Patent ID: 7846384

Claim:
A pathology sample distribution apparatus comprising: a plurality of primary containers of different tube types, the primary containers each containing a sample for pathology analysis, and a number of the primary containers being capped; sample aspiration and dispensing means for aspirating volumetrically proportions of the samples from the primary containers; container identification means for identifying the different tube types of the primary containers; at least one secondary container, wherein in operation each said primary containers containing a sample is presented to said container identification means for determining whether the primary container is to be accepted or rejected according to given criteria; the identification means being arranged to reject a container when the identification means fails to detect the given criteria and thereby indicating the presence of an error condition, when the given criteria are detected a respective cap of the primary container is removed and aliquots of the sample aspirated from the primary container after the respective cap is removed by the sample aspiration and dispensing means are dispensed to said at least one secondary container; secondary container sealing means and secondary container labelling means; the sealing means and the labelling means being respectively arranged for sealing and labelling the secondary containers following dispensing of the aliquots to the at least one secondary container; and a computerized laboratory information management system programmed to control and coordinate process operational steps of the pathology sample distribution apparatus.