Assay instrument for detecting optical signals from samples

An assay system for biological or chemical analysis, the assay system comprising:

• an optical assembly having a plurality of optical components, the optical assembly configured to receive first and second optical signals from different first and second samples, respectively, and direct the first and second optical signals to a detector assembly for detection;
• an optics adjustment system configured to selectively move at least one of the optical components to change the optical assembly between a first collective arrangement for detecting the first optical signals and a different second collective arrangement for detecting the second optical signals;
• and
• a system controller configured to control the optics adjustment system, wherein each of the first and second samples in configured to have a priority status during operation of the assay system, the system controller configured to control the optics adjustment system to change the optical assembly to the first collective arrangement or to the second collective arrangement based on the priority statuses of the first and second samples.

A method of operating an assay system, the method comprising:

• providing first and second samples to the assay system, the assay system including an optical assembly having a plurality of optical components and an optics adjustment system configured to selectively move at least one of the optical components to change the optical assembly between a first collective arrangement for detecting the optical signals from the first sample and a different second collective arrangement for detecting the optical signals from the second sample;
• and
• identifying a priority status of the first and second samples;
• automatically determining whether the first sample or the second sample has a higher priority based on the priority statuses;
• changing the optical assembly to the first collective arrangement or to the second collective arrangement based on which of the first sample or the second sample has the higher priority;
• and
• detecting the optical signals of the sample that was determined to have the higher priority.