Patent ID: 8914255

Claim:
Method for focus prediction in a sample arranged on a measuring surface of an analyzer, comprising: row wise scanning sample positions of the sample by means of an optical system of said analyzer, said sample positions being positions in a coordinate system for said measuring surface containing said sample, for a first sample position on each row, determining a focus of the first sample position using the optical system and storing the position and focus of the first sample position as a latest determined focus position and a latest determined focus, respectively, and for each subsequent sample position: determining whether there exists a stored focus difference for the subsequent sample position in relation to the latest determined focus position based on differences in focus between adjacent sample positions which have been stored so far during, but not before, the row wise scanning of the sample, and if a stored focus difference exists, predicting a focus of the subsequent sample position by adding said stored focus difference to the latest determined focus, or if no stored focus difference exists, determining a focus of the subsequent sample position using the optical system, storing the focus and position of the subsequent sample position as the latest determined focus position and the latest determined focus, respectively, and if a focus has been determined and stored by using the optical system for an adjacent sample position on the same row, calculating and storing a difference in focus between the subsequent sample position and the adjacent sample position.