A sample tray for use in a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system, comprising: a base having opposing spaced-apart side walls (106-1, 106-2) separated by a cross wall that divides the base into two compartments (120-1, 120-2), with one compartment (120-1, 120-2) on each side of the cross wall, the side walls (106-1, 106-2) and cross wall bounding each of the two compartments (120-1, 120-2) on three sides, with a fourth side of each compartment, (120-1, 120-2) being open, each compartment (120-1, 120-2) being sized to closely receive a sample- vial carrier, each compartment (120-1, 120-2) having a surface with a magnet affixed to the bottom of the surface at an edge of the open fourth side of that compartment (120-1, 120-2); and a pair of drawers (104-1, 104-2) slidably coupled to the base, each drawer (104-1, 104-2) sliding into the open fourth side of one of the two compartments (120-1, 120-2) over the surface of that compartment (120-1, 120-2), each drawer (104-1, 104-2) having a support surface for supporting a sample- vial carrier, the support surface having a top side and a bottom side, the support surface of each drawer having a magnet affixed on the bottom side, the magnet on the bottom side of the support surface of each drawer being in alignment with the magnet affixed to the bottom surface of the compartment (120-1, 120-2) into which that drawer (104-1, 104-2) slides, the magnet of each drawer (104-1, 104-2) and the magnet of the compartment (120-1, 120-2) into which that drawer (104-1, 104-2) slides biasing that drawer (104-1, 104-2) into its compartment (120-1, 120-2) when the magnets (150, 152) are brought into proximity of each other. a base having opposing spaced-apart side walls (106-1, 106-2) separated by a cross wall that divides the base into two compartments (120-1, 120-2), with one compartment (120-1, 120-2) on each side of the cross wall, the side walls (106-1, 106-2) and cross wall bounding each of the two compartments (120-1, 120-2) on three sides, with a fourth side of each compartment, (120-1, 120-2) being open, each compartment (120-1, 120-2) being sized to closely receive a sample- vial carrier, each compartment (120-1, 120-2) having a surface with a magnet affixed to the bottom of the surface at an edge of the open fourth side of that compartment (120-1, 120-2); and a pair of drawers (104-1, 104-2) slidably coupled to the base, each drawer (104-1, 104-2) sliding into the open fourth side of one of the two compartments (120-1, 120-2) over the surface of that compartment (120-1, 120-2), each drawer (104-1, 104-2) having a support surface for supporting a sample- vial carrier, the support surface having a top side and a bottom side, the support surface of each drawer having a magnet affixed on the bottom side, the magnet on the bottom side of the support surface of each drawer being in alignment with the magnet affixed to the bottom surface of the compartment (120-1, 120-2) into which that drawer (104-1, 104-2) slides, the magnet of each drawer (104-1, 104-2) and the magnet of the compartment (120-1, 120-2) into which that drawer (104-1, 104-2) slides biasing that drawer (104-1, 104-2) into its compartment (120-1, 120-2) when the magnets (150, 152) are brought into proximity of each other.