System for performing a magnetic separation procedure

A system for separating an analyte of interest from other components of a sample contained in a receptacle, the system comprising:

• a receptacle holding station configured to receive and hold a receptacle delivered to the receptacle holding station by an automated receptacle transport, the receptacle holding station including one or more stationary magnets positioned to apply a magnetic field to the contents of the receptacle held in the receptacle holding station, the receptacle holding station being configured to hold the receptacle stationary relative to the one or more stationary magnets when present in the receptacle holding station;
• and
• a magnetic separation station comprising one or more magnets, the magnetic separation station being constructed and arranged to perform a magnetic separation procedure on the contents of a receptacle transported from the receptacle holding station to the magnetic separation station by an automated receptacle transport by magnetically isolating an analyte immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support and removing other components of the sample from the receptacle wherein the magnetic separation station is configured to provide relative movement between the receptacle and the one or more magnets after the receptacle is transported to the magnetic separation station.