Blood sample preparation device and methods

A method for preparing a whole blood sample, comprising:

• scanning, using a sample preparation machine, an identifier of a sample container containing a whole blood sample while the sample container is in an up-right orientation, the sample container including a tube having an open end and a closed end, the closed end being disposed above the open end when the sample container is in the up-right orientation, the identifier containing information indicative of a characteristic of at least one of the sample container, the whole blood sample contained therein or an identity of a donor of the whole blood sample;
• after the scanning, with an actuator of the machine and based on the information, actuating the sample container to repeatedly change a position of the sample container about a rotation axis between a first position in which the sample container is in the upright orientation and a second position in which the sample container is in an inverted orientation, the rotation axis being offset a non-zero distance from a central axis of the sample container during the actuating;
• and
• after the actuating and with the sample container in the second position, based on the information and with the machine, dropping the sample container in the inverted orientation from the actuator into a rack of the machine such that the rack can transport the sample container in the inverted orientation to a centrifuge to be centrifuged, and then to a storage compartment.