Patent ID: 8309358

Claim:
A computer-controlled method for providing a fluid to a reaction receptacle contained within a temperature-controlled environment, said method comprising the automated steps of: (a) placing at least one reaction receptacle on a receptacle carrier within a temperature-controlled incubator having a housing defining an enclosure; (b) moving the receptacle carrier to position said reaction receptacle beneath a hole formed in said housing; (c) moving a pipette located outside said enclosure into alignment with said hole and extending at least a portion of said pipette into said hole; (d) providing, with said pipette, a fluid to said reaction receptacle through said hole while maintaining a substantially uniform temperature within said enclosure; and (e) after performing step (d), agitating said reaction receptacle within said enclosure to thereby agitate the contents of said reaction receptacle by moving the reaction receptacle on the receptacle carrier in a generally horizontal, reciprocating path.