APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SAMPLE MATERIALS CONTAINED IN A PLURALITY OF SAMPLE TUBES

摘要

An apparatus and method for processing blood samples and other sample materials contained in a plurality of sample tubes (117) is capable of processing the samples by performing different steps of the processing operation, such as lysing and cell washing steps, on different sample tubes (117) simultaneously, so as to process the plurality of samples in parallel. The apparatus and method employs a sample tube rack (116) and a wash spindle (121). The sample tube rack (116) moves along a direction of movement and supports a plurality of sample tubes (117), each of the sample tubes (117) which contains a respective sample material. The wash spindle (121) temporarily removes each of the sample tubes (117) from the sample rack (116) and rotates the tube (117) to substantially separate the solid portion of the sample from the fluid portion while allowing the sample tube rack (116) to move along its direction of movement. The wash spindle (121) includes effluent openings sufficient in size, placement and number to remove the fluid portion and other unwanted materials from the sample materials in the sample tubes (117). The apparatus and method further employs a tube removal device (473) for efficiently removing the sample tubes from the wash spindle (12) when the processing is completed. The apparatus and method also employs a washing vessel (224) for cleaning the wash spindle (121) after it processes each sample tube (117).