Patent ID: 8298815

Claim:
An automated sample processing system for processing at least one sample on at least one carrier according to a processing protocol, comprising: at least one removable reagent container positioned within a reagent section; carrier retention devices for retaining said sample during said processing, the devices being positioned within a plurality of drawers in at least one carrier section; an active temperature regulation element to which said at least one sample is responsive, wherein said active temperature regulation element regulates the temperature of said at least one sample at a set point and to within a tolerance specified by the protocol; and a moveable robotic member for dispensing fluid on the at least one carrier; a sample processing control system configured to monitor the plurality of drawers and to control the moveable robotic member according to the processing protocol; wherein the sample processing control system permits the at least one carrier and the at least one removable reagent container to be inserted or removed during the processing protocol without interrupting the fluid dispensing of the robotic member.