Method of setting a handover position and laboratory automation system

A method of setting a handover position of a gripping device, wherein the gripping device is assigned to a laboratory sample distribution system having a transport plane, a number of electro-magnetic actuators positioned below the transport plane and a number of position sensors distributed over the transport plane and wherein the handover position is assigned to a handover electro-magnetic actuator, the method comprising:

• gripping, by the gripping device, a position determining device such that the position determining device is held fixedly by the gripping device, wherein the position determining device comprises a magnetically active device;
• positioning the position determining device, while held by the gripping device, on the transport plane;
• detecting a first position of the position determining device on the transport plane using the position sensors;
• and
• setting the handover position based at least in part on the first position.