Self-sealing reagent container and reagent container system

A reagent container system, comprising:

• a plurality of reagent containers removably fitted onto a common carousel, each said reagent container comprising:
• a vessel having a plurality of separate compartments, each compartment having an opening in an upper surface of said vessel, and a sleeve on an exterior sidewall of said vessel;
• a self-sealing lid attached to said vessel, comprising:
• a first arm confronting said upper surface of said vessel, said first arm supporting a plurality of caps interspaced by openings extending through said arm, said first arm capable of reciprocal movement over said upper surface of said vessel to permit covering and uncovering of said compartment openings by said caps, and
• a second arm confronting said exterior sidewall of said vessel, said second arm having a lower end attached to said sidewall of said vessel and an upper end connected to said first arm via a hinge,
• guide means maintaining reciprocal displacement of said first arm along a single horizontal line of movement;
• and
• whereby said first arm of said lid is subject to a normal bias force created by said second arm whereby said plurality of caps normally covers said compartment openings, wherein when a horizontal external force is exerted in opposition to and adequate to exceed said normal bias force said first arm being capable of horizontal displacement adequate to uncover said caps from said compartment openings, and upon removal of said horizontal external force said normal bias force acting on said first arm of said lid to re-cover said compartment openings with said caps.