A laboratory instrument for testing patient specimens, the laboratory instrument comprising: a testing apparatus configured to receive a cassette comprising a specimen and perform testing on patient and quality control specimens, and a processor configured to, responsive to determining that the cassette includes a quality control specimen: cause the testing apparatus to cease performing tests on patient specimens, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a first measurement of a parameter, responsive to determining that the first measurement is outside an expected tolerance, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a second measurement, and wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the second measurement is either (i) within the expected tolerance, cause the apparatus to restart the processing of patient specimens, or (ii) outside the expected tolerance and causing the testing apparatus to continue to cease performing tests on patient specimens, characterized in that the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining that the cassette comprises a quality control specimen and a patient specimen, cause the testing apparatus to eject the cassette. a testing apparatus configured to receive a cassette comprising a specimen and perform testing on patient and quality control specimens, and a processor configured to, responsive to determining that the cassette includes a quality control specimen: cause the testing apparatus to cease performing tests on patient specimens, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a first measurement of a parameter, responsive to determining that the first measurement is outside an expected tolerance, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a second measurement, and wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the second measurement is either (i) within the expected tolerance, cause the apparatus to restart the processing of patient specimens, or (ii) outside the expected tolerance and causing the testing apparatus to continue to cease performing tests on patient specimens, characterized in that the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining that the cassette comprises a quality control specimen and a patient specimen, cause the testing apparatus to eject the cassette. cause the testing apparatus to cease performing tests on patient specimens, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a first measurement of a parameter, responsive to determining that the first measurement is outside an expected tolerance, cause the testing apparatus to test the quality control specimen to obtain a second measurement, and wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the second measurement is either (i) within the expected tolerance, cause the apparatus to restart the processing of patient specimens, or (ii) outside the expected tolerance and causing the testing apparatus to continue to cease performing tests on patient specimens, characterized in that the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining that the cassette comprises a quality control specimen and a patient specimen, cause the testing apparatus to eject the cassette. <EOS>