Laboratory instrument base plate

A laboratory instrument (10), comprising:

• a single base plate (12), wherein the single base plate comprises at least one embedded compartment (14), wherein the at least one embedded compartment (14) comprises at least two side walls (34), which encompass an inner volume (35), a bottom (36), and an open top (38), wherein the at least two side walls (34) are opposite each other or adjacent each other, wherein at least one of said embedded compartment (14) is selected from a group consisting of:
• an embedded consumable compartment (16), an embedded sample processing compartment (18), an embedded waste compartment (20), an embedded activation device compartment (22), and an embedded rack receiving compartment (24), or a combination thereof;
• and
• at least one electrically conductive element (48), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element is mounted on the single base plate (12), wherein the electrically conductive element comprises at least one reference structure (50), wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (48) comprises one or more electrically conductive sheets (49), wherein at least one of the one or more electrically conductive sheets comprises at least one through-hole (52), wherein the at least one through-hole (52) is aligned with the open top (38) of at least one embedded compartment (14), and wherein the at least one through-hole (52) is the at least one reference structure (50).