Method for operating an automated sample workcell

摘要

A method of operating the automated sample workcell for processing one or more biological samples is presented. The method comprises receiving one or more biological samples. Each biological sample is contained in a sample tube. Each sample tube is a tube type. If a test order was received for at least one of the biological samples, the test order being indicative of one or more first processing steps, the workcell can automatically execute the one or more first processing steps. If the test order was not received, one or more second processing steps can be determined based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the at least one biological sample and the one or more second processing steps can then be executed.

主权项

1. An automated sample workcell for processing one or more biological samples, the automated sample workcell comprising:
a sample input station for receiving the one or more biological samples, wherein each biological sample of the one or more biological samples is contained in a sample tube and each sample tube has a tube type; an instrument manager (IM) module for receiving test orders for the one or more biological samples and for determining whether a test order was received for the one or more biological samples; and a tube type detector for determining the tube type of the sample tube containing the biological samples, wherein if the test order was received for the one or more biological samples by the instrument manager, the test order specifies one or more first processing steps for the at least one of the biological samples for which a test order was received by the instrument manager and the automated sample workcell automatically executes the one or more first processing steps on the at least one of the biological samples for which a test order was received, and wherein if the test order was not received for the one or more biological samples by the instrument manager, the automated sample workcell automatically determines one or more second processing steps for the at least one of the biological samples for which a test order was not received based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the at least one of the biological samples detected by the tube type detector and executes the one or more second processing steps on the at least one of the biological samples for which the test order was not received without delay until the test order is received.