, whether a sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section or the order in which sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section is independent of any identification information associated with each sample container and / or any valid assays of the sample container.

[0063] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module contains an area dedicated to STAT sample containers, and STAT sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section before any other sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section.

[0064] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre-analysis compartment may include a continuous pre-analysis loop, and the method further includes, when one or more valid assays of the sample container are identified, any of two or more analyzers that do not have a functional assay corresponding to any of one or more valid assays of the sample container, transferring the sample container from the pre-analysis compartment to a recirculation compartment including a continuous recirculation loop, and transporting the sample container on the recirculation loop until an analyzer having a functional assay corresponding to one of one or more valid assays of the sample container becomes available, or transporting the sample container on the pre-analysis loop until an analyzer having a functional assay corresponding to one of one or more valid assays of the sample container becomes available.

[0065] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each of two or more analyzers may be configured to move a receptacle device to a position for receiving a sample transferred from a sample container at the start of a periodically circulating process cycle, and the maximum holding time may include at least the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted to the buffer queue.

[0066] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the maximum holding time may include the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted to the buffer queue + the duration of one additional process cycle.

[0067] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step g) is initiated at the start of the first process cycle after being redirected to a buffer queue associated with a number of sample containers that require the same assay, step h) is initiated at the start of the first process cycle after the buffered container holding time for the associated buffer queue regarding the assay reaches the maximum holding time, or step i) is initiated at the start of the first process cycle after the STAT sample container is redirected to the buffer queue.

[0068] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, steps b) and c) are performed in the first of two or more analyzers, and the method further includes transporting the sample container to the second of two or more analyzers if any valid assay identified in step b) does not correspond to the functional assay of the first analyzer or (2) the first analyzer lacks sufficient material to perform a functional assay that matches the valid assay of the sample container, and then performing steps b) and c) in the second analyzer.

[0069] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container. The system may include two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container. The one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by each of the other analyzers. Each analyzer may be configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device that includes two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, and each analyzer may be configured to perform the same one or more of the functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. That is, each analyzer performs the same assay on the samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. The system may include a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device, and a transporter configured to transport the sample container between two or more analyzers. The system may also include a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers received from the transporter, and a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter.This system includes one or more controllers programmed to: 1) identify one or more valid assays to be performed on a sample contained within each sample container based on identification information detected by a scanning device; 2) redirect a sample container from a carrier to one of a buffer queues when the sample container meets one or more sample selection criteria, the sample selection criteria including whether the assay to be performed on the sample within the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of an analyzer associated with the buffer queue; 3) monitor a buffered container count for each buffer queue, the buffered container count including, for each buffer queue, the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay, the buffered container count not exceeding a process number; and 4) when the buffered container count within an associated buffer queue for the valid assay equals a process number, program a sample transfer device of an associated analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of the process number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue that require the same valid assay into different ones of process containers of a receptacle device.

[0070] According to a further aspect of the disclosure, process containers operatively associated with a receptacle device are physically interconnected.

[0071] According to a further aspect of the disclosure, the sample selection criteria further includes whether the valid assay of the sample container matches the valid assay of the sample containers currently held within that buffer queue.

[0072] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, one or more controllers may further be configured to determine whether a sample container is a STAT sample container based on identification information of the sample container detected by a scanning device, the sample selection criteria may further include whether the sample container is a STAT sample container, and one or more controllers may, in the case where the sample container is a STAT sample container, redirect the sample container from a carrier to one of the buffer queues even if the valid assay of the sample container does not match the valid assays of the sample containers currently held within its buffer queue.

[0073] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, one or more controllers are configured to transfer a portion of a sample from one or more sample containers within an associated buffer queue that require the same valid assay, including a STAT sample container, to a sample transfer device of an associated analyzer even if one or more sample containers are below the number of processes.

[0074] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, one or more controllers may further monitor the buffer container holding time for each buffer queue, the buffer container holding time may include the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was redirected to the buffer queue, and using the sample transfer device of the associated analyzer, when the buffer container holding time for the associated buffer queue regarding its valid assay reaches a maximum holding time and the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue regarding that assay is below a certain number of processes, transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device from each of that number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue with the same valid assay, and the number of sample containers may be configured to be below the number of processes.

[0075] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a process vessel to a position to receive a sample from a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and one or more controllers, after a number of sample containers associated with a certain process with the same valid assay are redirected to a buffer queue, at the start of the first process cycle, if the buffered container count in the associated buffer queue for that valid assay is equal to that number of processes, cause a portion of the sample to be transferred from each of the number of sample containers of that process in the associated buffer queue that require the same valid assay into different ones of the process vessels of the receptacle device.

[0076] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if a STAT sample container is detected, one or more controllers may perform the following tasks, namely, (i) transfer a portion of the sample from each of any blocked sample containers with the same valid assay that were redirected to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container into different ones of the process vessels of one or more receptacle devices, (ii) move any blocked sample containers from which the sample was transferred in task (i) out of the buffer queue, and then (iii) transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process vessels of the receptacle device.

[0077] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if the valid assay of a blocked sample container is the same as the valid assay of a STAT sample container, the sample is transferred from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container to the same receptacle device in tasks (i) and (iii).

[0078] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if the valid assay of the blocking sample container is different from the valid assay of the STAT sample container, the sample is transferred from the blocking sample container and the STAT sample container to different receptacle devices in tasks (i) and (iii).

[0079] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, if the STAT sample container is detected, one or more controllers: (i) move any blocking sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container out of the buffer queue without transferring any sample from the blocking sample container, and then (ii) may be configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0080] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each analyzer may be configured to simultaneously perform the same one or more functional assays of that analyzer on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device.

[0081] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the sample transfer device may include a robotic pipette.

[0082] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may include a first track, and the system may further include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to carry the container holder on the first track.

[0083] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to hold and carry the container holder, and the system may further include a diverter configured to selectively redirect the container holder and the sample container held thereby from the first track to the second track.

[0084] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the scanning device may include a barcode scanning device.

[0085] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of the one or more controllers may be programmed to identify one or more valid assays for each sample container by accessing a database in which the identification information of each sample container is correlated with one or more valid assays.

[0086] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop that is configured and controlled to move each sample container between two or more analyzers such that (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) the sample container traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period until this is first done.

[0087] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, after the sample has been extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period, the transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container from the recirculation loop to the container storage module.

[0088] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module.

[0089] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre - analysis modules, each pre - analysis module may be configured to process a sample container before making the sample container available to two or more analyzers, and the transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container to the pre - analysis module before transporting the sample container between two or more analyzers.

[0090] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre - analysis modules including a container de - capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container, a liquid level detection module configured to detect the liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container, and a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from a first type of sample container to a second type of sample container that will be made available to two or more analyzers.

[0091] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include an input module coupled to the transporter and configured to receive a sample container.

[0092] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick - and - place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the transporter.

[0093] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module may be configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0094] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation section configured to translate each sample container in parallel to two or more analyzers, a pre-analysis section, and an input module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to hold the sample container. The pre-analysis section may be configured to translate the sample container in parallel from the input module to the recirculation section.

[0095] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the recirculation section may include a continuous recirculation loop configured to (1) extract the sample from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) translate each sample container in parallel between two or more analyzers until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period.

[0096] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the pre-analysis section.

[0097] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pick-and-place robot is controlled such that whether the sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section or the order in which the sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section is independent of any identification information associated with each sample container and / or any valid assays of the sample container.

[0098] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module contains an area dedicated to STAT sample containers, and the STAT sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section before any other sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section.

[0099] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pre - analysis scanning device configured to detect machine - readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre - analysis section. The controller may identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre - analysis scanning device. When at least one of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches at least one of one or more valid assays of the sample container, the sample container may be configured to be transferred from the pre - analysis section to the recirculation section.

[0100] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module coupled to the pre - analysis section and configured to receive the sample container from the pre - analysis section into the container storage module. The controller may be configured to transfer the sample container on the pre - analysis section to the container storage module when none of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches any of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0101] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre - analysis section may include a continuous pre - analysis loop. The controller may be configured to transport the sample container around the pre - analysis loop when none of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches any of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0102] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of two or more analyzers may include a molecular testing instrument.

[0103] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the molecular testing instrument may include a module for performing a nucleic - acid - based amplification reaction.

[0104] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each process container of each receptacle device includes a test tube, and the receptacle device may include a certain number of interconnected test tubes configured in an aligned array.

[0105] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a shuttle module associated with each analyzer, and the shuttle module may be configured to transfer a sample container between the analyzer associated with the associated buffer queue.

[0106] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot associated with each analyzer, and the pick-and-place robot may be configured to transfer a sample container from the associated buffer queue to a sample container handoff position on the shuttle module, and the shuttle module may be configured to transfer the sample container between the sample container handoff position and a pipetting operation location within the analyzer associated with the sample container handoff position.

[0107] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample from a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the maximum holding time may include at least the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted into the buffer queue.

[0108] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the maximum holding time may include the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted into the buffer queue + the duration of one additional process cycle.

[0109] Aspects of the present disclosure include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to control a system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container. The system may include two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container, and the one or more functional assays of each analyzer may be the same as or different from the one or more functional assays of each of the other analyzers. Each analyzer may be configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device that includes two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, and each analyzer may be configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. That is, each analyzer performs the same assay on the samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. The system may include a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of a sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device, a carrier configured to transport the sample container to two or more analyzers, a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers received from the carrier, a diverter associated with each analyzer and configured to redirect the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue, and a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the carrier.The computer-executable instructions receive identification information for each sample container from each of the scanning devices, query a database of sample information, identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information received from the scanning devices, determine whether at least one valid assay of the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of an analyzer associated with the scanning device, and if at least one valid assay of the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of the associated analyzer, activate a diverter to divert the sample container from a carrier to a buffer queue associated with the analyzer, monitor the buffered container count for each buffer queue, where the buffered container count may include, for each buffer queue, the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay, and if the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for that valid assay is equal to at least a certain number of processes, include instructions to cause a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of that number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue with the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of a receptacle device.

[0110] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to activate a diverter to divert a container from a carrier to a buffer queue associated with an analyzer, and after that, determine whether the valid assay of a subsequent sample container matches the valid assay of the sample containers currently held within that buffer queue, and activate the diverter to divert the subsequent sample container from the carrier to the buffer queue only if the valid assay of the subsequent sample container matches the valid assay of the sample containers currently held within that buffer queue.

[0111] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to not activate the diverter if any valid assay of a subsequent sample container does not match the valid assays of the sample containers currently held in its buffer queue, such that the carrier transports the subsequent sample container to a subsequent one of two or more analyzers.

[0112] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to activate the diverter to divert at least one sample container from the carrier to a buffer queue associated with an analyzer, and then determine whether the valid assay of the subsequent sample container matches the valid assays of the sample containers currently held in its buffer queue, query a database of sample information, determine whether the subsequent sample container is a STAT sample container based on the identification information received from the scanning device, and activate the diverter to divert the subsequent sample container from the carrier to the buffer queue only if the valid assay of the subsequent sample container matches the valid assays of the sample containers currently held in its buffer queue or the subsequent sample container is a STAT sample container having a valid assay corresponding to the functional assay of the associated analyzer.

[0113] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to cause a sample transfer device of an associated analyzer to transfer a portion of a sample from one or more sample containers in an associated buffer queue having the same valid assay, including a STAT sample container, to another one or more sample containers in the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay, even if one or more sample containers are below the process number.

[0114] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further monitor the buffered container holding time for each buffer queue, where the buffered container holding time may include the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was diverted into the buffer queue, and when the buffered container holding time for the associated buffer queue reaches a specified maximum holding time for a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer, cause a portion of the sample to be transferred from each of a number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device, and the number of sample containers may include instructions that are less than the number of processes.

[0115] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample transferred from a sample container at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the computer-executable instructions may further cause, at the start of a first process cycle that begins after a number of sample containers having the same valid assay are diverted into an associated buffer queue, a sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0116] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when a STAT sample container is detected, the computer-executable instructions may further include: (i) causing a sample transfer device associated with an analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of a receptacle device from each of any blocked sample containers having the same valid assay that are redirected to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container; (ii) moving any blocked sample container into which the sample was transferred in step (i) out of the buffer queue; and (iii) after (ii), causing the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device.

[0117] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when the valid assay of a blocked sample container is the same as the valid assay of a STAT sample container, the computer-executable instructions may further include causing the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer the sample from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container into different process containers of the same receptacle device in steps (i) and (iii).

[0118] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when the valid assay of a blocked sample container is different from the valid assay of a STAT sample container, the computer-executable instructions may further include causing the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer the sample from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container to different receptacle devices in steps (i) and (iii).

[0119] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when a STAT sample container is detected and a blocked sample container exceeding a certain number of processes is detected, the blocked sample container is redirected to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container. When blocked sample containers with the same number of processes have the same valid assay, the computer-executable instructions may further (i) cause a sample transfer device associated with an analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of the blocked sample containers with that number of processes having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of a first receptacle device, (ii) remove the blocked sample containers from which the sample was transferred in step (i) from the buffer queue, (iii) remove any remaining blocked sample containers from the buffer queue, and (iv) then cause the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of a second receptacle device.

[0120] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, when a STAT sample container is detected, the computer-executable instructions may further (i) remove any blocked sample containers redirected to the associated buffer queue in front of the STAT sample container from the buffer queue without transferring any sample from the blocked sample containers, and (ii) then cause the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of a receptacle device.

[0121] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each analyzer may be configured to simultaneously perform the same one or more than one functional assay of that analyzer on different samples contained in each of a plurality of process containers of a receptacle device.

[0122] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the sample transfer device may include a robotic pipettor.

[0123] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a first track, and the system may further include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to transport the container holder on the first track.

[0124] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to hold and transport the container holder, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to activate a diverter to divert the sample container from the first track to the second track.

[0125] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the scanning device may include a barcode scanning device.

[0126] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to identify one or more valid assays for each sample container by accessing a database of sample information in which the identification information of each sample container is correlated with one or more valid assays.

[0127] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to transfer each sample container on the recirculation loop to two or more analyzers in parallel until (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times for the first time.

[0128] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, after the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to cause the transporter to transport the sample container to a container storage module.

[0129] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions for controlling a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between a carrier and a container storage module.

[0130] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre-analysis modules, each pre-analysis module being configured to perform an operation on a sample container before making the sample container available to two or more analyzers, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions for causing the carrier to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container to two or more analyzers.

[0131] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the pre-analysis module may include one or more of a container de-capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container, a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container, and a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from a first type of sample container to a second type of sample container that will be made available to two or more analyzers, the first type of sample container having one or more dimensions different from the second type of sample container.

[0132] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include an input module coupled to the carrier and configured to receive a sample container, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions for controlling a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the carrier and the input module.

[0133] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, computer-executable instructions for controlling a pick-and-place robot control the pick-and-place robot such that whether a sample container is transferred from an input module to a carrier, or the order in which sample containers are transferred from the input module to the carrier, is independent of any identification information associated with each sample container and / or any valid assays of the sample containers.

