A system for processing a plurality of distinct samples, wherein each sample is contained within a discrete sample container, the system comprising:
- A) two or more analyzers, wherein each analyzer is configured to perform one or more functional assays on sample extracted from a sample container, wherein the one or more functional assays performed by each analyzer may be the same or different than the one or more functional assays performed by each of the other analyzers, wherein each analyzer is configured to perform each of the one or more functional assays within a receptacle apparatus comprising a process number of two or more operatively associated process vessels, and wherein each analyzer is configured to perform the same one of the one or more functional assays on a different sample contained within each process vessel of the receptacle apparatus;
- B) a sample transfer device associated with each analyzer and configured to transfer a portion of a sample from a sample container to one of the process vessels of a receptacle apparatus;
- C) a conveyance configured to transport sample containers between the two or more analyzers;
- D) a buffer queue associated with each analyzer and configured to hold multiple sample containers diverted to the buffer queue from the conveyance;
- E) a scanner associated with each analyzer and configured to detect machine-readable identification information associated with each sample container transported on the conveyance;
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- F) one or more controllers configured to implement an assay matching operation that diverts sample containers from the conveyance to one of the analyzers in a manner that maximizes system throughput and efficiency while enabling the system to selectively alter the assay matching operation to (1) prioritize processing a STAT sample container or (2) when the assay matching operation cannot be completed within a prescribed period time, wherein the one or more controllers are programmed to:
- 1) identify one or more open assays for each sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanner;
- 2) determine if the sample container is a STAT sample container based on the identification information detected by the scanner;
- 3) cause a sample container to be diverted from the conveyance into one of the buffer queues if an open assay for that sample container corresponds to a functional assay of the analyzer associated with the buffer queue;
- 4) monitor a buffered container count for each buffer queue, wherein the buffered container count comprises, for each buffer queue, the number of sample containers held in that buffer queue with the same open assay;
- 5) monitor a buffered container holding time for each buffer queue, wherein the buffered container holding time comprises an elapsed time since a first sample container of each buffered container count was diverted into the buffer queue;
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- 6) with the sample transfer device of the associated analyzer, perform one of the following tasks:
- a) transfer a portion of sample from each of a process number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same open assay into a different one of the process vessels of a receptacle apparatus if the buffered container count in the associated buffer queue for that assay is at least equal to the process number,
- b) transfer a portion of sample from each of a number of sample containers within the associated buffer queue having the same open assay into a different one of the process vessels of a receptacle apparatus if the buffered container holding time for the associated buffer queue for that open assay reaches a maximum holding time and the buffered container count in the associated buffer queue for that assay is less than the process number, or
- c) transfer a portion of sample from a STAT sample container diverted into the associated buffer queue into one of the process vessels of a receptacle apparatus.