Sample handling arrangement

A sample handling arrangement for transferring at least a portion of one or more patient samples from at least one sample tube to at least one reaction vessel within an automated analyzer, the sample handling arrangement comprising:

• (a) a sample presentation unit associated with the automated analyzer and configured to receive a plurality of racks into the automated analyzer, each of the plurality of racks configured to receive and hold the at least one sample tube;
• (b) a linear slide configured to be selectively mounted to a mount of the automated analyzer at a first position and a second position different from the first position;
• (c) a pipetting module configured to transfer at least the portion of the one or more patient samples to the at least one reaction vessel within the automated analyzer, wherein the pipetting module is configured to travel along the linear slide;
• (d) a rack transfer module operatively coupled to the sample presentation unit and configured to transfer at least one rack of the plurality of racks from the sample presentation unit to the pipetting module within the automated analyzer;
• and
• (e) a home sensor for sensing the presence or absence of the pipetting module at a home position;
• wherein the pipetting module is operable in:
• (i) a first mode in which the pipetting module is configured to transfer at least the portion of the one or more patient samples from the at least one sample tube held by the at least one rack within the automated analyzer to the at least one reaction vessel within the automated analyzer;
• and
• (ii) a second mode in which the pipetting module is configured to transfer at least the portion of the one or more patient samples from an external track disposed outside the automated analyzer to the at least one reaction vessel within the automated analyzer;
• wherein the sample handling arrangement is operable in:
• (i) a first configuration in which the pipetting module is configured to travel within the automated analyzer and thereby operate solely in the first mode;
• and
• (ii) a second configuration in which:
• (A) the pipetting module is configured to travel within the automated analyzer and to the external track and thereby operate in the second mode;
• and
• (B) the pipetting module is further configured to travel within the automated analyzer and to the at least one rack transferred by the rack transfer module within the automated analyzer and thereby also operate in the first mode;
• wherein the linear slide is configured to be mounted to the mount of the automated analyzer at the first position when the sample handling arrangement is operating in the first configuration, wherein the linear slide is configured to be mounted to the mount of the automated analyzer at the second position when the sample handling arrangement is operating in the second configuration, and wherein the linear slide is configured to be stationary when the sample handling arrangement is operating in each of the first configuration and the second configuration.