[0134] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, computer-executable instructions for controlling a pick-and-place robot control the pick-and-place robot such that a STAT sample container is transferred from a dedicated area of the input module to a carrier before any other sample container is transferred from the input module to the carrier.

[0135] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier is a recirculation section, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to transfer each sample container to two or more analyzers in parallel in the recirculation section, a recirculation section, a pre-analysis section, and an input module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to hold a sample container, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to transfer the sample container from the input module to the pre-analysis section and to transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis section to the recirculation section in the input module.

[0136] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the recirculation section may include a continuous recirculation loop, and the computer-executable instructions may further include instructions to transfer each sample container between two or more analyzers in the recirculation loop until (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period.

[0137] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pre - analysis scanning device configured to detect machine - readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre - analysis section. The computer - executable instructions may further receive, from the pre - analysis scanning device, the identification information for each sample container, query a database of sample information, and identify one or more assays to be performed on the sample contained in each sample container based on the identification information of the sample container detected by the pre - analysis scanning device. When at least one of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches at least one valid assay of the sample container, the instructions may include an instruction to transfer the sample container from the pre - analysis section to the recirculation section.

[0138] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module configured to be coupled to a carrier and receive a sample container from the carrier into the container storage module. The computer - executable instructions may further include an instruction to transfer the sample container on the carrier to the container storage module when none of two or more analyzers has a functional assay corresponding to any of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0139] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the computer - executable instructions may further include instructions to control a pick - and - place robot configured to transfer a sample container between the carrier and the container storage module.

[0140] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, at least one of two or more analyzers may include a molecular testing instrument.

[0141] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the molecular testing instrument may include an instrument for performing a nucleic - acid - based amplification reaction.

[0142] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each process vessel of each receptacle device may include a test tube, and the receptacle device may include a certain number of interconnected test tubes configured in an aligned array.

[0143] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a pick-and-place robot associated with each analyzer and a shuttle module associated with each analyzer, and the computer-executable instructions may further cause the pick-and-place robot to transfer a sample container from an associated buffer queue to a sample container handoff position on the shuttle module, and cause the shuttle module to translate the sample container between the sample container handoff position and a sample transfer location of an analyzer associated with the sample container handoff position.

[0144] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, two or more analyzers may each be configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample transferred from a sample container at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the maximum hold time may include at least the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count changes direction into the buffer queue.

[0145] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the maximum hold time may include the remaining time of the process cycle that is in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count changes direction into the buffer queue and the duration of one additional process cycle.

[0146] A further aspect of the present disclosure includes a system for processing a plurality of samples contained within sample containers, each sample container having machine-readable identification information (which may be a barcode) associated therewith. The system may include a sample database, a carrier (such as a conveyor belt or track, which may include a sample container carrier), an input module, a container transfer robot (which may include an input pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the carrier), an input scanning device (which may be a barcode scanning device), at least one analyzer, and at least one system controller that communicates with the container transfer robot and the input scanning device. The sample database stores identification information for each sample container, and the identification information for each sample container is correlated with one or more valid assays associated with the sample container. The carrier may be configured to transport the sample containers throughout the system. The input module may be configured to hold a plurality of sample containers, and the container transfer robot may be configured to transfer the sample containers from the input module to the carrier. The input scanning device may be configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container. Each analyzer is operatively associated with the carrier and may be configured to perform one or more functional assays (which may be the same as or different from the functional assays of each other analyzer) on the samples extracted from the sample containers. The system controller is programmed to control the container transfer robot to transfer the sample containers from the input module to the carrier, and each sample container is removed from the input module before the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container is scanned and before one or more valid assays associated with the sample container are identified.When each sample container is removed from the input module or afterwards, the controller activates the input scanning device to automatically scan the machine-readable identification information of the sample container as the sample container passes through the input scanning device (e.g., on the carrier), and the controller then accesses the sample database and identifies one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the carrier based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device.

[0147] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a first loop section, where the input module is operatively associated with the first loop section, and the container transfer robot may be configured to transfer the sample container from the input module to the first loop section, and a second loop section configured to translate each sample container to at least one analyzer in parallel. The system controller may communicate with all the analyzers, and further monitor the functional assays of all the analyzers and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, compare one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all the analyzers, and / or compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit. The controller may be programmed to retain the sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and transport the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit. The controller may further be programmed to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0148] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the controller retains the sample container on the first loop section if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for that sample container, and if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and transports the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0149] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a part of the input module is designated for STAT sample containers, and the system controller is programmed to control the container transfer robot to transfer all sample containers from the part of the input module designated for STAT sample containers to the transporter before transferring the sample containers from any other part of the input module.

[0150] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter is configured and controlled (e.g., by the system controller) to repeatedly translate each sample container to at least one analyzer until (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays for that sample container, or (2) the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period, and includes a recirculation loop.

[0151] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module, and may also include a container transfer robot (which may include a storage pick-and-place robot) configured to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module. After the sample has been extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays regarding the sample container, or after the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period, the transporter may be configured and controlled (e.g., by a system controller) to transfer the sample container to the container storage module.

[0152] In some embodiments, the input pick-and-place robot and the storage pick-and-place robot comprise the same pick-and-place robot.

[0153] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre-analysis modules. Each pre-analysis module may be configured to process the sample container before making the sample container available to at least one analyzer, and the transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container to at least one analyzer. The pre-analysis module may comprise at least one of a container de-capper configured to remove the cap from the sample container and a liquid level detection module configured to detect the liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container.

[0154] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container, and a container transfer robot configured to transfer each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to a carrier. Each second type of sample container (which may be the same as the first type of sample container or may have a different shape, different volume, and / or different dimensions from the first type of sample container) has machine-readable identification information associated therewith, and the sample database may include identification information for each second type of sample container correlated with one or more valid assays associated with each second type of sample container.

[0155] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the input module may be configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0156] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may include a pre-analysis loop, the input module is operatively associated with the pre-analysis loop, and the system controller is programmed to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop. The system may further include a pre-analysis scanning device configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container being transported on the pre-analysis loop, and the system controller is programmed to identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and to transfer a sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the recirculation loop if one or more functional assays of at least one analyzer correspond to at least one of the one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is below the recirculation loop capacity limit.

[0157] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller is programmed to transfer a sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the recirculation loop when at least one functional assay of one or more of the at least one analyzer corresponds to at least one of the valid assays of one or more of the sample containers and the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is below the recirculation loop capacity limit.

[0158] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the container storage module is coupled to the pre-analysis loop, and the system controller is programmed to transfer the sample container on the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module when at least one analyzer does not have any functional assay that matches any of the valid assays of one or more of the sample containers, or to transport the sample container around the pre-analysis loop when at least one analyzer does not have any functional assay that matches any of the valid assays of one or more of the sample containers.

[0159] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller monitors the number of times a sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop or the amount of time the sample container is on the pre-analysis loop, and is programmed to transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module when the number of times the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop or the amount of time the sample container is on the pre-analysis loop reaches a certain limit.

[0160] A further aspect of the present disclosure includes a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system. Each sample is contained within a sample container, and each sample container has machine-readable identification information (which can be a barcode) associated therewith and one or more valid assays (identifying tests or assays to be performed on the sample). The automated system includes a carrier for transporting the sample containers, an input module for holding a plurality of sample containers, an input scanning device (which can be a barcode scanning device) for detecting the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the carrier, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, and a system controller communicating with the sample database and the input scanning device. Each analyzer may be configured to perform one or more functional assays (which may be the same as or different from the functional assays of each other analyzer) on the sample extracted from the sample container. In step (A) of the method, the system controller automatically transfers each sample container from the input module to the carrier, and the sample container is removed from the input module before scanning the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container and before identifying one or more valid assays associated with the sample container. In step (B), when each sample container is removed from the input module or thereafter, when the sample container passes through the input scanning device (e.g., on the carrier), the machine-readable identification information of the sample container is detected using the input scanning device. In step (C), using the system controller, the sample database is accessed and one or more valid assays for the sample container being transported on the carrier are identified based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device.

[0161] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter comprises a first loop section and a second loop section, and the input module is operatively associated with the first loop section. At least one analyzer is operatively associated with the second loop section, and the second loop section is configured to transport a sample container to the at least one analyzer. According to a further step of the method, the system controller monitors the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or monitors the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, compares one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit. In a further step, the system controller retains the sample container on the first loop section if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and transports the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit. In a further step, the system controller transfers the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0162] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes the steps of: when none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for the sample container, and when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retaining the sample containers on the first loop section; transporting the sample containers around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit; and when at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, transferring the sample containers from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0163] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a part of the input module is designated with respect to STAT sample containers, and the step of transferring the sample containers from the input module to the carrier using the container transfer robot includes transferring all the sample containers from the part of the input module designated with respect to STAT sample containers to the carrier before transferring the sample containers from any other part of the input module.

[0164] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system includes a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer sample containers between the input module and the carrier, and the system controller may communicate with the pick-and-place robot. Step (A) includes the system controller activating the pick-and-place robot to remove the sample containers one by one from the input module and then transferring each sample container to the carrier.

[0165] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter comprises a recirculation loop, and the method may include the step that the system controller first performs (1) extracting the sample from the sample container for all valid assays regarding the sample container, or (2) repeatedly and parallelly moving the sample container by the recirculation loop to at least one analyzer until the sample container first crosses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period.

[0166] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a container storage module (which may include a temperature-controlled housing), and the method may include the step that after the sample is extracted from the sample container for all valid assays regarding the sample container, or after the sample container crosses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period, the system controller causes the transporter to transfer the sample container to the container storage module.

[0167] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, after step (C), the system controller uses a decapper to remove the cap from the sample container, uses a liquid level detection module to detect the liquid level in at least a part of the sample container, and / or uses an input module to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container has a cap.

[0168] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include the step of transferring the sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container using a sample transfer device, and the step that the system controller automatically transfers each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to the transporter using a container transfer robot.

[0169] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include two or more analyzers operatively associated with the carrier, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays (which may be the same as or different from the functional assays of each other analyzer) on a sample extracted from a sample container. The system further includes a distinct analyzer software module associated with each analyzer that stores an identification of each of the one or more functional assays of each analyzer in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module, a buffer queue configured to hold a plurality of sample containers associated with each analyzer and diverted from the carrier to the buffer queue, and a scanning device (which may be a barcode scanning device) configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the carrier past the scanning device and associated with each analyzer.The system controller may communicate with each analyzer software module and each scanning device, and the method may further include, using an additional (D) each scanning device, detecting machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the carrier past the scanning device; (E) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for the sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (F) using the system controller to communicate one or more valid assays of the sample container to the analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device; (G) using the analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device to compare one or more valid assays of the sample container with the respective identifications of one or more functional assays stored in the analyzer database associated with the analyzer; (H) when the valid assay for the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of the associated analyzer, communicating from the analyzer software module associated with the analyzer to the system controller a diversion command for diverting the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue; and (I) in response to receiving the diversion command, the system controller diverting the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue.

[0170] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may comprise a first track, and the system may include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to transport the container holder on the first track. Each buffer queue may comprise a second track configured to hold and transport the container holder diverted to the buffer queue, and the system may further include a container diverter configured to selectively divert the sample container from the first track to the second track, and step (I) may include the system controller causing the container diverter to divert the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue.

[0171] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the sample container to a process container within the associated analyzer, and the method may further include (J) using a system controller to direct an amount of the sample from the sample container redirected to the buffer queue to the process container within the associated analyzer, and (K) using the system controller to transport the sample container back to the carrier to the buffer queue.

[0172] Aspects of the present disclosure may include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, the automated system comprising a carrier for transporting the sample containers, an input module for holding a plurality of sample containers, an input scanning device for detecting machine-readable identification information, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the carrier, and a system controller. The method includes: (A) associating machine-readable identification information (which may be a barcode) with each sample container; (B) associating one or more valid assays with each sample container; (C) storing, in a sample database accessible to the system controller, identification information for each sample container and correlating the identification information for each sample container with one or more assays associated with the sample container; (D) configuring each analyzer to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container, wherein the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same as or different from one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the carrier; (E) using the system controller to automatically transfer each sample container from the input module to the carrier before scanning the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container and before identifying one or more valid assays associated with the sample container; (F) detecting, using the input scanning device, the machine-readable identification information of the sample container when each sample container is transferred from the input module or thereafter when the sample container passes through the input scanning device; and (G) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for the sample container being transported on the carrier based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device.

[0173] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, and each sample container having machine-readable identification information (such as a barcode) associated therewith. The system may include a sample database, a transporter, a pre-analysis scanning device (which may be a barcode scanning device), at least one analyzer (which may be a molecular testing instrument such as a module for performing a nucleic acid-based amplification reaction), and at least one system controller (which can communicate with the sample database, the pre-analysis scanning device, and at least one analyzer). The sample database stores identification information for each sample container, and the identification information is correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container. The transporter may be configured to transport the sample containers and may include a first loop section and a second loop section, and the sample containers are introduced into the system in the first loop section. The pre-analysis scanning device may be operatively associated with the first loop section and may be configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container passes through the pre-analysis scanning device (e.g., on the first loop section). At least one analyzer may be operatively associated with the second loop section, and each analyzer is configured to perform one or more functional assays (which may be the same as or different from the functional assays of each other analyzer) on the sample extracted from the sample container. The number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time.The system controller accesses the sample database and, based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanner, identifies one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section, monitors the functional assays to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, compares one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit. If none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, the sample container is retained on the first loop section. If at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, the sample container is transported around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and then the sample container is transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section, as programmed.

[0174] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer. The identification of each one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module, and the system controller may communicate with the analyzer software module of each analyzer. The system controller is programmed to monitor the functional assays of all analyzers by receiving information transmissions from each analyzer software module, and each information transmission includes the identification of each one or more functional assays of the associated analyzer.

[0175] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller is programmed to monitor the number of sample containers transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section and the number of sample containers transferred from the second loop section to the first loop section, thereby monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section.

[0176] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section, and the system controller monitors the number of times a sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the first loop section, and if the number of times a sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the first loop section exceeds a certain limit, the system controller may be configured to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module.

[0177] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a diverter that is operatively associated with the first loop section and is selectively configurable in a first configuration that prevents the sample container from being transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section or a second configuration that causes the sample container to be transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section. The system controller may communicate with the diverter and may be programmed to cause the diverter to be configured in the first configuration to retain the sample container on the first loop section and to cause the diverter to be configured in the second configuration to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0178] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the second loop section may be configured and controlled such that (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container or (2) each sample container transferred to the second loop section is repeatedly translated in parallel to at least one analyzer until the sample container has traversed the second loop section a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period of time.

[0179] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module (which may be temperature controlled), and after the sample has been extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container or the sample container has traversed the second loop section a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period of time, the transporter may be configured and controlled to transfer the sample container to the container storage module. A pick-and-place robot may be provided to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module.

[0180] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include one or more pre - analysis modules operatively associated with the first loop section, and each pre - analysis module may be configured to process a sample container on the first loop section before transferring the sample container to the second loop section. The pre - analysis module may include a container de - capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container and / or a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container.

