Analyzer having automatic test type sensing

A method comprising:

• reading an identification component of a consumable insert supported by a consumable support device by an identifier component, the identification component indicative of a first consumable insert type or a second consumable insert type, the consumable insert supporting a consumable being an analysis device having a specimen for analysis in a testing position within a housing of an analyzer,
• outputting a first data signal indicative of the consumable insert type being one of the first consumable insert type and the second consumable insert type;
• and
• selecting a first analysis workflow based on the first data signal indicating the first consumable insert type and a second analysis workflow based on the first data signal indicating the second consumable type, the first analysis workflow being different from the second analysis workflow.

A method of using an automated analyzer comprising:

• inserting a consumable into a consumable port of a consumable insert, the consumable being an analysis device having a specimen for analysis and having a consumable type, and the consumable insert supporting the consumable;
• placing the consumable insert with a particular orientation selected from a first orientation and a second orientation into a consumable support device to indicate a particular consumable type;
• and
• initiating an analysis workflow for the consumable to cause the automated analyzer to move the consumable support device, the consumable insert and the consumable to a testing position into a housing and analyze the specimen without requiring manual selection of the analysis workflow.

An automated analyzer, comprising:

• a housing having at least one outer wall that defines an internal cavity therein, the housing having a sample port;
• a consumable insert having a consumable insert type and an identification component and shaped and configured to receive a particular type of consumable selected from a group of different types of consumables, each of the consumables being an analysis device having a specimen for analysis;
• a consumable support device disposed within the sample port and operable to support the consumable insert and moveable with the consumable insert to a testing position within the internal cavity and a receiving position outside the internal cavity via the sample port, the consumable support device further having an identifier component configured to identify the consumable insert type based in part on the identification component and configured to output a first data signal indicative of the consumable insert type;
• a reader disposed within the housing and adjacent to the testing position, the reader configured to output a second data signal indicative of a reading from the at least one consumable;
• and
• a control system having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to:
• receive the first data signal indicative of the consumable insert type;
• retrieve an analysis workflow corresponding with the consumable insert type from a database storing a plurality of analysis workflows;
• execute the analysis workflow;
• receive the second data signal from the reader;
• and
• interpret the second data signal based on the executed analysis workflow.