Procedure and apparatus for assuring positive identification of samples for analysis

An analyzer apparatus for implementing a procedure for assuring the positive identification of samples to be analyzed, comprising:

• a plurality of sample containers each adapted for containing a sample material to be analyzed;
• a rotatable sample register, said sample register having a plurality of discrete openings therein, which are located at predetermined points on concentric circles, and in which openings the sample containers to be analyzed are placed, said sample register being rotatable by an electromotor attached thereto;
• a cover located above said sample register, said cover being provided with multiple discrete apertures and is so positioned relative to the rotatable sample register that only one aperture at a time is aligned with one of the sample register openings;
• and
• a computer operatively associated with said sample register and with the electromotor for rotating the sample register relative to the cover, whereby the sample register is so positioned relative to the cover that only one aperture at a time allows the insertion of one of said sample containers into the sample register opening location prior to performing an analysis of the sample.

A procedure for assuring positive identification of samples during analysis of the samples, said procedure comprising the steps of:

• providing a sample register having a plurality of sample container receiving openings arranged therein;
• providing a cover located above said sample register, said cover having a plurality of apertures therein, said apertures being sized to allow the insertion of a sample container therethrough and being positioned on said cover so that only one aperture at a time is aligned with one of said openings;
• providing a computer adapted to control the movement of said sample register relative to said cover, and rotating the register via the computer to align only one of said apertures with one of said openings so that only a single sample container at a time can be inserted into the sample register via said aperture aligned therewith;
• and
• inserting a sample container through the aligned aperture and into the opening.