[0181] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from at least one first - type sample container to at least one second - type sample container, and a container transfer robot configured to transfer each second - type sample container from the sample transfer module to a carrier. The system controller may be programmed to transfer each second - type sample container from the sample transfer module to the first loop section.

[0182] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each second type of sample container has machine-readable identification information (which can be a barcode) associated therewith, and the sample database includes identification information for each second type of sample container correlated with one or more valid assays associated with each second type of sample container. The system controller further causes the pre-analysis scanning device to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each second type of sample container as the second type of sample container passes through the pre-analysis scanning device, accesses the sample database, and based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, identifies one or more valid assays for each second type of sample container transported on the first loop section, and if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for that second type of sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retains the second type of sample container on the first loop section, and if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that second type of sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is less than the second loop section capacity limit, transports the second type of sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that second type of sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is less than the second loop section capacity limit, may be programmed to transfer the second type of sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0183] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include an input module configured to hold a sample container, and a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and a first loop section. The input module may be configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0184] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system. Each sample is contained within a sample container, and each sample container has machine-readable identification information (which may be a barcode) associated therewith. The automated system includes a sample database that stores identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, the transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section, the sample containers being introduced into the system in the first loop section, an analysis pre-scanning device (which may be a barcode scanning device) operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container passes through the analysis pre-scanning device, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays (which may be the same as or different from the functional assays of each other analyzer, and the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time), and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database, the analysis pre-scanning device, and the at least one analyzer.This method may include: (A) using a pre-analysis scanning device to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container that is transported past the pre-analysis scanning device (e.g., when the sample container is transported past the pre-analysis scanning device on the first loop section); (B) using a system controller to access a sample database and identify one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device; (C) using the system controller to monitor the functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (D) using the system controller to compare one or more valid assays for each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or to compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (E) using the system controller to retain the sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and to transport the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit; and (F) using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0185] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may further include a container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section. The method may further include the steps of the system controller monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the first loop section, and transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module when the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the first loop section reaches a certain limit.

[0186] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer, and the identification of each one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module. The system controller may communicate with the analyzer software module of each analyzer, and the step of monitoring the functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section includes the step of the system controller receiving an information transmission including the identification of each one or more functional assays of the associated analyzer from each analyzer software module.

[0187] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a diverter operatively associated with the first loop section. Step (E) includes configuring the diverter in a first configuration to prevent the sample container from being transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section using the system controller, and step (F) includes configuring the diverter in a second configuration to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section using the system controller.

[0188] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the second loop section may be configured and controlled to repeatedly and parallely transfer each sample container to at least one analyzer, and the automated system further includes a recirculation scanning device that is operatively associated with the second loop section and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the second loop section past the recirculation scanning device. The system controller may communicate with the recirculation scanning device, and the method further includes, after step (F), extracting a sample from the sample container transferred to the second loop section and performing one or more valid assays that match one of the one or more functional assays, and by changing the status of the valid assay from which the sample was extracted, revising the sample database to update the valid assay correlated with the sample identification information regarding the sample container, detecting, using the recirculation scanning device, the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the second loop section past the recirculation scanning device, accessing, using the system controller, the sample database, and identifying one or more valid assays regarding the sample container from which the sample was not extracted based on the identification information detected by the recirculation scanning device, and, using the system controller, transporting the sample container away from the second loop section if there are no further valid assays regarding the sample container.

[0189] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes using the system controller to count the number of times each sample container has traversed the second loop section and / or track the period of time each sample container has been on the second loop section, and using the system controller to transport the sample container away from the second loop section if the sample container has traversed the second loop section a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0190] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the second loop section may be configured and controlled to repeatedly translate each sample container in parallel to at least one analyzer, and the method may further include, using a system controller, counting the number of times each sample container crosses the second loop section and / or tracking the period of time each sample container is on the second loop section, and using the system controller, transporting the sample container away from the second loop section when the sample container crosses the second loop section a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0191] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may further include a container storage module (which may be temperature controlled), and the method may further include, using a system controller, transferring the sample container to the container storage module when there are no further valid assays for the sample container or when the sample container crosses the second loop section a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0192] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module, and the system controller may communicate with the pick-and-place robot. The step of transferring the sample container to the storage module may include the system controller activating the pick-and-place robot to transfer the sample container from the transporter to the container storage module.

[0193] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include an input module configured to hold the sample container, and the method may include the system controller transferring the sample container from the input module to the first loop section.

[0194] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include removing a cap from a sample container using a decapper and / or detecting a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container using a liquid level detection module.

[0195] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include transferring a sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container using a sample transfer module and transferring each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to a first loop section using a container transfer robot using a system controller.

[0196] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each second type of sample container has machine-readable identification information associated therewith, and the sample database includes identification information for each second type of sample container correlated with one or more valid assays associated with each second type of sample container. The method includes using a pre-analysis scanner to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each second type of sample container transported past the pre-analysis scanner, using a system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for each second type of sample container transported on the first loop section based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanner, using the system controller to compare one or more valid assays for each second type of sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, using the system controller to retain the second type of sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that second type of sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and transport the second type of sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that second type of sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and using the system controller to transfer the second type of sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0197] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include determining, using an input module, at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0198] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, where each sample is contained within a sample container, and the automated system includes a carrier configured to transport the sample containers, the carrier including a first loop section and a second loop section, the sample container being introduced into the system in the first loop section, the carrier, a pre-analytical scanning device for detecting machine-readable identification information, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, and at least one system controller. The method includes: (A) associating machine-readable identification information with each sample container; (B) associating one or more valid assays with each sample container; (C) storing, in a sample database accessible to the system controller, identification information for each sample container and correlating the identification information for each sample container with one or more assays associated with the sample container; (D) configuring each analyzer to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container, where one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer can be the same as or different from one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the carrier, and the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer can vary over time; (E) using the pre-analytical scanning device to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported past the pre-analytical scanning device; (F) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section based on the identification information detected by the pre-analytical scanning device; (G) using the system controller to monitor the functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or monitor the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (H) using the system controller toComparing one or more valid assays of each sample container with all analyzer functional assays operatively associated with the second loop section and / or comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, and (I) using the system controller, if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retaining the sample container on the first loop section and transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and (J) using the system controller, if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0199] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, and each sample container having machine-readable identification information (such as a barcode) associated therewith. The system may include a transporter, a container storage module (which may be temperature-controlled), a scanning device (such as a barcode scanning device), a sample database, at least one analyzer (which may be a molecular testing instrument such as a module for performing nucleic acid-based amplification reactions), and at least one system controller. The transporter may be configured to transport the sample containers and may include a first loop section and a second loop section. The container storage module may be operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section, and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers. The scanning device may be operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section. The sample database stores identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container. The at least one analyzer may be operatively associated with the second loop section, and each analyzer may be configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container. The number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time.The system controller: (A) accesses a sample database and identifies one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on a first loop section based on identification information detected by a scanning device; (B) monitors functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with a second loop section and / or monitors the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (C) compares one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (D) retains the sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit; (E) transports the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and repeats functions A, B, C, and D each time the sample container crosses the first loop section; (F) monitors the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container crosses the first loop section; (G) may be programmed to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to a container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container crosses the first loop section exceeds a limit.

[0200] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller records one or more valid assays for each sample container transferred to the container storage module, compares one or more valid assays for each sample container stored within the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, and if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is less than the second loop section capacity limit, the system controller may be programmed to transfer the sample containers stored within the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section, and after the sample containers are transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section, transfer the sample containers from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0201] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a container transfer robot configured to transfer sample containers between the first loop section and the container storage module. The system controller may communicate with the container transfer robot and may be programmed to use the container transfer robot to transfer sample containers from the first loop section to the container storage module and to use the container transfer robot to transfer sample containers from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0202] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer, with the identification of each one or more than one functional assay of each analyzer being stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module, and the system controller may communicate with the analyzer software module of each analyzer. The system controller may be programmed to monitor the functional assays of all analyzers by receiving information transmissions from each analyzer software module, and each information transmission includes the identification of each one or more than one functional assay of the associated analyzer.

[0203] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include an input direction changer that is operatively associated with a first loop section and is selectively configurable in a first configuration that prevents the sample container from being transferred from the first loop section to a second loop section or a second configuration that causes the sample container to be transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section. The system controller may communicate with the input direction changer, and the system controller may be programmed to retain the sample container on the first loop section by configuring the input direction changer in the first configuration and to cause the sample container to be transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section by configuring the input direction changer in the second configuration.

[0204] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information. The automated system may include a transporter configured to transport the sample containers and including a first loop section and a second loop section, a container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers, a scanning device operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, wherein the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time, and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database and the scanning device. The method includes (A) detecting, using the scanning device, machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section; (B) accessing, using the system controller, the sample database and identifying, based on the identification information detected by the scanning device, one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section; (C) monitoring, using the system controller, the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (D) comparing, using the system controller, one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop sectioncomparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (E) using the system controller, if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for the sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retaining the sample container on the first loop section; (F) using the system controller, transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and repeating steps (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) each time the sample container crosses the first loop section; (G) using the system controller, monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section; (H) using the system controller, transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section reaches a certain limit.

[0205] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include: (I) using a system controller to record one or more valid assays for each sample container transferred to the container storage module in step (H); (J) using the system controller to compare one or more valid assays for each sample container stored in the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or to compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (K) using the system controller to transfer a sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit; and (L) after the sample container has been transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section, using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0206] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated method may include a container transfer robot configured to transfer sample containers between the first loop section and the container storage module. The system controller may communicate with the container transfer robot, step (H) may include causing the container transfer robot to transfer a sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module, and step (K) may include causing the container transfer robot to transfer a sample container from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0207] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer, and the identification of each one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module. The system controller may communicate with the analyzer software module of each analyzer, and the step of monitoring the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section includes the step of the system controller receiving information transmissions from each analyzer software module, each information transmission including the identification of each one or more functional assays of the associated analyzer.

[0208] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include an input direction changer that is operatively associated with the first loop section and is selectively configurable in a first configuration that prevents the sample container from being transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section or in a second configuration that causes the sample container to be transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section. The system controller may communicate with the input direction changer, and step (E) may include the step of configuring the input direction changer in the first configuration using the system controller, and step (L) may include the step of configuring the input direction changer in the second configuration using the system controller.

[0209] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, and each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith. The system may include a transporter, a container storage module (which may be temperature-controlled), a recirculation scanner, a sample database, at least one analyzer, and at least one system controller. The transporter may be configured to transport the sample containers and may include a first loop section and a second loop section. The container storage module may be operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section and hold a plurality of sample containers. The recirculation scanner may be operatively associated with the second loop section and may be configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container is transported past the recirculation scanner on the second loop section. The sample database stores identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container. At least one analyzer may be operatively associated with the second loop section, and each analyzer may be configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container. The number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time.The system controller may communicate with the sample database and the scanning device, (A) access the sample database, and identify any valid assays for each sample container transported on the second loop section based on the identification information detected by the recycling scanning device, (B) retain the sample container on the second loop section if the sample container has at least one valid assay, (C) transport the sample container around the second loop section, and repeat functions A and B each time the sample container crosses the second loop section, (D) monitor the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section, (E) transfer the sample container from the second loop section to the first loop section if the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section exceeds a certain limit, and (F) may be programmed to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module.

[0210] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller records one or more than one valid assay of each sample container transferred to the container storage module, monitors the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, compares one or more than one valid assay of each sample container stored in the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container, transfers the sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section, and after the sample container is transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section, may be programmed to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0211] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller monitors the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, and when at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container, and when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, the system controller may be programmed to transfer the sample containers stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0212] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller monitors the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, compares the valid assay of each sample container scanned using the recirculation scanner with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and when the sample container has at least one valid assay that matches at least one functional assay, the system controller may be programmed to retain the sample container on the second loop section until the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container crosses the second loop section exceeds a certain limit.

[0213] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller records one or more than one valid assay of each sample container transferred to the container storage module, compares one or more than one valid assay of each sample container stored in the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and when at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container, transfers the sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section, and after the sample container is transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section, the system controller may be programmed to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0214] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller monitors the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, and when at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for the sample container, and when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, is programmed to transfer the sample containers stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0215] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a container transfer robot configured to transfer sample containers between the first loop section and the storage module. The system controller may communicate with the container transfer robot and may be programmed to use the container transfer robot to transfer sample containers from the first loop section to the container storage module and to use the container transfer robot to transfer sample containers from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0216] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer, and the identification of each one or more than one functional assay of each analyzer is associated with the analyzer software module and stored in an analyzer database. The system controller may communicate with the analyzer software module of each analyzer and is programmed to monitor the functional assays of all analyzers by receiving information transmissions from the analyzer software module of each analyzer, each information transmission including the identification of each one or more than one functional assay of the associated analyzer.

[0217] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include an outlet direction changer that is operatively associated with a second loop section and is selectively configurable in a first configuration that prevents the sample container from being transferred from the second loop section to the first loop section or a second configuration that causes the sample container to be transferred from the second loop section to the first loop section. The system controller may communicate with the outlet direction changer and may be programmed to configure the outlet direction changer in the first configuration to retain the sample container on the second loop section and to configure the outlet direction changer in the second configuration to cause the sample container to be transferred from the second loop section to the first loop section.

[0218] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith. The automated system is configured to transport the sample containers and includes a carrier including a first loop section and a second loop section, a container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section and hold a plurality of sample containers, a recirculation scanning device operatively associated with the second loop section and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container is transported past the recirculation scanning device on the second loop section, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays per sample container, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container, the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer being variable over time, and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database and the scanning device.This method may include: (A) using a recirculation scanning device to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported past the recirculation scanning device; (B) using a system controller to access a sample database and identify any valid assays for each sample container transported on a second loop section based on the identification information detected by the recirculation scanning device; (C) using the system controller to retain the sample container on the second loop section if the sample container has at least one valid assay; (D) using the system controller to transport the sample container around the second loop section and repeating steps (A), (B), and (C) each time the sample container crosses the second loop section; (E) using the system controller to monitor the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section; (F) using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the second loop section to the first loop section if the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section exceeds a certain limit; and (G) using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to a container storage module.

[0219] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method comprises: (H) using a system controller to record one or more valid assays for each sample container transferred to the container storage module; (I) using the system controller to monitor the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section; (J) using the system controller to compare one or more valid assays for each sample container stored in the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section; (K) using the system controller to transfer a sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container; and (L) after the sample container has been transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section, using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0220] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include using a system controller to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, using the system controller to compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, and using the system controller to transfer a sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0221] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes monitoring, using a system controller, the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with a second loop section; comparing, using the system controller, the valid assay of each sample container scanned using a recycling scanner with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section; and retaining, using the system controller, the sample container on the second loop section until the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container crosses the second loop section exceeds a limit when the sample container has at least one valid assay that matches at least one functional assay.

