A holder cartridge for holding a plurality of sample carriers (12, 13), elongated along a longitudinal axis, which are in particular substantially cylindrical, in at least a sample holder (8, 9, 10) arranged for holding several such sample carriers for automated handling of individual such sample carriers (12, 13), in particular to remove them from and/or to insert them into the sample holders, in particular for use in an inlet or an outlet area of an automated sample handling device, whereas the holder cartridge contains the following items: a cartridge tray, substantially mobile horizontally, in a drawer-like manner, between a ready position, in which the holder cartridge is ready for automated handling of the individual sample carriers (12, 13), and a loading position, in which sample carriers (12, 13) and/or sample holders (8, 9, 10) can be inserted or removed manually, a tray on which said at least one sample holder (8, 9, 10) is arranged or can be arranged, characterised by a loading detection means for detecting the loading level of the cartridge tray with sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) for moving the cartridge tray between the loading position and the ready position with the following components: a) at least one detector functioning contactless for detecting the presence of objects in a sensing area, which is provided in a movement path of sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) situated on the cartridge tray, is arranged in such a way that it can detect sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) arranged on the cartridge tray and passing through its sensing area; b) a displacement sensor, which detects a displacement path or a current position of the cartridge tray when the latter moves between the loading position and the ready position and c) an interpreting unit, in which the data of the detector and of the displacement sensor are combined, then correlated as regards the presence of at least one sample holder (8, 9, 10) and/or the sample carrier (12, 13)and interpreted to determine the displacement position of the displacement path. a cartridge tray, substantially mobile horizontally, in a drawer-like manner, between a ready position, in which the holder cartridge is ready for automated handling of the individual sample carriers (12, 13), and a loading position, in which sample carriers (12, 13) and/or sample holders (8, 9, 10) can be inserted or removed manually, a tray on which said at least one sample holder (8, 9, 10) is arranged or can be arranged, characterised by a loading detection means for detecting the loading level of the cartridge tray with sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) for moving the cartridge tray between the loading position and the ready position with the following components: a) at least one detector functioning contactless for detecting the presence of objects in a sensing area, which is provided in a movement path of sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) situated on the cartridge tray, is arranged in such a way that it can detect sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) arranged on the cartridge tray and passing through its sensing area; b) a displacement sensor, which detects a displacement path or a current position of the cartridge tray when the latter moves between the loading position and the ready position and c) an interpreting unit, in which the data of the detector and of the displacement sensor are combined, then correlated as regards the presence of at least one sample holder (8, 9, 10) and/or the sample carrier (12, 13)and interpreted to determine the displacement position of the displacement path. a) at least one detector functioning contactless for detecting the presence of objects in a sensing area, which is provided in a movement path of sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) situated on the cartridge tray, is arranged in such a way that it can detect sample holders (8, 9, 10) and/or sample carriers (12, 13) arranged on the cartridge tray and passing through its sensing area; b) a displacement sensor, which detects a displacement path or a current position of the cartridge tray when the latter moves between the loading position and the ready position and c) an interpreting unit, in which the data of the detector and of the displacement sensor are combined, then correlated as regards the presence of at least one sample holder (8, 9, 10) and/or the sample carrier (12, 13)and interpreted to determine the displacement position of the displacement path.