A sample inspection automation system comprising: at least one treatment means for performing treatment on samples; at least one analyzing means for analyzing samples on which treatment has been performed; storage means including a refrigerator for storing samples that have been analyzed, and storage of the samples in a cold environment; transfer means for transferring samples; and a laboratory information system adapted to instruct the retrieval of a sample from the storage means when a request for an additional analysis is issued for the sample stored in the storage means, wherein the storage means includes a sample replacing mechanism for retrieving any of the samples stored in the refrigerator, and wherein the transfer means is adapted to transfer the sample retrieved by the sample replacing mechanism to the appropriate one of the treatment means, characterised in that : the storage means includes a plurality of storage modules each having a said sample replacing mechanism, the system further includes setting means for determining which sample is stored in which storage module, and the setting means is adapted to set groups according to the types and attributes of samples and allocate the groups to the plurality of storage modules , and thereby allocate one of the groups to all of said plurality of storage modules so that, when samples belonging to the same group are transferred successively, the samples are successively stored in different : ones of the plurality of storage modules. at least one treatment means for performing treatment on samples; at least one analyzing means for analyzing samples on which treatment has been performed; storage means including a refrigerator for storing samples that have been analyzed, and storage of the samples in a cold environment; transfer means for transferring samples; and a laboratory information system adapted to instruct the retrieval of a sample from the storage means when a request for an additional analysis is issued for the sample stored in the storage means, wherein the storage means includes a sample replacing mechanism for retrieving any of the samples stored in the refrigerator, and wherein the transfer means is adapted to transfer the sample retrieved by the sample replacing mechanism to the appropriate one of the treatment means, characterised in that : the storage means includes a plurality of storage modules each having a said sample replacing mechanism, the system further includes setting means for determining which sample is stored in which storage module, and the setting means is adapted to set groups according to the types and attributes of samples and allocate the groups to the plurality of storage modules , and thereby allocate one of the groups to all of said plurality of storage modules so that, when samples belonging to the same group are transferred successively, the samples are successively stored in different : ones of the plurality of storage modules. the storage means includes a plurality of storage modules each having a said sample replacing mechanism, the system further includes setting means for determining which sample is stored in which storage module, and the setting means is adapted to set groups according to the types and attributes of samples and allocate the groups to the plurality of storage modules , and thereby allocate one of the groups to all of said plurality of storage modules so that, when samples belonging to the same group are transferred successively, the samples are successively stored in different : ones of the plurality of storage modules. <EOS>