[0222] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes recording, using a system controller, one or more valid assays of each sample container transferred to a container storage module; comparing, using the system controller, one or more valid assays of each sample container stored in the container storage module with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section; transferring, using the system controller, the sample container stored in the container storage module from the container storage module to the first loop section when at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container; and transferring, using the system controller, the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section after the sample container is transferred from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0223] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include using a system controller to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on a second loop section, using the system controller to compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with a second loop section capacity limit, and using the system controller to transfer a sample container stored in a container storage module from the container storage module to a first loop section if at least one of the functional assays matches any of the valid assays for that sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0224] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a container transfer robot configured to transfer sample containers between a first loop section and a storage module, the system controller may communicate with the container transfer robot, step (G) may include causing the sample container robot to transfer a sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module, and step (K) may include causing the sample container robot to transfer a sample container from the container storage module to the first loop section.

[0225] Aspects of the present disclosure include a system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, and each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith. The system may include a transporter, two or more analyzers, distinct analyzer software modules, a sample database, a buffer queue, a scanning device, and at least one system controller. The transporter may be configured to transport the sample containers. The two or more analyzers may be operatively associated with the transporter, and each analyzer may be configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container. Each analyzer software module is associated with one analyzer, and the identification of each of the one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module. The sample database stores identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, and the sample database is independent of the analyzer software module and the analyzer database. The buffer queue is associated with each analyzer and is configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue. One scanning device may be associated with each analyzer and may be configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter past the scanning device. The system controller may access the sample database, identify one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the transporter based on the identification information detected by each scanning device, and may be programmed to communicate the one or more valid assays of the sample container to the analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device.The associated analyzer software module compares one or more valid assays of a sample container with the respective identifications of one or more functional assays stored in the analyzer database of the associated analyzer, and communicates to the system controller an instruction as to whether, at least in part based on the result of the comparison, the sample container should be redirected from the carrier to the associated buffer queue.

[0226] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the analyzer software module communicates to the system controller an instruction to redirect the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue if at least one valid assay for the sample container corresponds to at least one functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue, or communicates to the system controller an instruction not to redirect the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue if no valid assay for the sample container corresponds to any functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue.

[0227] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the respective identification of one or more queue valid assays is stored in the associated analyzer database, each queue valid assay corresponds to at least one functional assay of the associated analyzer, and includes the identification of at least one valid assay of each sample container previously redirected from the carrier to the associated buffer queue for which the sample has not yet been extracted to perform one of the corresponding functional assays. The associated analyzer software module compares one or more valid assays of a sample container scanned using the associated scanning device with the respective identification of one or more queue valid assays stored in the analyzer database of the associated analyzer, and communicates to the system controller an instruction as to whether, at least in part based on the result of the comparison, the sample container should be redirected from the carrier to the associated buffer queue.

[0228] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the associated analyzer software module is programmed to communicate to the system controller an instruction as to whether to redirect a sample container from the carrier to an associated buffer queue based on whether one or more of the available assays corresponds to a selected one of the one or more queued available assays.

[0229] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the analyzer software module associated with each analyzer comprises a computer module stored within the associated analyzer.

[0230] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may include a first track, and the system may include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to carry the container holder on the first track.

[0231] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each buffer queue comprises a second track configured to hold and transport container holders redirected to the buffer queue, and the system further includes a container diverter configured to selectively redirect sample containers from the first track to the second track.

[0232] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include an automated pipettor associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the sample container to a process container within the associated analyzer. The system controller may be programmed to cause the automated pipettor to transfer an amount of the sample from the sample container redirected to the buffer queue to the process container within the associated analyzer, and after the sample has been transferred from the sample container to the process container, to cause the buffer queue to transport the sample container back to the carrier.

[0233] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop configured and controlled such that (1) the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container, or (2) each sample container is repeatedly translated in parallel to two or more analyzers until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period.

[0234] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a container storage module, and after the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container, or after the sample container traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period, the transporter may be configured and controlled to transfer the sample container to the container storage module.

[0235] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the transporter and the container storage module.

[0236] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include one or more pre-analysis modules, each pre-analysis module being configured to process the sample container before making the sample container available to two or more analyzers. The transporter may be configured to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container between two or more analyzers, and the pre-analysis module may comprise one or more of a container de-capper configured to remove the cap from the sample container and a liquid level detection module configured to detect the liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container.

[0237] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container, and the system controller may be programmed to transfer each second type of sample container in which the sample has been transferred from the sample transfer module to a carrier.

[0238] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include an input module configured to hold a sample container, and a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer the sample container between the input module and the carrier.

[0239] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a pre-analysis loop through which a sample container is provided to the system, and a pre-analysis scanning device configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre-analysis loop. The system controller may identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and may be programmed to transfer a sample container from the pre-analysis loop to a recirculation loop when one or more functional assays of two or more analyzers correspond to at least one of the one or more valid assays of the sample container, and / or when the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is below the recirculation loop capacity limit.

[0240] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis loop and configured to receive a sample container from the pre-analysis loop into the container storage module, and the system controller may be programmed to transfer a sample container on the pre-analysis loop from the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module when none of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches any of the one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0241] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller may be programmed to transport the sample container around the pre-analysis loop if any of two or more analyzers do not have a functional assay that matches any one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0242] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, each time a sample container is transported around the pre-analysis loop, the system controller identifies one or more valid assays of each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and if any of two or more analyzers do not have a functional assay corresponding to any one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is at least equal to the recirculation loop capacity limit, retains the sample container on the pre-analysis loop, monitors the number of times the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop, and may be programmed to transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop exceeds a certain limit.

[0243] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system controller may be programmed to retain the sample container on the pre-analysis loop if any of two or more analyzers do not have a functional assay corresponding to any one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is at least equal to the recirculation loop capacity limit.

[0244] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the system may include a shuttle module associated with each analyzer, the shuttle module being configured to transfer a sample container between the analyzer associated with the associated buffer queue, and a pick-and-place robot associated with each analyzer, the pick-and-place robot being configured to transfer the sample container from the associated buffer queue to a sample container handoff position on the shuttle module. The shuttle module may be configured to transfer the sample container between the sample container handoff position and a pipetting location within the analyzer associated with the sample container handoff position.

[0245] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, and each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith. The automated system includes a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, two or more analyzers operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, two or more analyzers, distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, wherein the identification of each of the one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module, distinct analyzer software modules, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, the sample database being independent of the analyzer software module and the analyzer database, a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue, a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter past the scanning device, and at least one system controller communicating with each analyzer software module, the sample database, and each scanning device.This method may include: (A) using each scanning device to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on a carrier past the scanning device; (B) using a system controller to access a sample database and identify one or more valid assays for the sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (C) using the system controller to communicate one or more valid assays of the sample container to an analyzer software module of an analyzer associated with the scanning device; (D) using the analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device to compare one or more valid assays of the sample container with the respective identifications of one or more functional assays stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer; and (E) communicating, at least in part based on the result of the comparison in step (D), an instruction from the analyzer software module associated with the analyzer to the system controller as to whether the sample container should be redirected from the carrier to an associated buffer queue.

[0246] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include communicating, from an analyzer software module associated with the analyzer, an instruction to the system controller to redirect the sample container from the carrier to an associated buffer queue only if one of one or more valid assays for the sample container corresponds to one of one or more functional assays of an analyzer associated with the buffer queue, or communicating, from the analyzer software module associated with the analyzer, an instruction to the system controller not to redirect the sample container from the carrier to an associated buffer queue if none of the valid assays for the sample container correspond to any functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue.

[0247] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method comprises: (F) storing in an associated analyzer database the identification of each of one or more queued valid assays, each queued valid assay corresponding to at least one functional assay of the associated analyzer and comprising the identification of at least one valid assay of each sample container previously diverted to an associated buffer queue from which the sample has not yet been withdrawn to perform one of the functional assays to which it corresponds; (G) using an associated analyzer software module to compare one or more valid assays communicated in step (C) with the identification of each of one or more queued valid assays stored in step (F); and (H) communicating from the associated analyzer software module to the system controller an instruction as to whether the sample container should be diverted from the transporter to the associated buffer queue, at least in part based on the result of the comparison in step (G).

[0248] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method comprises: (F) storing in an associated analyzer database the identification of each of one or more queued valid assays, each queued valid assay corresponding to at least one functional assay of the associated analyzer and comprising the identification of at least one valid assay of each sample container previously diverted to an associated buffer queue from which the sample has not yet been withdrawn to perform one of the functional assays to which it corresponds; (G) using an associated analyzer software module to compare one or more valid assays communicated in step (C) with the identification of each of one or more queued valid assays stored in step (F), selected from among the one or more queued valid assays; and (H) communicating from the associated analyzer software module to the system controller an instruction as to whether the sample container should be diverted from the transporter to the associated buffer queue, at least in part based on the result of the comparison in step (G).

[0249] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include the system controller redirecting the sample container from the transporter to an associated buffer queue in response to receiving, from an associated analyzer software module, an instruction to redirect the sample container from the transporter to the associated buffer queue.

[0250] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a first track, the system may include a container holder associated with each sample container for holding an associated sample container, and the first track may be configured to carry the container holder on the first track.

[0251] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a first track configured to carry a sample container thereon, each buffer queue may include a second track configured to carry a sample container redirected to the buffer queue, and the automation system may include a container diverter configured to selectively redirect the sample container from the first track to the second track. The step of redirecting the sample container from the transporter to an associated buffer queue may include the system controller causing the container diverter to redirect the sample container from the first track to the second track.

[0252] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automation system may include an automated pipettor associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of the sample from the sample container to a process container within the associated analyzer. Further, the method may include the system controller causing the automated pipettor to transfer an amount of the sample from the sample container redirected to the buffer queue to a process container within the associated analyzer, and the system controller causing the buffer queue to transport the sample container back to the transporter.

[0253] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop configured and controlled to repeatedly translate each sample container past two or more analyzers, and the method may include the system controller counting the number of times each sample container has traversed the recirculation loop or tracking the period of time each sample container has been on the recirculation loop, and the system controller transporting the sample container away from the recirculation loop when the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0254] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a recirculation loop configured and controlled to repeatedly translate each sample container past two or more analyzers, and the automation system may include an automated pipettor associated with each analyzer and configured to extract a portion of the sample from the sample container, and a recirculation scanner operatively associated with the recirculation loop and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the recirculation loop past the recirculation scanner. The system controller may communicate with the recirculation scanner, and the method may include diverting the sample container from the transporter to an associated buffer queue, and then causing the system controller to cause the automated pipettor to extract a sample from the sample container and perform one or more of the valid assays of the sample container using the associated analyzer, and revising the sample database to update the valid assay correlated with the sample identification information for the diverted sample container by changing the status of the valid assay performed by the associated analyzer, and causing the recirculation scanner to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the recirculation loop past the recirculation scanner, and causing the system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for the sample container from which the sample was not extracted based on the identification information detected by the recirculation scanner, and causing the system controller to transport the sample container away from the recirculation loop if there are no remaining valid assays for the sample container.

[0255] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include causing the system controller to count the number of times each sample container has traversed the recirculation loop or track the period of time each sample container has been on the recirculation loop, and causing the system controller to transport the sample container away from the recirculation loop if the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time.

[0256] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a container storage module configured to hold a plurality of sample containers. The method may include the step of the system controller transferring the sample container to the container storage module when there are no further valid assays for the sample container, or when the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period.

[0257] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between a carrier and the container storage module. The system controller may communicate with the pick-and-place robot. The step of transferring the sample container to the storage module may include the system controller activating the pick-and-place robot to transfer the sample container from the carrier to the storage module.

[0258] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include the step of removing a cap from the sample container using a decapper or detecting a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container using a liquid level detection module.

[0259] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include transferring a sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container using a sample transfer module, and the system controller transferring each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to a carrier.

[0260] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the transporter may include a pre - analysis loop through which sample containers are provided to the system, and the automated system may include a pre - analysis scanner configured to detect machine - readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre - analysis loop past the pre - analysis scanner and operatively associated with the pre - analysis loop. The system controller may communicate with the pre - analysis scanner. The method may include the steps of the pre - analysis scanner detecting machine - readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre - analysis loop past the pre - analysis scanner; the system controller accessing a sample database and identifying one or more valid assays for the sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre - analysis scanner; the system controller comparing one or more valid assays for the sample container with functional assays stored in all analyzer databases and / or comparing the number of sample containers transported on the recirculation loop with the recirculation loop capacity limit; and using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the pre - analysis loop to the recirculation loop when one or more functional assays of two or more analyzers correspond to at least one of one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or when the number of sample containers transported on a second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit.

[0261] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a container storage module configured to receive sample containers, and the method may include the step of the system controller transferring a sample container on the pre - analysis loop from the pre - analysis loop to the container storage module when none of two or more analyzers has a functional assay that matches any of one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0262] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include a step in which the system controller transports the sample container around the pre-analysis loop if any of two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay that matches any one or more valid assays of the sample container.

[0263] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes: the system controller identifying one or more valid assays of each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device each time the sample container is transported around the pre-analysis loop; the system controller retaining the sample container on the pre-analysis loop if any of two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay corresponding to any one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is at least equal to the recirculation loop capacity limit; the system controller monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop; and the system controller transferring the sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop and / or the period during which the sample container crosses the pre-analysis loop reaches a certain limit.

[0264] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include a step in which the system controller retains the sample container on the pre-analysis loop if any of two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay corresponding to any one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is at least equal to the recirculation loop capacity limit.

[0265] Aspects of the present disclosure include a method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith. The automated system includes a sample database that stores identification information for each sample container correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, a container storage module operatively associated with the transporter, configured to receive the sample containers from the transporter, and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers, a scanning device operatively associated with the transporter, configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported thereon, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample substance extracted from the sample container, wherein the one or more functional assays include at least one of the one or more valid assays, and at least one system controller that communicates with the sample database, the transporter, and the scanning device.This method may include: (A) using a system controller to automatically transport each sample container by a carrier to at least one analyzer; (B) in the analyzer, automatically extracting an amount of sample from the sample container so that one or more valid assays can be performed on the sample extracted by the analyzer; (C) revising the sample database to update the valid assay correlated with the sample identification information regarding the sample container by changing the status of the valid assay from which the sample was extracted in step (B); (D) using a scanning device to detect machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container; (E) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify any valid assays regarding the sample container from which the sample was not extracted based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (F) if one or more valid assays are identified regarding the sample container in step (E), repeating steps (A)-(E) for each of the one or more valid assays; (G) if no valid assay is identified regarding the sample container in step (E), using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the carrier to a container storage module; (H) using the system controller to receive an additional test instruction regarding the sample container after the sample container has been transferred to the container storage module, the additional test instruction being based on the result of at least one of the one or more valid assays from which the sample was extracted in step (B); (I) using the system controller to transfer the sample container for which the additional test instruction has been received from the container storage module to the carrier; and (J) using the system controller to transfer the sample container by the carrier to at least one analyzer and extract the sample regarding the additional test instruction.

[0266] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the additional test instructions include one or more of the steps of repeating the valid assay, performing a reflection test, and performing an assay different from one or more valid assays to detect different analytes, due to errors encountered when performing the valid assay previously.

[0267] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the carrier may include a first loop section and a second loop section, the container storage module is operatively associated with the first loop section, and at least one analyzer is operatively associated with the second loop section.

[0268] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include monitoring the functional assays of all analyzers using a system controller, comparing the additional test instructions with the functional assays of all analyzers, and performing step (I) only if the additional test instructions correspond to at least one functional assay.

