Patent ID: 7157285

Claim:
An automated method for processing of samples linked to solid supports, the method comprising: (a) loading each sample linked to a solid support into a sample well of a plurality of wells in a sample/collection container with one sample and solid support combination per sample well, wherein the sample/collection container comprises a plurality of wells, each well having a bottom, an inner diameter adapted for receiving the solid support, and at least one protrusion extending radially into the well for restricting the inner diameter of the well to prevent the solid support from dropping to the bottom of the well; (b) loading a plurality of sample/collection containers onto a rotor position on a centrifuge rotor within an openable centrifuge chamber; (c) rotating the centrifuge rotor to position a first sample/collection container below a dispensing head having a plurality of dispensing tips, with one dispensing tip corresponding to each well of the plurality of wells; (d) dispensing a processing solution into the plurality of wells of the first sample/collection container; (e) rotating the centrifuge rotor to position a second sample/collection container below the dispensing head; (f) under computer control, dispensing the processing solution into the plurality of wells of the second sample/collection container; (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) until all sample/collection containers of the plurality have received the processing solution; (h) under computer control, rotating the centrifuge rotor to spin the plurality of sample/collection containers to complete the processing of the samples; and (i) halting the centrifuge rotor after completion of the processing and unloading the sample/collection containers.