Patent ID: 8709344

Claim:
A system for agitating multiple specimen containers each containing a sample and a growth medium, comprising, in combination: a plurality of specimen container racks, each of said racks including a plurality of receptacles adapted for holding a specimen container, the racks including a first rack oriented in a first direction and a second rack oriented in a second direction different from the first direction; a rotating turret comprising a frame holding the racks, the frame rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein the rotating turret operates to rotate the racks including the first rack and the second rack about the vertical axis to an access position; and an agitation assembly coupled to each of said racks, the agitation assembly rocking the racks back and forth thereby agitating specimen containers held by such racks; and an automated loading mechanism moveable in two orthogonal directions placed proximate to the rotating turret and including a structure for holding one of the specimen containers, the loading mechanism operable to insert a specimen container into any of the receptacles of the first or second rack when the first or second rack is rotated about the vertical axis into a loading position.