A tube holding microplate comprising: a plate frame; and a predetermined array of tube holding receptacles formed in the plate frame, the tube holding receptacles of the predetermined array having a SBS standard pitch corresponding to the predetermined array, and being configured for holding therein sample store and transport tubes that are separate and distinct from the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles, each tube holding receptacle being disposed so as to contain sample specimen in a sample storage array and to effect, with the sample store and transport tube, delivery of the sample specimen from the sample storage array to a workstation, the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles defining a volume capacity of the tube holding microplate; each of the tube holding receptacles being shaped to engage walls of the sample store and transport tubes and hold a respective one of the sample store and transport tubes, wherein the tube holding receptacles of the predetermined array are sized and spaced from one another so that the tube holding microplate volume capacity defined by the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles is an under optimum volume capacity disposed so as to be balanced with a predetermined throughput capacity of the automated storage and retrieval system (112, 190, 190') configured for the automated storage and retrieval of sample store and transport tubes from a sample storage (110A, 110B) to the sample storage array of the tube holding microplate, and so that the under optimum volume capacity effects an increase in throughput of the sample store and transport tubes from the automated storage and retrieval system. a plate frame; and a predetermined array of tube holding receptacles formed in the plate frame, the tube holding receptacles of the predetermined array having a SBS standard pitch corresponding to the predetermined array, and being configured for holding therein sample store and transport tubes that are separate and distinct from the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles, each tube holding receptacle being disposed so as to contain sample specimen in a sample storage array and to effect, with the sample store and transport tube, delivery of the sample specimen from the sample storage array to a workstation, the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles defining a volume capacity of the tube holding microplate; each of the tube holding receptacles being shaped to engage walls of the sample store and transport tubes and hold a respective one of the sample store and transport tubes, wherein the tube holding receptacles of the predetermined array are sized and spaced from one another so that the tube holding microplate volume capacity defined by the predetermined array of tube holding receptacles is an under optimum volume capacity disposed so as to be balanced with a predetermined throughput capacity of the automated storage and retrieval system (112, 190, 190') configured for the automated storage and retrieval of sample store and transport tubes from a sample storage (110A, 110B) to the sample storage array of the tube holding microplate, and so that the under optimum volume capacity effects an increase in throughput of the sample store and transport tubes from the automated storage and retrieval system.