Diagnostic instrument having overlapping carousels

An instrument for analyzing liquid samples, comprising;

• a sample carousel including structure for storing a plurality of sample tubes, the sample tubes capable of containing the liquid sample to be tested;
• a diagnostic carousel including structure for storing a plurality of pipettes, the diagnostic carousel being offset from the sample carousel, each of the pipettes including a transfer mechanism for transferring the sample from the sample tube directly to the pipette;
• and
• structure for bringing the pipette into contact with the sample tube, upon contact the transfer mechanism of the pipette being activated for transferring sample from the sample tube to the pipette.

A instrument having overlapping carousel instrument, comprising:

• a rotatable first carousel having structure suitable for holding at least one sample, the sample being contained in a holder defining a sample tube, the sample tube being removably held by the first carousel, the first carousel being in a first plane;
• a rotatable second carousel, the second carousel being independently rotatable from the first carousel, the second carousel overlapping the first carousel, the second carousel including removable structure for holding at least a portion of the sample, the holding structure defining a pipette, the second carousel being in a second plane, different from the first plane, the first and second carousels overlapping and having zone of intersection;
• and
• a transfer mechanism for transferring at least a portion of the sample from the sample tube directly to the pipette at the zone of intersection, defining a transfer zone,
• whereby, sample is capable of being transferred from the first carousel to the second carousel for diagnosis.

A method of testing a sample in a diagnostic instrument including overlapping carousels, the steps comprising:

• inserting a sample contained in a sample tube into a first carousel, the sample tube having readable identifying indicia, the first carousel being rotatable and lying in a first plane;
• rotating an overlapping second carousel including a pipette having readable identifying indicia for sample collection, the second carousel lying in a second plane, different from the first plane, such that the sample tube having matching identifying indicia with the pipette are aligned;
• urging the pipette and sample tube together, the pipette including aspiration structure;
• 5
• aspirating sample from the sample tube to the pipette;
• and