Methods and systems for reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles
Method and associated system for reading machine-readable labels on a plurality of sample receptacles held by a sample rack. In the method, a machine-readable label associated each of the plurality of sample receptacles is read with a first label reader when the rack is at a first location. The sample rack is then moved from the first location to a second location, where a rack identifier on the sample rack is sensed with a sensor separate from the first label reader. Finally, the rack identifier is associated with the machine-readable labels of the plurality of sample receptacles.
1. A method for reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles, comprising:
with a first label reader at a first location, reading a machine-readable label associated with each sample receptacle of a plurality of sample receptacles held by a rack;
moving the sample rack from the first location to a second location;
with a sensor at the second location, sensing a rack identifier on the sample rack, wherein the sensor is not the first label reader; and
associating the rack identifier with the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of the plurality of sample receptacles.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rack identifier is a machine-readable label, and wherein the sensor is a second label reader.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rack identifier is an RFID tag, and wherein the sensor is an RFID reader.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising acquiring location data identifying the second location to which the sample rack was moved.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of a plurality of sample receptacles comprises a two-dimensional barcode.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the two-dimensional barcode contains information that associates a sample within the sample receptacle to a patient.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether a time period during which the sample rack was moved from the first location to the separate second location exceeds a predetermined time period threshold.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein reading the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of a plurality of sample receptacles occurs while the sample rack is moved between a first position and a second position at the first location.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
measuring a position of the sample rack as the sample rack moves between the first position and the second position;
acquiring an image of the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of the plurality of sample receptacles as the sample rack moves from the first position to the second position;
decoding the acquired image of the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of the plurality of sample receptacles; and
associating a decoded acquired image of the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of the plurality of sample receptacles with the corresponding sample receptacle based on a measured position of the sample rack when the image of the machine-readable label was acquired.
10. A system for reading machine-readable labels on sample receptacles, comprising:
a sample rack having a rack identifier and configured to hold a plurality of sample receptacles, each having a machine-readable label;
a first location configured to receive the sample rack;
a sensor configured to read the rack identifier when the sample rack is at the first location;
a second location configured to receive the sample rack; and
a first label reader, separate from the sensor, configured to read the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of the plurality of sample receptacles when the sample rack is at the second location.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the rack identifier is a machine-readable label, and wherein the sensor is a second label reader.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the rack identifier is an RFID tag, and wherein the sensor is an RFID reader.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the machine-readable label of each sample receptacle of a plurality of sample receptacles comprises a two-dimensional barcode.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the two-dimensional barcode contains information that associates a sample within the sample receptacle to a patient.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system is configured such that the sample rack is manually moved between a first position and a second position when at the first location.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system is configured such that the sample rack is automatically moved between a first position and a second position when at the first location.