Patent ID: 8529836

Claim:
A method of automatically processing one or more biological samples accommodated on a carrier member, by applying a predetermined amount of reagents in a predetermined sequence according to a processing protocol in a sample processing section of an automatic sample processing apparatus, comprising the steps of: measuring at least one air characteristic inside an interior space defined by a cover and a housing of the apparatus in which at least one carrier member is provided inside the cover enclosing the samples accommodated in the sample processing section of the apparatus, wherein the at least one carrier member is supported by a carrier rack for supporting the at least one carrier member; ventilating said interior space and controlling said apparatus according to a predetermined processing environment defined in a processing protocol, said ventilation including exchanging air through at least one air inlet and air outlet of the apparatus, removing from the apparatus a first sample accommodated on a first carrier member supported by a first carrier rack, for which the processing is completed, without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto a second sample accommodated on a second carrier member supported by a second carrier rack; or inserting into the apparatus the second sample accommodated on the second carrier member, without opening the cover or interrupting the dispensing of reagents onto the first sample, on the first carrier member.