[0269] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section using a system controller, comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the capacity limit of the second loop section, and performing step (I) only if the additional test instructions correspond to at least one functional assay and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the capacity limit of the second loop section.

[0270] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, one or more of the sample containers include a penetrable cap, and step (B) includes extracting the sample substance through the penetrable cap without removing the penetrable cap from the sample container.

[0271] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes: (K) using a system controller to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on a second loop section; (L) using the system controller to compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with a second loop section capacity limit; (M) using the system controller, when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, to retain the sample containers on the first loop section and transport the sample containers around the first loop section until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit; and (N) using the system controller, when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, to transfer the sample containers from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0272] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include a diverter operatively associated with the first loop section, and step (M) includes using the system controller to configure the diverter in a first configuration to prevent the sample containers from being transferred from the first loop section to the second loop section, and step (N) includes using the system controller to configure the diverter in a second configuration to transfer the sample containers from the first loop section to the second loop section.

[0273] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, step (D) includes detecting machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container is transported past a scanning device on the carrier.

[0274] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include an input module configured to hold the sample containers, and the method may include using the system controller to transfer the sample containers from the input module to the first loop section.

[0275] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include determining, using an input module, at least one of a height and a width of the container, a shape of a bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

[0276] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include one or more of removing a cap from the sample container using a decapper and detecting a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container using a liquid level detection module.

[0277] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the method may include transferring a sample substance from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container using a sample transfer module and transferring each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to a carrier using at least one system controller.

[0278] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the automated system may include at least one container transfer robot configured to transfer a sample container between a carrier and a container storage module, the system controller may communicate with the container transfer robot, step (G) may include causing the container transfer robot to transfer the sample container from the carrier to the container storage module, step (I) may include causing the container transfer robot to transfer the sample container from the container storage module to the carrier, and steps (G) and (I) may be performed using the same container transfer robot or different container transfer robots.

[0279] Aspects of the present disclosure include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform any of the methods described above.

[0280] Other features and characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure, and methods of operation, functions of related elements of the structure, and combinations of parts, and economies of manufacture, all of which form a part of this specification, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. The present invention provides, for example, the following. (Item 1) A system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container, the system comprising: A) Two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer being the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by each of the other analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device comprising two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, each analyzer being configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device; two or more analyzers; B) A sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of a sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device; C) A transporter configured to transport the sample container between the two or more analyzers; D) A buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue; E) A scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter; F) One or more controllers, 1) Identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; 2) Determining whether the sample container is a STAT sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; 3) Diverting the sample container from the transporter to one of the buffer queues if the valid assay for that sample container corresponds to the functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue; 4) Monitoring the buffered container count for each buffer queue, where the buffered container count comprises, for each buffer queue, the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay 5) Monitoring the buffered container hold time for each buffer queue, where the buffered container hold time comprises the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was redirected to the buffer queue 6) Using the sample transfer device of the associated analyzer to perform the following tasks, namely a) When the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for that assay is equal to at least a certain number of processes, transferring a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device b) When the buffered container hold time for the associated buffer queue for that valid assay reaches a maximum hold time and the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for that assay is less than a certain number of processes, transferring a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device, or c) Transferring a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device performing one of and being programmed to perform the same by one or more controllers A system comprising (Item 2) When the STAT sample container is redirected to the associated buffer queue, the one or more controllers are configured to: (i) transfer a portion of the sample into different ones of the process containers of the one or more receptacle devices from each of any blocked sample containers previously redirected to the associated buffer queue of the STAT sample container; (ii) move any blocked sample containers from which samples were transferred in step (i) out of the buffer queue; and (iii) then transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device. The system according to claim 1. (Claim 3) If the valid assay of the blocked sample container is the same as the valid assay of the STAT sample container, the sample is transferred in steps (i) and (iii) from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container, respectively, into different process containers of the same receptacle device. The system according to claim 2. (Claim 4) If the valid assay of the blocked sample container is different from the valid assay of the STAT sample container, the sample is transferred in steps (i) and (iii) from the blocked sample container and the STAT sample container to different receptacle devices. The system according to claim 2. (Claim 5) When the STAT sample container is redirected to the associated buffer queue, the one or more controllers are configured to: (i) move any blocked sample containers previously redirected to the associated buffer queue of the STAT sample container out of the buffer queue without transferring any sample from the blocked sample containers into the process containers of the receptacle device, and then (ii) transfer a portion of the sample from the STAT sample container redirected to the associated buffer queue into one of the process containers of the receptacle device. The system according to claim 1. (Claim 6) The system according to any one of items 1-5, wherein each analyzer is configured to simultaneously perform the same one or more than one functional assays of the analyzer on different samples contained in each process vessel of the receptacle device. (Item 7) The system according to any one of items 1-6, wherein the sample transfer device comprises a robotic pipettor. (Item 8) The system according to any one of items 1-7, wherein the transporter comprises a first track, and the system further comprises a container holder associated with each sample container for holding the associated sample container, and the first track is configured to transport the container holder on the first track. (Item 9) The system according to item 8, wherein each buffer queue comprises a second track configured to hold and transport the container holder, and the system further comprises a diverter configured to selectively divert the container holder and the sample container held thereby from the first track to the second track. (Item 10) The system according to any one of items 1-9, wherein the scanning device comprises a barcode scanning device. (Item 11) The system according to any one of items 1-10, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is programmed to identify the one or more valid assays of each sample container by accessing a database in which the identification information of each sample container is correlated with the one or more valid assays. (Item 12) The system according to any one of items 1-7, wherein the transporter comprises a recirculation loop, and the recirculation loop is configured and controlled to (1) extract the sample from the sample container for performing all valid assays on the sample container, or (2) transfer the sample container between the two or more analyzers in parallel until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period. (Item 13) The system according to item 12, wherein the carrier is configured to transfer the sample container to a container storage module after the sample has been extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays regarding the sample container, or after the sample container has traversed the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period. (Item 14) The system according to item 13, further comprising a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between the carrier and the container storage module. (Item 15) The system according to any one of items 1-14, further comprising one or more pre-analysis modules, each pre-analysis module being configured to process the sample container before making the sample container available to the two or more analyzers, and the carrier being configured to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container between the two or more analyzers. (Item 16) The system according to item 15, wherein the pre-analysis module comprises one or more of a container de-capper configured to remove a cap from the sample container, a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a portion of the sample container, and a sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from a first type of sample container to a second type of sample container that will be made available to the two or more analyzers. (Item 17) The system according to any one of items 1-16, further comprising an input module coupled to the carrier and configured to hold a sample container. (Item 18) The system according to item 17, further comprising a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between the input module and the carrier. (Item 19) The system according to item 17 or 18, wherein the input module is configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped. (Item 20) The carrier is configured with a recirculation section for translating each sample container to the two or more analyzers, and a pre-analysis section, An input module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to hold a sample container The system according to item 1, comprising (Item 21) The recirculation section comprises a continuous recirculation loop, the continuous recirculation loop being configured such that (1) a sample is extracted from the sample container for performing all valid assays of the sample container, or (2) each sample container is translated between the two or more analyzers until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or over a predetermined period. The system according to item 20 (Item 22) The system according to item 20 or 21, further comprising a pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between the input module and the pre-analysis section, the pre-analysis section being configured to translate the sample container from the input module to the recirculation section (Item 23) The system according to item 22, wherein the pick-and-place robot is controlled to be independent of any identification information associated with each sample container and / or any valid assay of the sample container as to whether the sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section or the order in which the sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section (Item 24) The system according to item 22, wherein the input module contains an area dedicated to STAT sample containers, and the STAT sample containers are transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section before any other sample container is transferred from the input module to the pre-analysis section (Item 25) The system according to any one of items 20-24, further comprising a pre-analysis scanning device configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre-analysis section, the controller identifying one or more valid assays of each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and the system being configured to transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis section to the recirculation section if one or more functional assays of the two or more analyzers correspond to at least one of the one or more valid assays of the sample container (Item 26) The system according to item 25, further comprising a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis section and configured to receive a sample container from the pre-analysis section into the container storage module, wherein the controller is configured to transfer the sample container on the pre-analysis section to the container storage module if any of the two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay that matches any of the one or more valid assays of the sample container. (Item 27) The system according to item 25, wherein the pre-analysis section comprises a continuous pre-analysis loop, and the controller is configured to transport the sample container around the pre-analysis loop if any of the two or more analyzers does not have a functional assay that matches any of the one or more valid assays of the sample container. (Item 28) The system according to any one of items 1 - 27, wherein at least one of the two or more analyzers comprises a molecular testing instrument. (Item 29) The system according to item 28, wherein the molecular testing instrument comprises a module for performing a nucleic acid-based amplification reaction. (Item 30) The system according to any one of items 1 - 29, wherein each process container of each receptacle device comprises a test tube, and the receptacle device comprises a certain number of interconnected test tubes configured in an aligned array. (Item 31) The system according to any one of items 1 - 30, further comprising a shuttle module associated with each analyzer, wherein the shuttle module is configured to transfer a sample container between the associated buffer queue and the associated analyzer. (Item 32) The system according to item 31, further comprising a pick-and-place robot associated with each analyzer, wherein the pick-and-place robot is configured to transfer the sample container from the associated buffer queue to a sample container handoff position on the shuttle module, and the shuttle module is configured to transfer the sample container between the sample container handoff position and a pipetting operation location within the associated analyzer. (Item 33) Each of the two or more analyzers is configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample from the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the one or more controllers perform task F)6)a) at the start of the first process cycle after a number of sample containers of the same valid assay have been diverted to the associated buffer queue perform task F)6)b) at the start of the first process cycle after the buffered container holding time for the associated buffer queue for that assay has reached the maximum holding time, or perform task F)6)c) at the start of the first process cycle after STAT samples have been diverted The system according to any one of items 1 - 31, configured to perform (Item 34) Each of the two or more analyzers is configured to move a receptacle device to a position to receive a sample from the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer at the start of a periodically recurring process cycle, and the maximum holding time comprises at least the remaining time of the process cycle in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted to the buffer queue, the system according to any one of items 1 - 31. (Item 35) The system according to item 34, wherein the maximum holding time comprises the remaining time of the process cycle in progress when the first sample container of each buffered container count is diverted to the buffer queue + the duration of one additional process cycle. (Item 36) A method for automatically processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container, the samples being processed in one or more of two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays, the two or more analyzers being configured to perform the same or different functional assays, each analyzer being configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device comprising two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, each analyzer being configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device. a) Automatically transporting the sample containers between the two or more analyzers; b) During step a), identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container; c) If at least one valid assay identified in step b) for the sample container corresponds to the functional assay configured to be performed by the associated analyzer, redirecting the sample container to a buffer queue associated with one of the two or more analyzers; d) Monitoring the buffered container count for each buffer queue and for each functional assay of the associated analyzer, the buffered container count comprising the number of sample containers held within each buffer queue for each functional assay of the associated analyzer; e) Monitoring the buffered container hold time for each buffer queue, the buffered container hold time comprising the elapsed time since the first sample container of each buffered container count was redirected to the buffer queue. f) For each buffer queue, a step of detecting the first-occurring one of a first process state, a second process state, and a third process state, wherein the first process state means that the buffered container count for the first assay is equal to the number of processes and the buffered container holding time for that assay has not reached the maximum holding time; the second process state means that the buffered container count for the first assay is less than the number of processes and the buffered container holding time for the first assay has reached the maximum holding time; and the third process state means that the redirected sample container within the buffer queue is designated as STAT, the step; g) When the first process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, a step of transferring an amount of sample from each of the sample containers of the number of processes that request the first assay held within the buffer queue into one of the process containers of the number of processes of the receptacle device; h) When the second process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, a step of transferring an amount of sample from each of a certain number of sample containers that request the first assay held within the buffer queue into one of a certain number of process containers of the receptacle device, wherein the number of sample containers is less than the number of processes, the step; i) When the third process state is detected with respect to the buffer queue, a step of transferring an amount of sample from the STAT sample container held within the buffer queue into the process container of the receptacle device comprising a method. (Item 37) A system for processing a plurality of distinctly different samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container, the system comprising A) Two or more analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, wherein the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by each of the other analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device comprising two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, and each analyzer being configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device; two or more analyzers; B) A sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of a sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device; C) A transporter configured to transport the sample container between the two or more analyzers; D) A buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers received from the transporter; E) A scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter; F) One or more controllers, the one or more controllers performing the following tasks, namely: 1) Identifying one or more valid assays to be performed on the sample contained within each sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; 2) Redirecting the sample container from the transporter to one of the buffer queues when the sample container meets one or more sample selection criteria, the sample selection criteria including whether the assay to be performed on the sample within the sample container corresponds to the functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue; 3) Monitoring the buffered container count for each buffer queue, where the buffered container count for each buffer queue comprises the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay, and the buffered container count does not exceed the number of processes; and 4) When the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for the valid assay is equal to a certain number of processes, causing a sample transfer device of the associated analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of the sample containers of the number of processes within the associated buffer queue that require the same valid assay, into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device; One or more controllers programmed to perform the above; A system comprising the same. (Item 38) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to control a system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, each sample being contained within a discrete sample container, the system comprising: (i) two or more analyzers, each analyzer configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the one or more functional assays of each analyzer being capable of being the same as or different from the respective one or more functional assays of the other analyzers, each analyzer being configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle device comprising two or more operationally associated process containers of a certain number of processes, each analyzer being configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on different samples contained within each process container of the receptacle device; (ii) a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of a sample from the sample container to one of the process containers of the receptacle device; (ii) a carrier configured to transport the sample containers to the two or more analyzers; (iv) a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers received from the carrier; (v) a diverter associated with each analyzer and configured to redirect the sample containers from the carrier to the associated buffer queue; and (vi) a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the carrier, the computer-executable instructions comprising: Receiving identification information for each sample container from each of the scanning devices; Querying a database of sample information to identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information received from the scanning devices; Determining whether at least one valid assay of the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of the analyzer associated with the scanning device; When at least one valid assay of the sample container corresponds to a functional assay of the associated analyzer, activating the deflector to redirect the sample container from the carrier to a buffer queue associated with the analyzer; Monitoring the buffered container count for each buffer queue, where the buffered container count comprises the number of sample containers held within that buffer queue with the same valid assay, for each buffer queue; When the buffered container count within the associated buffer queue for the valid assay is equal to at least a certain number of processes, causing the sample transfer device associated with the analyzer to transfer a portion of the sample from each of the number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue with the same valid assay into different ones of the process containers of the receptacle device; A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause the above. (Item 39) A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: A sample database storing the identification information for each sample container, the identification information for each sample container being correlated with one or more valid assays associated with the sample container; A carrier configured to transport the sample containers; An input module configured to hold a plurality of sample containers; A container transfer robot configured to transfer the sample containers from the input module to the carrier; An input scanning device configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container; At least one analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, and the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, at least one analyzer; At least one system controller, the at least one system controller communicating with the container transfer robot, the input scanning device, and the sample database; Controlling the container transfer robot to transfer a sample container from the input module to the transporter, each sample container to be transferred being removed from the input module before scanning the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container and before identifying the one or more valid assays associated with the sample container; Activating the input scanning device to automatically scan the machine-readable identification information of the sample container when each sample container is removed from the input module or thereafter when the sample container passes through the input scanning device; Accessing the sample database; Identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the transporter based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device; At least one system controller programmed to perform; A system comprising. (Item 40) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, wherein each sample is contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith and one or more valid assays, the automated system comprising a transporter for transporting the sample containers, an input module for holding a plurality of sample containers, an input scanning device for detecting the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer being the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, at least one analyzer, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, and a system controller communicating with the sample database and the input scanning device, the method comprising: (A) using the system controller to automatically transfer each sample container from the input module to the transporter, the sample container being removed from the input module before scanning the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container and before identifying the one or more valid assays associated with the sample container; (B) using the input scanning device to detect the machine-readable identification information of the sample container when each sample container is removed from the input module or thereafter when the sample container passes through the input scanning device; (C) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify one or more valid assays for the sample container being transported on the transporter based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device; A method, comprising: (Item 41) A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: Storing identification information for each of the sample containers, the identification information being correlated with a sample database of one or more valid assays for each sample container; A transporter configured to transport the sample containers, the transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section, the sample containers being introduced into the system in the first loop section; An analysis pre-scanning device operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container passes through the analysis pre-scanning device; At least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer being the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer being variable over time; At least one system controller, the at least one system controller communicating with the sample database, the analysis pre-scanning device, and the at least one analyzer; Accessing the sample database and identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section based on the identification information detected by the analysis pre-scanning device; Monitoring the functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; Compare the one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or compare the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, If none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for its sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retain the sample container on the first loop section, and transport the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for its sample container, and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, If at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for its sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section At least one system controller programmed to perform A system comprising (Item 42) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, wherein each sample is contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the automated system storing the identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with a sample database of one or more valid assays for each sample container, a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, the transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section, the sample containers being introduced into the system in the first loop section, a transporter, an analysis pre-scanning device operatively associated with the first loop section and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as the sample container passes through the analysis pre-scanning device, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container, the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer being the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer being variable over time, at least one analyzer, and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database, the analysis pre-scanning device, and the at least one analyzer, the method comprising: (A) detecting, using the analysis pre-scanning device, the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported past the analysis pre-scanning device; (B) accessing, using the system controller, the sample database and identifying, based on the identification information detected by the analysis pre-scanning device, one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section; (C) Using the system controller, monitoring the functional assay configured to be performed by all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (D) Using the system controller, comparing the one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section, and / or comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (E) Using the system controller, if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for the sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, retaining the sample container on the first loop section, and transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container, and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit; (F) Using the system controller, if at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container, and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section A method comprising. (Item 43) A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: A transporter configured to transport sample containers, the transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section; A container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section and hold a plurality of sample containers; A scanning device configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated operationally with the first loop section and associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section; A sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container; At least one analyzer associated operationally with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, wherein the number of analyzers associated operationally with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time; At least one system controller communicating with the sample database and the scanning device, the system controller having the following functions, namely: (A) Accessing the sample database and identifying one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (B) Monitoring the functional assays configured to be performed by all analyzers associated operationally with the second loop section and / or monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (C) Comparing the one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section with the functional assays of all analyzers associated operationally with the second loop section and / or comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (D) Retaining a sample container on the first loop section if any of the functional assays do not match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit; (E) Transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for the sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and repeating functions A, B, C, and D each time the sample container crosses the first loop section; (F) Monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section; (G) Transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section exceeds a certain limit At least one system controller programmed to perform A system comprising (Item 44) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, wherein each sample is contained within a sample container, each sample container has machine-readable identification information associated therewith, and the automated system includes a carrier configured to transport the sample containers, the carrier including a first loop section and a second loop section; a container storage module operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to receive sample containers from the first loop section and hold a plurality of sample containers; a scanning device operatively associated with the first loop section, configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section; a sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container; at least one analyzer operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer being variable over time; and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database and the scanning device, the method comprising: (A) detecting, using the scanning device, the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the first loop section; (B) accessing, using the system controller, the sample database and identifying, based on the identification information detected by the scanning device, one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the first loop section; (C) monitoring, using the system controller, the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or monitoring the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section; (D)Using the system controller, comparing the one or more valid assays of each sample container transported on the first loop section with the functional assays of all analyzers operably associated with the second loop section, and / or comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit; (E)Using the system controller, retaining the sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit; (F)Using the system controller, transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit, and repeating steps (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) each time the sample container crosses the first loop section; (G)Using the system controller, monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section; (H)Using the system controller, transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module if the number of times the sample container crosses the first loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the first loop section reaches a limit. A method comprising the above steps. (Item 45) A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: A transporter configured to transport the sample containers, the transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section. A container storage module that is operatively associated with the first loop section, receives sample containers from the first loop section, and is configured to hold a plurality of sample containers; A recirculation scanning device that is operatively associated with the second loop section and is configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container when the sample container is transported past the recirculation scanning device on the second loop section; A sample database that stores identification information for each sample container, and the identification information is correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container; At least one analyzer that is operatively associated with the second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, and the number of analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer may vary over time; at least one analyzer; At least one system controller that communicates with the sample database and the scanning device, the system controller having the following functions, namely: (A) Access the sample database and identify any valid assays for each sample container transported on the second loop section based on the identification information detected by the recirculation scanning device; (B) Retain the sample container on the second loop section if the sample container has one or more valid assays; (C) Transport the sample container around the second loop section and repeat functions A and B each time the sample container crosses the second loop section; (D) Monitor the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section; (E) Transfer the sample container from the second loop section to the first loop section if the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section exceeds a certain limit; (F) Transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module At least one system controller programmed to execute and A system comprising. (Item 46) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, said automated system comprising a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, said transporter comprising a first loop section and a second loop section, a container storage module operatively associated with said first loop section and configured to receive sample containers from said first loop section and hold a plurality of sample containers, a recirculation scanning device operatively associated with said second loop section and configured to detect said machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container as said sample container is transported past said recirculation scanning device on said second loop section, a sample database storing identification information for each sample container, said identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, at least one analyzer operatively associated with said second loop section, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the number of analyzers operatively associated with said second loop section and / or the one or more functional assays configured to be performed by each analyzer being variable over time, at least one analyzer, and at least one system controller in communication with said sample database and said scanning device, said method comprising (A) detecting, using said recirculation scanning device, said machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported past said recirculation scanning device; (B) accessing, using said system controller, said sample database and identifying any valid assays for each sample container transported on said second loop section based on said identification information detected by said recirculation scanning device; (C) retaining, using said system controller, said sample container on said second loop section if said sample container has one or more valid assays; (D) Using the system controller, transporting the sample container around the second loop section, and repeating steps (A), (B), and (C) each time the sample container crosses the second loop section; (E) Using the system controller, monitoring the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section; (F) Using the system controller, when the number of times the sample container crosses the second loop section and / or the amount of time the sample container has crossed the second loop section exceeds a certain limit, transferring the sample container from the second loop section to the first loop section; (G) Using the system controller, transferring the sample container from the first loop section to the container storage module A method comprising. (Item 47) (Item 48) A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: A transporter configured to transport the sample container; Two or more analyzers operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from the sample container; A distinct analyzer software module associated with each analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, wherein the identification of each of the one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module; A sample database, the sample database storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, the sample database being independent of the analyzer software module and the analyzer database; A buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue; A scanning device configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each analyzer and with each sample container transported on the carrier past the scanning device, at least one system controller, the at least one system controller accessing the sample database, identifying the one or more valid assays for each sample container transported on the carrier based on the identification information detected by each scanning device, and programmed to communicate the one or more valid assays of the sample container to an analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device, comprising, the associated analyzer software module comparing the one or more valid assays of the sample container with the respective identifications of the one or more functional assays stored in an analyzer database of the associated analyzer and, at least in part, based on the result of the comparison, programming to communicate to the system controller an instruction as to whether the sample container should be diverted from the carrier to the associated buffer queue, (Item 48) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, wherein each sample is contained within a sample container, each sample container has machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the automated system includes a transporter configured to transport the sample containers, two or more analyzers operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, two or more analyzers, and distinct analyzer software modules associated with each analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, wherein the identification of each of the one or more functional assays of each analyzer is stored in an analyzer database associated with the analyzer software module, distinct analyzer software modules, a sample database that stores identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, the sample database being independent of the analyzer software module and the analyzer database, a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold a plurality of sample containers diverted from the transporter to the buffer queue, a scanning device associated with each analyzer and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter past the scanning device, and at least one system controller in communication with each analyzer software module, the sample database, and each scanning device, the method comprising: (A) using each scanning device to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the transporter past the scanning device; (B) using the system controller to access the sample database and identify the one or more valid assays for the sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (C) Using the system controller, communicating one or more valid assays of the sample container to an analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device; (D) Using the analyzer software module of the analyzer associated with the scanning device, comparing one or more valid assays of the sample container with respective identifications of one or more functional assays stored in the analyzer database of the associated analyzer; (E) Communicating, at least in part based on the result of the comparison of step (D), an instruction from the associated analyzer software module to the system controller as to whether to redirect the sample container from the carrier to the associated buffer queue; A method comprising. (Item 49) A method for processing a plurality of samples using an automated system, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the automated system storing identification information for each sample container, the identification information being correlated with one or more valid assays for each sample container, a sample database, a carrier configured to transport the sample containers, a container storage module operatively associated with the carrier and configured to receive sample containers from the carrier and hold a plurality of sample containers, a scanning device operatively associated with the carrier and configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported thereon, at least one analyzer operatively associated with the carrier and configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample substance extracted from the sample container, the one or more functional assays including at least one of the one or more valid assays, at least one analyzer, and at least one system controller in communication with the sample database, the carrier, and the scanning device, the method comprising: (A) Using the system controller, automatically transporting each sample container by the carrier to the at least one analyzer; (B) In the analyzer, automatically extracting an amount of sample from the sample container such that one of the one or more valid assays can be performed on the sample extracted by the analyzer; (C) Revising the sample database to update the valid assay correlated with the sample identification information regarding the sample container by changing the status of the valid assay from which the sample was extracted in step (B); (D) Detecting the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container using the scanning device; (E) Using the system controller, accessing the sample database and identifying any valid assays regarding the sample container from which no sample was extracted based on the identification information detected by the scanning device; (F) If one or more valid assays are identified for the sample container in step (E), repeating steps (A)-(E) for each of the one or more valid assays; (G) If no valid assays are identified for the sample container in step (E), using the system controller to transfer the sample container from the transporter to the container storage module; (H) Using the system controller, receiving an additional test instruction regarding the sample container after the sample container has been transferred to the container storage module, the additional test instruction being based on the result of at least one of the one or more valid assays from which the sample was extracted in step (B); (I) Using the system controller, transferring the sample container for which the additional test instruction has been received from the container storage module to the transporter; (J) Using the system controller, transferring the sample container by the transporter to the at least one analyzer and extracting a sample regarding the additional test instruction A method comprising.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0281] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to the same or functionally similar elements.

