Sample identification system

摘要

A system is described for keeping track of the identity of a plurality of individual medical samples when the samples are loaded into multiple holders in which each holder has multiple individual receiving locations. Each sample, holder, and receiving location of each holder has a unique identification number associated therewith. The system includes a recording means for displaying and storing signals. A first reader means is also provided for reading the unique holder identification numbers and generating a signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A second reader means is also provided for reading the unique sample identification number for generating a second signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A third reader means is also provided for reading the unique location identification number when the insertion device is introduced into a particular receiving location. The location signal is sent to the recording means for display purposes. A fourth reader means is also provided for reading the unique location identification when a sample is actually deposited in a particular receiving location to generate a signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. In a preferred embodiment, an error prevention means is provided to detect and possibly prevent various types of sample loading errors.