An automated device for performing a magnetic separation purification procedure on a solution which includes magnetically responsive particles and is contained in a reaction receptacle, said device comprising: a receptacle carrier unit constructed and arranged to releasably hold the reaction receptacle comprising a plurality of receptacle vessels containing a solution which includes magnetically responsive particles and to carry the reaction receptacle throughout the magnetic separation purification procedure; a magnet moving structure which includes at least one magnet, said magnet moving structure being constructed and arranged to move said at least one magnet between a first position and a second position with respect to the reaction receptacle held in the receptacle carrier unit, wherein said at least one magnet attracts the magnetically responsive particles to an inner surface of the reaction receptacle adjacent to said at least one magnet when said at least one magnet is in the second position, and wherein the attraction of the magnetically responsive particles to said at least one magnet is greater when said at least one magnet is in the second position than when said at least one magnet (8 14) is in the first position; a fluid transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to dispense fluid into and withdraw fluid from the reaction receptacle, said fluid transfer mechanism comprising fluid dispense nozzles constructed and arranged to dispense fluid into the receptacle vessels of the reaction receptacle held by said receptacle carrier unit and aspirator tubes constructed and arranged to aspirate fluid from the receptacle vessels of the reaction receptacle held by said receptacle carrier unit; a carrier agitator mechanism operatively coupled to said receptacle carrier unit and constructed and arranged to impart a cyclic motion to said receptacle carrier unit to agitate and mix the solution contained in the reaction receptacle; a housing containing said receptacle carrier unit, said magnet moving structure, said carrier agitator mechanism, and at least a portion of said fluid transfer mechanism; and a transport mechanism configured to move the reaction receptacle into the housing through a loading slot formed in a wall of the housing. a receptacle carrier unit constructed and arranged to releasably hold the reaction receptacle comprising a plurality of receptacle vessels containing a solution which includes magnetically responsive particles and to carry the reaction receptacle throughout the magnetic separation purification procedure; a magnet moving structure which includes at least one magnet, said magnet moving structure being constructed and arranged to move said at least one magnet between a first position and a second position with respect to the reaction receptacle held in the receptacle carrier unit, wherein said at least one magnet attracts the magnetically responsive particles to an inner surface of the reaction receptacle adjacent to said at least one magnet when said at least one magnet is in the second position, and wherein the attraction of the magnetically responsive particles to said at least one magnet is greater when said at least one magnet is in the second position than when said at least one magnet (8 14) is in the first position; a fluid transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to dispense fluid into and withdraw fluid from the reaction receptacle, said fluid transfer mechanism comprising fluid dispense nozzles constructed and arranged to dispense fluid into the receptacle vessels of the reaction receptacle held by said receptacle carrier unit and aspirator tubes constructed and arranged to aspirate fluid from the receptacle vessels of the reaction receptacle held by said receptacle carrier unit; a carrier agitator mechanism operatively coupled to said receptacle carrier unit and constructed and arranged to impart a cyclic motion to said receptacle carrier unit to agitate and mix the solution contained in the reaction receptacle; a housing containing said receptacle carrier unit, said magnet moving structure, said carrier agitator mechanism, and at least a portion of said fluid transfer mechanism; and a transport mechanism configured to move the reaction receptacle into the housing through a loading slot formed in a wall of the housing.