Automated processing of samples carried in sample containers and grouping sample containers according to assays to be performed on samples contained therein

Abstract

A system for processing a plurality of sample containers, each containing sample with at least one open assay associated therewith, includes two or more analyzers, each configured to perform at least one functional assay in receptacle apparatuses including a process number of two or more receptacle vessels, a conveyance for transporting containers to the analyzers, a buffer queue associated with each analyzer for holding containers to be processed by the associated analyzer, and a scanner associated with each analyzer. Each scanner scans machine-readable identification information associated with each container transported by the conveyance past the scanner and the open assay(s) for that container are identified based on the scanned information. The sample container is diverted into the associated buffer queue only if at least one open assay for that container matches at least one functional assay of the associated analyzer. The system attempts to accumulate at least the process number of sample containers with the same open assay so that the matching functional assay can be performed on the different samples in each of the process number of receptacle vessels of each receptacle apparatus.