Sample testing method for automated control of sample retesting

A sample testing method comprising:

• transporting, by a transporting member which moves along a transport track, a first sample rack that holds a plurality of sample containers, wherein the transporting member is configured to move between a first position and a second position, and to transport the plurality of sample containers sequentially to a third position which is provided between the first position and the second position;
• obtaining, by a testing apparatus, a predetermined number of sample containers from the first sample rack sequentially at the third position, wherein the predetermined number of sample containers is less than a maximum number of sample containers held on the first sample rack;
• testing a predetermined number of samples in the obtained predetermined number of sample containers, wherein the testing comprises counting, by the testing apparatus, white blood cells with flow cytometry;
• returning, by the testing apparatus, the predetermined number of sample containers to the first sample rack;
• obtaining testing results of the tested predetermined number of samples;
• determining that none of the predetermined number of samples require retesting based on at least one criterion;
• and
• in response to determining that none of the predetermined number of samples require retesting based on the at least one criterion, feeding, by a rack feeder, a second sample rack to the transport track, wherein the second sample rack is not fed to the transport track until it is determined that none of the predetermined number of samples require retesting.