A method of determining the length of a pipette tip within a pipette sheath of a unitized reagent strip, comprising: providing a unitized reagent strip comprising: a strip with a top side and a bottom side, comprising: a process tube; a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a first and a second pipette sheath, comprising: a first and second pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises a separate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said first and second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a first and second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths, respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheaths is configured to substantially surround the length of the first and second pipette tip, respectively, when present in the first and second pipette sheaths; a top cored hole and a bottom cored hole within said first pipette sheath, said top and bottom cored holes each extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath, wherein said top cored hole is located more proximal to the first pipette tip aperture than said bottom cored hole; determining whether the first pipette tip extends within said first pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture to the top cored hole; and determining whether the first pipette tip extends within said first pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture to the bottom cored hole. providing a unitized reagent strip comprising: a strip with a top side and a bottom side, comprising: a process tube; a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a first and a second pipette sheath, comprising: a first and second pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises a separate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said first and second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a first and second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths, respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheaths is configured to substantially surround the length of the first and second pipette tip, respectively, when present in the first and second pipette sheaths; a top cored hole and a bottom cored hole within said first pipette sheath, said top and bottom cored holes each extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath, wherein said top cored hole is located more proximal to the first pipette tip aperture than said bottom cored hole; a strip with a top side and a bottom side, comprising: a process tube; a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a process tube; a receptacle, comprising an opening through the reagent strip, wherein said receptacle is configured to receive a reagent tube; a first and a second pipette sheath, comprising: a first and second pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises a separate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said first and second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a first and second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths, respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheaths is configured to substantially surround the length of the first and second pipette tip, respectively, when present in the first and second pipette sheaths; a top cored hole and a bottom cored hole within said first pipette sheath, said top and bottom cored holes each extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath, wherein said top cored hole is located more proximal to the first pipette tip aperture than said bottom cored hole; a first and second pipette tip aperture, respectively, each of which comprises a separate opening on the top side of the strip, and wherein said first and second pipette tip apertures are configured for insertion of a first and second pipette tip into said first and second pipette sheaths, respectively, and wherein each of said first and second pipette sheaths is configured to substantially surround the length of the first and second pipette tip, respectively, when present in the first and second pipette sheaths; a top cored hole and a bottom cored hole within said first pipette sheath, said top and bottom cored holes each extending through a sidewall of the first pipette sheath, wherein said top cored hole is located more proximal to the first pipette tip aperture than said bottom cored hole; determining whether the first pipette tip extends within said first pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture to the top cored hole; and determining whether the first pipette tip extends within said first pipette sheath from the first pipette tip aperture to the bottom cored hole.