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[0290] DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the subject matter of this disclosure can be embodied in various forms, but the following description and the accompanying drawings are intended merely to disclose some of these forms as specific examples of the subject matter. Accordingly, the subject matter of this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the forms or embodiments so described and illustrated. DEFINITIONS

[0291] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms, notations, and other technical or specialized terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. All patents, applications, published applications, and other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If the definitions set forth in this section conflict with or are otherwise inconsistent with the definitions set forth in the patents, applications, published applications, and other publications incorporated by reference herein, the definitions set forth in this section shall control.

[0292] As used herein, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise suggests, "a" or "an" means "at least one" or "one or more."

[0293] This description may use various terms to describe the relative spatial arrangement and / or orientation or direction when describing the position and / or orientation, or movement, force, or other dynamic actions of components, devices, locations, features, or parts thereof. Unless specifically stated or otherwise determined by the context of the description, such terms, including but not limited to, upper, lower, above, below, beneath, on top of, upper side, lower side, left of, right of, in front of, rearward, adjacent to, between, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, longitudinal, transverse, radial, axial, clockwise, counterclockwise, etc., are used for convenience when referring to such components, devices, locations, features, or parts thereof, or movement, force, or other dynamic actions in the drawings and are not intended to be limiting.

[0294] Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise suggests, terms such as attached, connected, fixed, integrated, coupled, joined, or similar, or variations of such terms, used herein to describe the physical and / or spatial relationship between a first component, structure, or part thereof and a second component, structure, or part thereof, are intended to encompass both a direct relationship where the first component, structure, or part thereof is in direct contact with the second component, structure, or part thereof, and the presence of one or more intervening components, structures, or parts thereof between the first component, structure, or part thereof and the second component, structure, or part thereof.

[0295] Furthermore, unless otherwise described, any specific dimensions referred to in this description merely represent an exemplary implementation of a device embodying aspects of the present disclosure and are not intended to be limiting.

[0296] The use of the term "about" applies to all numerical values defined in this specification, whether explicitly indicated or not. This term generally refers to a range of numerical values that a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider a reasonable deviation from the numerical values recited in the context of the present disclosure (i.e., having an equivalent function or result). For example, although not intended to be limiting, this term can be interpreted to include a deviation of ±10% of a given numerical value, provided that such deviation does not modify the final function or result of the value. Thus, as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, in some situations, a value of about 1% can be interpreted to be in the range of 0.9% to 1.1%.

[0297] As used herein, the term "adjacent" refers to being in the vicinity of, or adjacent to. Adjacent objects can be separated from each other, or can actually or directly contact each other. In some instances, adjacent objects can be coupled to each other, or can be formed integrally with each other.

[0298] As used herein, the terms "substantially" and "substantial" refer to a significant degree or extent. For example, when used in conjunction with an event, situation, characteristic, or property, the term can refer to instances where the event, situation, characteristic, or property occurs precisely, and instances where the event, situation, characteristic, or property occurs approximately, taking into account the typical tolerance levels or variability of the embodiments described herein.

[0299] As used herein, the terms "optional" and "optionally" mean that the subsequently described component, structure, element, event, situation, characteristic, property, step, etc. may or may not be included or occur, and the description includes cases where the component, structure, element, event, situation, characteristic, property, step, etc. are included or occur, and cases where they are not included or do not occur.

[0300] References to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "further embodiment", "an example embodiment", "some aspects", "a further aspect", "aspects", etc. in this specification indicate that the described embodiments may include certain features, structures, or characteristics, but not all embodiments necessarily include the specific features, structures, or characteristics. Also, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in relation to an embodiment, such feature, structure, or characteristic is also described in relation to other embodiments, whether or not explicitly stated.

[0301] Reaction or process: According to various embodiments, the reaction or process can comprise one or more than one of a sample preparation process, a washing process, a sample purification process, a pre-amplification process, a pre-amplification product purification process, an amplification process, an amplification product purification process, a separation process, a sequencing process, a sequencing product purification process, a labeling process, a detection process, or the like. The amplification process may include, for example, a nucleic acid-based amplification reaction such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

[0302] Processing component: The processing component comprises a component that performs a reaction or process and can include a sample preparation component, a purification component, a pre-amplification reaction component, an amplification reaction component, a sequencing reaction component, a detection component, or the like.

