Methods and systems of transporting receptacles

A method of transporting a carrier coupled to a receptacle to a processing position within an instrument, the method comprising:

• (A) transporting the carrier coupled to the receptacle from a first carrier position outside the instrument to a second carrier position located on a first conveyor, the first carrier position being laterally offset from the second carrier position;
• (B) grasping the carrier coupled to the receptacle at the second carrier position with a gripper of the first conveyor;
• (C) moving the gripper, while the gripper is grasping the carrier coupled to the receptacle, along a first linear path defined by the first conveyor to transport the carrier coupled to the receptacle from the second carrier position to the processing position within the instrument;
• (D) inserting a distal end of an automated pipettor into the receptacle coupled to the carrier while the gripper is grasping the carrier at the processing position;
• (E) aspirating, using the automated pipettor, at least a portion of a sample in the receptacle coupled to the carrier while the gripper is grasping the carrier at the processing position;
• and
• (F) removing the distal end of the automated pipettor from the receptacle coupled to the carrier while the gripper is grasping the carrier at the processing position.