Method for determination of item of interest in a sample

A method of performing a process for determining an item of interest in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a process path comprising a process lane in which a reaction container is moved, the process lane diverging into a process step performance lane where a process step comprising the process for determining the item of interest in the sample is performed, and a process step avoidance lane where the process step performed at the process step performance lane is avoided such that the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane are disposed substantially side by side, both the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane converging to the process lane;
• (b) moving the reaction container along the process lane;
• (c) introducing the sample to the reaction container while the reaction container is in the process lane;
• (d) introducing a reagent to the reaction container while the reaction container is in the process lane;
• (e) mixing the sample and the reagent in the reaction container while the reaction container is in the process lane;
• (f) selectively positioning the reaction container in a selected one of the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane based on whether the process step comprising the process for determining the item of interest in the sample is to be performed or not;
• (g) returning the reaction container from one of the process step performance lane and the process step avoidance lane to the process lane;
• and
• (h) determining the item of interest in the sample based upon a reaction between the sample and the reagent while the reaction container is in the process lane.