Automated laboratory instrument

A leakage detection method for an automatic laboratory instrument configured to analyse biological samples, the leakage detection method comprising the steps of:

• receiving pressure data from a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure within the channel of a pipette head;
• extracting a value for each of two or more properties of the received pressure data;
• comparing the respective extracted values of the two or more properties to respective property thresholds;
• and
• recording a leakage event when each of the extracted values exceeds its respective property threshold.

An automatic laboratory instrument for analysing biological samples, the automatic laboratory instrument comprising:

• a pipette head having a channel, the channel being connectable to a pipette tip through which fluid is aspirated and dispensed;
• a means of controlling the flow of fluid through the channel of the pipette head;
• a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure within the channel of the pipette head so as to collect pressure data for the channel;
• and
• a controller connected to the pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to record leakage events detected from pressure data received from the pressure sensor,
• wherein the automatic laboratory instrument is configured to determine the presence of a leak in the pipette head by detecting and recording leakage events for more than one run of the automatic laboratory instrument.

A leakage detection method for an automatic laboratory instrument configured to analyse biological samples, the leakage detection method comprising the steps of:

• receiving pressure data from a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure within a channel of a pipette head;
• recording leakage events detected from the received pressure data;
• and
• determining the presence of a leak in the pipette head by detecting and recording leakage events for more than one run of the automatic laboratory instrument.