Method for processing chemistry and coagulation test samples in a laboratory workcell

1 . A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers and at least one centrifuge operated by a first centrifuging protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to the centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol; and,

centrifuging the sample in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the centrifuge.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retaining samples with centrifuging requirements in accord with a second protocol wherein the second protocol does not match the first protocol at the input station;

changing the centrifuge operation to the second protocol;

transporting the retained samples to the centrifuge; and,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second protocol by the centrifuge.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first centrifuging protocol is for samples to be processed in a chemical analyzer.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the second centrifuging protocol is for samples to be processed in a coagulation analyzer.

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second centrifuging protocols are identical, the method comprising:

placing all samples on the conveyor; and,

centrifuging all samples by the centrifuge.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the conveyor to deliver the sample to the analyzer adapted to perform the tests to be performed

7 . A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers and two or more centrifuges operated by a first centrifuging protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to any one of the centrifuges only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol; and,

centrifuging the sample in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the centrifuge.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retaining samples with centrifuging requirements in accord with a second protocol wherein the second protocol does not match the first protocol at the input station;

changing the centrifuge operation of one centrifuge to the second protocol;

transporting the retained samples to said one centrifuge; and,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second protocol by said one centrifuge.

9 . A method for operating an automated clinical sample workcell having a sample conveyor connecting two or more analyzers, a first centrifuge operated by a first centrifuging protocol and a second centrifuge operated by a second protocol to a sample input station by:

classifying samples at the input station in accord with the tests to be performed thereon and the associated centrifuging requirements;

transporting to the first centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the first centrifuging protocol;

transporting to the second centrifuge only those samples that have centrifuging requirements that are the same as the second centrifuging protocol;

centrifuging the samples in accord with the first centrifuging protocol by the first centrifuge; and,

centrifuging the samples in accord with the second centrifuging protocol by the second centrifuge.

10 . An automated clinical sample workcell comprising:

a sample container loading/unloading station;

at least one centrifuge having first and second centrifuging protocols;

at least two analyzers;

a conveyor adapted to transport sample containers from said sample container loading/unloading station to said centrifuge and from said centrifuge to said analyzers;

identification means for determining tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

means for determining centrifuging requirements for the tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

control means for determining if the centrifuging requirements match said first or second centrifuging protocols;

means for converting the centrifuge between said first and second centrifuging protocol to match said first or second centrifuging protocols.

11 . The workcell of claim 10 wherein the sample container loading/unloading station is adapted to retain a sample container therein until the centrifuge is converted between said first and second centrifuging protocol to match said first or second centrifuging protocols.

12 . An automated clinical sample workcell comprising:

a sample container loading/unloading station;

a first centrifuge having a first centrifuging protocol;

a second centrifuge having a second centrifuging protocol; at least two analyzers;

a conveyor adapted to transport sample containers from said sample container loading/unloading station to said centrifuge and from said centrifuge to said analyzers;

identification means for determining tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

means for determining first and second centrifuging requirements for the tests to be performed upon samples contained within said sample containers;

control means for transporting samples having first centrifuging requirements to the first centrifuge and for transporting samples having second centrifuging requirements to the second centrifuge

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are requirements for samples based on the sample fluid being processed.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are requirements for samples based on the assay to be performed on said sample.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are for samples to be processed in an analyzer not connected to the workcell.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the centrifuging requirements are for samples to be processed in a user defined analyzer.