A method of loading a sample storage device for a plurality of sample carriers (38A-38E) equipped with sample containers , comprising: when removing sample containers from the sample storage device : - providing at least one output sample carrier having sample con - tainers that can be taken up from the output sample carrier ; - providing a target sample carrier in which sample containers taken up from the output sample carrier can be deposited; - providing a refilling sample carrier which is at least partially filled with sample containers ; - removing at least one sample container from the output sample car - rier and depositing the at least one sample container in the target sample carrier , and - for each sample container removed from the output sample carrier and deposited in the target sample carrier , removing another sample container from the refilling sample carrier and refilling the space of the removed sample container in the output sample carrier with said other sample container from the refilling sample carrier , characterized in that said refilling of the space of the removed sample con - tainer in the output sample carrier with the other sample con - tainer from the refilling sample carrier overlaps in time with the removal of the sample container from the output sample carrier and/or the deposition of the sample container in the target sample car - rier . when removing sample containers from the sample storage device : - providing at least one output sample carrier having sample con - tainers that can be taken up from the output sample carrier ; - providing a target sample carrier in which sample containers taken up from the output sample carrier can be deposited; - providing a refilling sample carrier which is at least partially filled with sample containers ; - removing at least one sample container from the output sample car - rier and depositing the at least one sample container in the target sample carrier , and - for each sample container removed from the output sample carrier and deposited in the target sample carrier , removing another sample container from the refilling sample carrier and refilling the space of the removed sample container in the output sample carrier with said other sample container from the refilling sample carrier , - providing at least one output sample carrier having sample con - tainers that can be taken up from the output sample carrier ; - providing a target sample carrier in which sample containers taken up from the output sample carrier can be deposited; - providing a refilling sample carrier which is at least partially filled with sample containers ; - removing at least one sample container from the output sample car - rier and depositing the at least one sample container in the target sample carrier , and - for each sample container removed from the output sample carrier and deposited in the target sample carrier , removing another sample container from the refilling sample carrier and refilling the space of the removed sample container in the output sample carrier with said other sample container from the refilling sample carrier , characterized in that said refilling of the space of the removed sample con - tainer in the output sample carrier with the other sample con - tainer from the refilling sample carrier overlaps in time with the removal of the sample container from the output sample carrier and/or the deposition of the sample container in the target sample car - rier . <EOS>