[0303] Assay: As used herein, the term "assay" refers to a procedure for detecting and / or quantifying an analyte in a sample. A sample comprising or suspected of comprising an analyte is contacted with one or more reagents and exposed to permissive conditions to generate a detectable signal that indicates whether the analyte is present or the amount (e.g., mass or concentration) of the analyte in the sample.

[0304] Analyzer: As used herein, the term "analyzer" refers to an automated instrument capable of performing one or more steps of an assay, including the step of determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes suspected of being present in a fluid sample. An automated clinical analyzer ("analyzer") comprises one or more processing components and may include a molecular testing instrument, a clinical chemistry analyzer, an automated immunoassay analyzer, or any other type of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test analyzer. Generally, an analyzer performs a series of automated reactions or processes, such as IVD tests on multiple patient samples. Patient samples can be loaded (manually or via an automated system) into the analyzer, which can then perform one or more reactions or processes, such as immunoassays, chemical tests, or other observable tests, on each sample.

[0305] Transporter: A transporter is a transport unit that can be used to move sample containers (and thus fluid samples) or other items in a sample processing system. In some embodiments, the transporter may be a conventional automated pack (e.g., a passive device comprising a holder for engaging a tube or item, a friction surface to enable an external conveyor belt in an automated track to provide motive power, and a plurality of sides or continuous circular sides that enable the pack to be guided by walls or rails in the track and enable the track to route the transporter to its destination). In some embodiments, the transporter may include active components such as a processor, a motion system, a guidance system, sensors, and the like. In some embodiments, the transporter can include on-board intelligence that enables the transporter to self-navigate between points in an automated system. In some embodiments, the transporter can include on-board components that provide motive power, while in other cases, the motive power may be provided by an automated surface such as a track. In some embodiments, the transporter moves along a track that restricts movement in a single direction (e.g., forward and backward) between branch points. The transporter may be specialized for a given payload in an IVD environment, such as having a tube holder for engaging and transporting a sample container, or may include a mounting surface suitable for transporting different items around an automated system. The transporter can be configured to include one or more slots (e.g., the transporter may hold one or more sample containers).

[0306] In Vitro Diagnosis (IVD): In Vitro Diagnosis (IVD) is a test that can detect diseases, conditions, infections, metabolic markers, or quantify various components of body substances / fluids. IVD tests generally utilize medical devices intended to perform a diagnosis from an assay within a test tube or other reaction or process container, or more generally, within a controlled environment outside of a living organism, and include tests and diagnoses of diseases or quantification of various components of body substances / fluids based on an assay performed on a patient's fluid sample.

[0307] Module: A module is a component that performs a specific task or function. Examples of modules include a pre - analysis module that operates on a sample container or prepares a sample for an analytical test (e.g., a decapper module that removes caps from sample containers, a centrifuge, a liquid level detection module, etc.), an analyzer module that extracts a portion of a sample from a sample container and performs a test, assay, or other process with one or more reactions, processes, or process steps, a post - analysis module that prepares the sample container for storage after an analytical test (e.g., a capper or re - capper module that reseals the sample container), or a sample container handling module such as an input module, an output module, or a storage module.

[0308] Conveyor, carrier, track: As used herein, the terms "conveyor", "carrier", or "track" refer to a mechanical device for transporting an article (e.g., a container or a carrier that may or may not hold a container) from one location to another along a defined path. Non - limiting examples of exemplary conveyors include robots, belts (e.g., moving belts, shuttles / carriages moving on tracks, rails, etc.), magnetic devices, gear systems, cable systems, vacuum systems, self - driving vehicles with wheels, etc. The term may be used to refer to the entire device or a discrete part or extent of the device for transporting an article from a first location to a second location.

[0309] Computer or processor: A computer or processor may refer to one or more computers or processors and / or associated software and processing circuitry. This may include, as appropriate, a single or multi - core processor, a single or multi - processor, an embedded system, or a distributed processing architecture to implement the functions or functions defined in each embodiment.

[0310] Buffer queue: The term buffer queue may be used to refer to a track segment that is separated from the main part of the track system. The buffer queue may include parallel tracks or other suitable means for separating some sample containers and associated carriers (if applicable) from the main transport pattern. In the present disclosure, the buffer queue may be associated with an analyzer or other processing module, receive sample containers and associated carriers (if applicable) from the main carrier track, and hold the sample containers until one or more of the sample containers held within the buffer queue can be processed according to the processing decision logic described herein.

[0311] Sample, sample substance, or sample fluid: These terms refer to the contents of a sample container such as a sample taken from an industrial or municipal substance storage or processing system for chemical or biological testing or a biological sample taken from a patient (human or animal), including blood (whole blood, serum, plasma), urine, hematocrit, amniotic fluid, interstitial fluid, sputum, urine, feces, semen, mucus, pus, tissue, food, or any other fluid suitable for performing an assay or test thereon. A sample may sometimes refer to a calibration fluid or other fluid used to assist an analyzer when processing other patient samples.

[0312] STAT (short turn-around time) sample: Samples may be assigned different priorities by a laboratory information system (LIS) or an operator in order to assign a STAT priority to samples that should be given priority over non-STAT samples in a processing system.

[0313] Station: A station includes a part of the system, i.e., a subsystem, that performs a specific task or function or multiple tasks or functions within the system.

[0314] Sample container: The sample is transported within a container such as a test tube, vial, or other suitable receptacle or container, and optionally, a conveyor track or other carrier that holds the sample container, may be able to transport the sample without contaminating the carrier or the surface of the carrier. In some embodiments, where the sample container is configured to stand upright and stationary without an excessive risk of tipping over, the sample container may be transported directly by the conveyor without the need for a support carrier. System overview

[0315] The automated sample processing system described herein provides a hardware and software interface to enable analyzer connectivity with an automated track or conveyor system in a manner that maximizes efficiency and throughput compared to prior art systems. The automated sample processing system described herein provides a mechanical and software interface between an analyzer in which multiple samples are processed simultaneously within a multi-container receptacle device and an automated conveyor system or carrier, e.g., a container transport track system. This will enable laboratories to interconnect several such analyzers to form one analytical system with options including pre- and post-analysis processing and sample archiving. The system receives placement of a sample container from a pick-and-place robot (i.e., a container movement mechanism comprising an electromechanical device that translates the container in the X, Y, and / or Z directions), and then automatically transfers the sample container to a sample transfer location within the analyzer, where a sample transfer robot, such as an automated pipettor, will transfer the sample substance from the sample container to the receptacle device. A mechanism for transferring the sample container from the track system to the analyzer, such as an electromechanical shuttle module, may be incorporated. Once sample transfer from the sample container into the receptacle device within the analyzer (e.g., by pipetting operation) is complete, the sample container is reciprocated back to the pick-and-place position, where the pick-and-place robot will remove the sample container from the shuttle and return it to the track system. The present disclosure may refer to moving, transporting, conveying, or otherwise shifting a sample container within the system, between components or modules of the system, or within a specific component or module of the system. Unless otherwise specified, such disclosure generally applies to the system described (i.e., whether or not the system employs a carrier for releasably holding and supporting the sample container) and may include moving the sample container alone or in combination with a support carrier.

[0316] In contrast to analyzers where an assay or other process is performed in separate discrete reaction vessels, each analyzer of the sample processing system described herein is configured to perform an assay or process within a receptacle device that comprises two or more operatively associated discrete process vessels for a number of processes. Thus, an assay can be performed simultaneously on samples for a number of processes in separate containers of a multi-container receptacle device. In one embodiment, the receptacle device comprises five interconnected test tubes (as will be described in further detail below), and the assay can be performed in parallel by the analyzer on five different samples in each of the five test tubes. Alternatively, the discrete operatively associated process vessels may be held within a rack that holds a number of process containers. Thus, to maximize analyzer throughput and efficiency, it is desirable to identify the number of processes for different samples that require the same assay (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, etc., according to various embodiments), and thus, the sample material can be transferred from each of the different sample containers for that number of processes to each of the process containers for that number of processes, and the analyzer can perform the assay simultaneously on samples for a number of processes. On the other hand, performing an assay on the contents of a receptacle device where not all process containers contain samples can have an adverse effect on the throughput and efficiency of the analyzer.

[0317] The sample container is delivered to the analyzer via an automated track system. In some embodiments, the sample container may be held within a carrier on the track system. The system controller (which may comprise one or more individual controllers) monitors the assays configured or equipped to be performed by each analyzer of the system and the assays required for each sample container within the system (variously referred to herein as "valid assays" or "assay instructions" or "valid instructions") in order for the track system to route and dispense the sample container to the appropriate analyzer. For brevity, this disclosure may refer to the one or more assays required for a sample container. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the one or more assays that are instructed and required will be for the sample contained within the sample container and not for the sample container itself.

[0318] Exemplary carriers for releasably holding a sample container and transporting the sample container on a pre- and post-analysis track 202 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,485,264, 8,147,778, 10,041,965, and 10,386,381, U.S. Published Patent Applications Nos. 2006 / 0222573, 2017 / 0153262, 2017 / 0248623, and 2018 / 0052183, and U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 003,754. The individual carriers may be conveyed by a power element associated with the track, e.g., a conveyor, or the carrier itself may be self-propelled along a passive track. Exemplary conveyor track assemblies and instruments are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,766,258 and 9,776,811 and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2017 / 0254827 and are embodied in commercially available systems from FlexLink, Inpeco (Flexlab, FlexLab-HT, etc.), Integrated Drive Systems (e.g., IDS-CLAS-Xl), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hitachi, MagneMotion, GLP, etc. In embodiments where the sample container stands on its own on the container carrier, the carrier for supporting the sample container may be omitted.

[0319] The analyzer is "configured" to perform one or more assays or processes by having, for example, suitable and sufficient materials on board for performing an assay (e.g., reagents, buffers, probes, etc.), suitable and sufficient consumables on board for performing an assay (e.g., disposable pipette tips, disposable processing or reaction receptacles, disposable multi-vessel receptacle devices, etc.), sufficient liquid and solid waste capacity, suitable processing modules for performing an assay (e.g., one or more substance transfer devices (e.g., pipettors), an incubator set to a suitable temperature, a sample purification module, a detector, a centrifuge, etc.), and executable software for performing an assay (i.e., the analyzer is programmed to perform an assay). An assay or other process that the analyzer is configured to perform may be referred to herein as a "functional assay" or "functional process" of the analyzer. Each analyzer may be configured to perform more than one functional assay, and two or more analyzers may be configured to perform one or more of the same functional assays or completely different functional assays. The functional assays that the analyzer is configured to perform may vary over time as one or more of the resources required to perform the assay become depleted and before or after the resources are replenished.

[0320] In one embodiment, after the sample containers are placed within the input module of the system, each sample container is individually scanned with respect to its identification information (e.g., barcode or radio frequency ID), which may include a patient ID. The sample identification information for each sample container introduced into the system is stored within a first controller, which is known in one embodiment as a workflow management system (“WMS”). The WMS will query the laboratory information system (“LIS”) for sample identification and identify the assay instructions (valid assays) for each associated sample container. The WMS will then update the sample container data structure (e.g., within a sample database) with all valid assays correlated to the sample identification information for each sample container.

[0321] The WMS is also involved in executing the appropriate workflow for any given assay. Thus, the WMS will execute an assay-specific workflow, which may include pre- and post-analysis steps such as centrifugation, cap removal, aliquoting, storage, reflex testing, cap reattachment, etc. After any required pre-analysis steps are performed, the sample container will be routed from the pre- / post-analysis section of the system to the analysis section of the system if at least one analyzer having a functional assay that matches the valid assay of the sample container is present on the analysis section and sufficient space for additional sample containers is present on the analysis section.

[0322] The movement of the sample container from the pre - analysis / post - analysis compartment into the analysis compartment may be controlled by an “introduction direction changer” or gate configured and controlled to provide path - designation priority to sample containers already within the analysis compartment. In some embodiments, a second controller, known as an orbit controller, will control the basic operation of the orbit and route each sample container to the first analyzer. A scanning device associated with each analyzer (e.g., a barcode or radio - frequency identification (“RFID”) scanning device) reads the sample identification associated with each sample container, and the sample identification code is passed to the WMS, thereby accessing the valid assay for that sample container. The WMS then queries the analyzer with the valid assay for that sample container, and the data is compared to data stored within an analyzer software module for one or more functional assays associated with the associated analyzer. The analyzer software module will respond to the WMS using either an instruction to divert the sample container to the buffer queue of the associated analyzer (i.e., a “divert instruction”) or an instruction not to divert (a “non - divert instruction”) based on whether there is a match between at least one valid assay of the sample container and one or more functional assays of the analyzer. If a divert message is received, the WMS will instruct the orbit controller to activate the direction changer to divert the sample container to the buffer queue associated with the analyzer. If a non - divert message is received, the sample container will be routed to the next analyzer within the analysis compartment.

[0323] The process is repeated and each subsequent sample container on the track is scanned to identify a valid assay for that sample container. The sample container is diverted to a buffer queue until a certain number of sample containers requiring a particular assay are held within the buffer queue, where the associated analyzer is configured to perform the valid assay (i.e., the valid assay for the sample container matches the functional assay of the analyzer). In one embodiment, once a sample container requiring a particular assay is diverted to the buffer queue, only sample containers requiring that specific assay will also be diverted to the buffer queue until a certain number of sample containers are diverted, even if the analyzer is capable of performing other requested assays for other sample containers that do not require the specific assay.

[0324] Once a certain number of sample containers requiring a particular assay have accumulated within the buffer queue, the sample containers are transferred one by one into the analyzer, for example, by a shuttle module, and an amount of sample material is transferred from each sample container to one of the process containers of a receptacle device within the analyzer. After a certain number of samples have been transferred from a certain number of sample containers to a certain number of process containers of the receptacle device, the particular assay is performed in the analyzer for each of that number of samples within the receptacle device.

[0325] After each sample container is transferred into the analyzer and the sample is transferred to the receptacle device, the sample container is returned to the track. The analyzer software module will send a message to the WMS to update the data of the sample container using information including the remaining valid assays and status codes (e.g., errors such as pipetting operation abnormalities and unreadable barcodes and test instruction status update messages (described below)). The assays performed on the sample will be removed from the valid assay list of the sample container by the analyzer software module. The analyzer may also update its own status (e.g., the assay inventory of the analyzer) at this time as well.

[0326] The sample container placed to return on the track will attempt to complete any remaining valid assays and proceed to the next analyzer in the analysis section. If the sample container proceeds through the entire loop of the analysis section and arrives at a "recirculation diverter" with a valid assay and there is an analyzer available to process the valid assay (as determined by the WMS communicating with the analyzer software module), the sample container will be recirculated to the first analyzer within the analysis section while the WMS increments the priority value of the sample container by 1. If the sample container has a valid assay but there is no analyzer available to process the valid instruction (as determined by the WMS communicating with the analyzer software module), or if the sample container has no valid test instructions or there is a critical sample container error, the sample container will be diverted out of the analysis section for post-analysis processing. Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

[0327] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated sample processing system 100 for processing a plurality of samples, each being transported within a distinct sample container. System 100 includes an orbit or other transporter 105 for transporting each of a plurality of sample containers A, B, C, D, S, and X between several modules each performing one or more pre- or post-analysis steps on the container and one or more analyzers that extract sample material from the sample container and perform an assay on the extracted material.

[0328] In the illustrated embodiment, system 100 includes a pre- / post-analysis section 200 with a pre- / post-analysis orbit 202. System 100 further includes an analysis section 110 including an analysis orbit 112 and a plurality of analyzer stations 140A, 140B, 140C, and 140D, each analyzer station being operatively associated with the analysis orbit 112 as described herein. In some embodiments, the analysis section 110 may include a recirculation section 114 in addition to the analysis orbit 112 to form a continuous orbit or recirculation loop (which may be referred to herein or in the appended claims as a second loop section, analysis loop, or analysis loop section) for transporting sample containers through the analysis section 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers move counterclockwise around a continuous loop formed by the recirculation section 114 and the analysis orbit 112. An introduction orbit section 116 and an exit orbit section 118 connect the pre- / post-analysis orbit 202 and the analysis orbit 112.

[0329] System 100 may include an orbit controller 138 that provides high-level control of the electromechanical orbit components as commanded by the WMS, as described above.

[0330] The features of the pre- / post-analysis section 200 are shown in FIG. 2. The pre- / post-analysis section 200 includes a pre- / post-analysis track 202 and, respectively, a capper module 212, a container storage module 214, and an output module 216, a carrier storage module 218, an input module 220, a decapper module 208, and a sample transfer module 300, etc., which are operatively associated with the track 202 as described herein. The pre- / post-analysis section 200 may include a pre-analysis return section 204 in addition to the pre- / post-analysis track 202, thereby forming a continuous loop (which may be referred to herein or in the appended claims as a first loop section, a pre-analysis loop, or a pre-analysis loop section) for transporting the sample container. In the illustrated embodiment, the container moves counterclockwise around the continuous loop formed by the pre-analysis return section 204 and the pre- / post-analysis track 202.

[0331] The decapper module 208 comprises a device for automatically removing the cap from the sample container. The module may remove the cap from the sample container while the sample container is on the pre- / post-analysis track 202, or the module may remove the sample container from the pre- / post-analysis track 202, remove the cap from the sample container, and return the capless sample container to the pre- / post-analysis track 202. The decapper module 208 may include a dedicated sub-controller 208a that communicates cooperatively with the main system controller (e.g., WMS). The track 202 includes a buffer queue 230 associated with the decapper module 208 for holding the sample container away from the main container transport lane of the pre- / post-analysis track 202 while the containers are waiting for cap removal and while they are waiting to be returned to the pre- / post-analysis track 202 after cap removal. A diverter 231, e.g., a pivotable gate, may be selectively deployed by the track controller 138 as commanded by the WMS (moved from the non-diverting position to the diverting position as shown in FIG. 2) to divert the sample container and the carrier (if applicable) from the pre- / post-analysis track 202 to the buffer queue 230. A container transfer robot 208b, such as a pick-and-place robot, may be provided to move the container from the buffer queue 230 into the decapper module 208 for cap removal, or the cap may be removed while the container is on the buffer queue 230. A scanning device 232 (e.g., a barcode scanning device or an RFID scanning device and / or a machine vision scanning device) is associated with the decapper 208 to scan and identify the container while the container is on the pre- / post-analysis track 202 and may determine whether the container should be diverted from the pre- / post-analysis track 202 to the buffer queue 230. Whether the container includes a cap that needs to be removed by the decapper module 208 is included in the information stored in the sample database regarding the container and may be correlated with the machine-readable container identification information detected by the barcode scanning device or the RFID scanning device.The information stored regarding the container may also include the type of container such that the decapper module 208 can ascertain the type of cap removed, e.g., a threaded cap or a stopper and the size of the cap or stopper. Alternatively, or in addition, whether the container includes a cap that needs to be removed by the decapper module 208 can be determined by a machine vision scanning device. After the cap has been removed, the container data correlated with the machine-readable container identification information may be updated to indicate that the container is missing a cap.

[0332] The capper module 212 comprises a device for automatically installing a cap onto a sample container. The module may install a cap onto the sample container while the sample container is on the pre- / post-analysis track 202, or the module may remove the sample container from the pre- / post-analysis track 202, install a cap onto the sample container, and return the capped sample container to the pre- / post-analysis track 202. The capper module 212 may include a dedicated sub-controller 212a that communicates cooperatively with a main system controller (e.g., WMS). The track 202 may include a buffer queue 234 associated with the capper module 212 for holding containers away from the main container transport lane of the pre- / post-analysis track 202 while they are waiting to be capped and while they are waiting to be returned to the pre- / post-analysis track 202 after being capped. A diverter 235, e.g., a pivotable gate, may be selectively deployed (moved from a non-diverting position to a diverting position as shown in FIG. 2) by the track controller 138 as commanded by the WMS to divert the sample container and carrier (if applicable) from the track 202 to the buffer queue 234. A container transfer robot 212b, such as a pick-and-place robot, may be provided to move the container from the buffer queue 234 into the capper module 212 to be capped, or the container may be capped while on the buffer queue 234. A scanning device 236 (e.g., a barcode scanning device or an RFID scanning device and / or a machine vision scanning device) is associated with the capper module 212 for scanning and identifying the container while the container is on the track 202 and may determine whether the container should be diverted from the track 202 to the buffer queue 234. Whether a container needs to be capped by the capper module 212 is included in the information stored in the sample database regarding the container and may be correlated with the machine-readable container identification information detected by the barcode scanning device or the RFID scanning device.The information stored regarding the container may also include the type of container such that the capp module 212 can ascertain the type of cap being replaced, e.g., a threaded cap or a stopper and the size of the cap or stopper. Alternatively, or in addition, whether the container needs to be capped by the capp module 212 can be determined by a machine vision scanning device. After the container has been capped, the container data correlated with the machine-readable container identification information may be updated to indicate that the container is capped.

[0333] Exemplary capp and decapp modules are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,321,619 and 7,152,504.

[0334] The container storage module 214 receives the sample container from the track 202, for example, to temporarily hold the sample container 120 on one or more sample container racks 214 until such time that the sample container can be returned to the pre - analysis / post - analysis track 202, or after all processing of the sample container is complete, for example, after any remaining valid assays are exhausted. The sample container can then be removed from the container storage module 214 and thus from the system 100. In various embodiments, the sample containers can be removed together from the container storage module by removing one or more racks that hold the sample containers. In some embodiments, the container storage module may include a user access point where the user can remove a single sample container by instructing the system to present the sample container to be removed to the user access point. The container storage module 214 may comprise a refrigerated (or otherwise temperature - controlled) housing in which the sample containers are stored. The temperature within the housing may be controlled by a system controller (such as described below) that controls one or more heating and / or cooling devices (e.g., Peltier thermoelectric devices, fans, etc.) based on signals from one or more temperature sensors. The container storage module 214 may include a dedicated sub - controller 214a that communicates cooperatively with a main system controller (e.g., WMS). The track 202 may include a buffer queue 238 associated with the container storage module 214 for holding sample containers away from the main container transport lane of the pre - analysis / post - analysis track 202 while the container is waiting to be transferred to the container storage module 214 and while waiting for the sample container to be returned to the pre - analysis / post - analysis track 202. A diverter 239, e.g., a pivotable gate, may be selectively deployed (moved from a non - diverting position to a diverting position as shown in FIG. 2) by the track controller 138 as commanded by the WMS to divert the sample container and carrier (if applicable) from the track 202 to the buffer queue 238.A container transfer robot 214b, such as a pick-and-place robot, may be provided to move containers from the buffer queue 238 into the container storage module 214 or from the container storage module 214 to the buffer queue 234. A scanning device 240 (e.g., a barcode scanning device or an RFID scanning device) may be associated with the container storage module 214 to scan and identify containers while the containers are on the pre / post-analysis track 202. The scanning device 240 communicates with the WMS, which, based on stored information correlated to machine-readable container identification information, instructs the track controller 138 to deploy the diverter 239 to divert the container if the container is to be moved from the track 202 to the container storage module 214.

[0335] The output module 216 is configured to receive the sample container from the track 202 after all processing of the sample container is complete, e.g., after any remaining valid assays are depleted, and hold the sample container 120, e.g., on one or more sample container racks 124, and then the sample container can be removed from the output module 216 and thus from the system 100. Alternatively, the sample container ma...

Claims

1. A system for processing a plurality of samples, each sample being contained within a sample container, each sample container having machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the system comprising: a sample database that stores identification information for each sample container, the identification information for each sample container being correlated with one or more valid assays associated with the sample container, a sample database; a transporter configured to transport the sample containers; an input module configured to hold a plurality of sample containers; a container transfer robot configured to transfer sample containers from the input module to the transporter; an input scanning device configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container; at least one analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, each analyzer being configured to perform one or more functional assays on a sample extracted from a sample container, the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer being the same as or different from the one or more functional assays performed by any other analyzer operatively associated with the transporter, at least one analyzer; at least one system controller in communication with the container transfer robot, the input scanning device, and the sample database comprising: the at least one system controller is controlling the container transfer robot to transfer a sample container from the input module to the transporter, each sample container transferred from the input module to the transporter being removed from the input module during the transfer, the removal occurring before scanning the machine-readable identification information associated with the sample container and before identifying the one or more valid assays associated with the sample container; activating the input scanning device to automatically scan the machine-readable identification information of the sample container when the sample container passes through the input scanning device after the removal of each sample container transferred from the input module to the transporter; accessing the sample database; Based on the identification information detected by the input scanning device, identifying one or more than one valid assay for each sample container transported on the carrier A system programmed to perform. **Claim 2** The system controller is programmed to activate the input scanning device to automatically scan the machine-readable identification information of the sample container when the sample container is transported through the input scanning device together with the carrier. The system according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The carrier is A first loop section, wherein the input module is operatively associated with the first loop section, and the container transfer robot is configured to transfer a sample container from the input module to the first loop section. A first loop section, A second loop section configured to translate each sample container to the at least one analyzer Comprising The system controller communicates with all the analyzers, Monitoring the functional assays of all the analyzers and / or the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section, Comparing the one or more than one valid assay of each sample container with the functional assays of all the analyzers and / or comparing the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit, Retaining the sample container on the first loop section if none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and / or if the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit, and transporting the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or until the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit. transfer the sample container from the first loop section to the second loop section when at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and / or when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further programmed to perform the above.

4. The system controller monitors the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section compares the one or more valid assays of each sample container with the functional assays of all analyzers operatively associated with the second loop section monitors the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section compares the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section with the second loop section capacity limit retains the sample container on the first loop section when none of the functional assays match any of the valid assays for that sample container and when the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is at least equal to the second loop section capacity limit transports the sample container around the first loop section until at least one of the functional assays matches at least one of the valid assays for that sample container and the number of sample containers being transported on the second loop section is below the second loop section capacity limit The system according to claim 3, programmed to perform the above.

5. A part of the input module is designated for STAT sample containers, and the system controller is programmed to control the container transfer robot to transfer all sample containers from the part of the input module designated for STAT sample containers to the transporter before transferring the sample containers from any other part of the input module. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container transfer robot includes an input pick-and-place robot configured to transfer a sample container between the input module and the carrier. **Claim 7** The carrier includes a recirculation loop, and the recirculation loop is configured and controlled to repeatedly translate each sample container (1) to extract the sample from the sample container for performing all valid assays on the sample container, or (2) to the at least one analyzer until the sample container first traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period. The system according to claim 1 or 2. **Claim 8** The system according to claim 7, further comprising a container storage module, and after the sample is extracted from the sample container to perform all valid assays on the sample container, or after the sample container traverses the recirculation loop a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period, the carrier is configured to transfer the sample container to the container storage module. **Claim 9** The system according to claim 8, further comprising a container transfer robot configured to transfer a sample container between the carrier and the container storage module. **Claim 10** The system according to claim 9, wherein the container transfer robot configured to transfer a sample container from the input module to the carrier includes an input pick-and-place robot, and the container transfer robot configured to transfer a sample container between the carrier and the container storage module includes a storage pick-and-place robot. **Claim 11** The system according to claim 10, wherein the input pick-and-place robot and the storage pick-and-place robot include the same pick-and-place robot. **Claim 12** The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising one or more pre-analysis modules, each pre-analysis module being configured to process the sample container before making the sample container available to the at least one analyzer, and the carrier being configured to transfer the sample container to the pre-analysis module before transporting the sample container to the at least one analyzer.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the pre-analysis module comprises at least one of a container de-capper configured to remove a cap from a sample container and a liquid level detection module configured to detect a liquid level within at least a part of the sample container.

14. A sample transfer module configured to transfer a sample from at least one first type of sample container to at least one second type of sample container; A container transfer robot configured to transfer each second type of sample container from the sample transfer module to the carrier; The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising.

15. Each second type of sample container has machine-readable identification information associated therewith, the sample database includes identification information for each second type of sample container, and the identification information is correlated with one or more valid assays associated with each second type of sample container. The system according to claim 14.

16. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the input module is configured to determine at least one of the height and width of the container, the shape of the bottom of the container, and whether the container is capped.

17. The transporter further includes a pre-analysis loop, the input module is operatively associated with the pre-analysis loop, the system controller is programmed to monitor the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop, the system further includes a pre-analysis scanning device configured to detect the machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the pre-analysis loop, and the system controller is configured to identify one or more valid assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the pre-analysis scanning device, and transfer the sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the recirculation loop when one or more functional assays of the at least one analyzer correspond to at least one of the one or more valid assays of the sample container and / or when the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is below the recirculation loop capacity limit. The system according to claim 7.

18. The system controller of claim 17 is programmed to transfer a sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the recirculation loop when one or more functional assays of the at least one analyzer correspond to at least one of the one or more valid assays of the sample container and when the number of sample containers being transported on the recirculation loop is below the recirculation loop capacity limit.

19. The system further includes a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis loop, the container storage module is configured to receive a sample container from the pre-analysis loop into the container storage module, and the system controller is programmed to transfer a sample container on the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module when the at least one analyzer does not have any functional assay that matches any of the one or more valid assays of the sample container. The system according to claim 17 or 18.

20. The system controller of claim 17, wherein the system controller is programmed to transport the sample container around the pre-analysis loop if the at least one analyzer does not have any functional assay that matches any one or more than one valid assay of the sample container.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a container storage module coupled to the pre-analysis loop, the container storage module being configured to receive the sample container from the pre-analysis loop into the container storage module, the system controller monitoring the number of times the sample container has traversed the pre-analysis loop or the amount of time the sample container has been on the pre-analysis loop, and transferring the sample container from the pre-analysis loop to the container storage module when the number of times the sample container has traversed the pre-analysis loop or the amount of time the sample container has been on the pre-analysis loop reaches a certain limit.

22. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the machine-readable identification information comprises a barcode, and the input scanning device comprises a barcode scanning device.

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