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An automated chemical or biological sample analyzer includes a plurality of linear sample carrying racks that are moved to a processing station for conducting an analysis using one or more carousel devices. Under computer control, rotational movements of the carousel or carousels, linear movements o

An automated chemical or biological sample analyzer includes a plurality of linear sample carrying racks that are moved to a processing station for conducting an analysis using one or more carousel devices. Under computer control, rotational movements of the carousel or carousels, linear movements of the transfer or shuttle mechanisms, and operation of a pipetting station are performed in a coordinated fashion so as to handle the processing of a large number of samples simultaneously in an optimized fashion that allows random ordering of samples for processing.

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What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: 1. A sample handling system for a chemical or biological material analyzer, comprising: a reagent subsystem; a sample subsystem including a plurality of non-concentric carousels located on a platform of the analyzer, wherein

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows: 1. A sample handling system for a chemical or biological material analyzer, comprising: a reagent subsystem; a sample subsystem including a plurality of non-concentric carousels located on a platform of the analyzer, wherein each carousel comprises means for holding a plurality of sample racks, wherein each holding means comprises a plurality of slots distributed radially about a perimeter of the carousel; and a transfer device comprising means for moving a sample rack directly between opposed, radially-aligned slots of two non-concentric carousels and between the perimeter of both of the two non-concentric carousels. 2. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein the transfer device comprises means for engaging a transfer slot positioned in a base of a sample rack. 3. The sample handling system of claim 2, wherein the engaging means comprises a pin sized to slidably engage the transfer slot. 4. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein the moving means of the transfer device moves linearly. 5. The sample handling system of claim 4, wherein the moving means comprises, a belt, a plurality of spindles, and a motor, wherein the motor driveably engages a spindle, and the plurality of spindles, partially rotationally engages the belt. 6. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein the transfer device comprises, a transfer slide for moving a sample rack between aligned slots of the two non-concentric carousels. 7. The sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller programmed to coordinate movements of the transfer device and at least one of the carousels. 8. The sample handling system of claim 7, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to determine an optimized order for processing a plurality of samples, and wherein the determination of the optimized order is based, at least in part, on a processing requirement associated with each of the plurality of samples, and on any rush or STAT requests for any of the samples. 9. The sample handling system of claim 7, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to maintain at least one slot in at least one carousel empty in order to permit priority loading of a sample rack. 10. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein the carousels are circular in shape. 11. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein at least two carousels are the same size. 12. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein at least one carousel is rotatable 360 degrees in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. 13. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of carousels is rotatable 360 degrees in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. 14. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein at least one carousel further comprises means for engaging a detent on a base of a sample rack. 15. The sample handling system of claim 14, wherein the engaging means comprises a button member positioned at a base of a slot. 16. The sample handling system of claim 15, wherein the engaging means further comprises a means for biasing the button member towards the sample rack with which the button member engages. 17. The sample handling system of claim 16, wherein the biasing means comprises a flat spring. 18. The sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising means for biasing a sample rack against a side wall of a slot. 19. The sample handling system of claim 18, wherein the biasing means is a spring positioned on a side wall of a slot. 20. The sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising means for reading a label associated with a sample rack, and means for transmitting information from said label to a controller. 21. The sample handling system of claim 20, wherein the reading means comprises a label reader positioned adjacent to the transfer device. 22. The sample handling system of claim 21, wherein the label is a bar code. 23. The sample handling system of claim 21, wherein the label is an RFID tag. 24. A sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising means for identifying the contents of a sample rack. 25. The sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising an automated rack loader and a second transfer device comprising means for moving a sample rack between a carousel and the rack loader. 26. The sample handling system of claim 1, further comprising: a control storage component positioned adjacent to a carousel, and a second transfer device comprising means for moving a sample rack between the control storage component and the carousel positioned adjacent to the control storage component. 27. The sample handling system of claim 1, wherein the sample rack comprises means for holding a plurality of samples. 28. The sample handling system of claim 27, wherein the sample rack comprises means for holding at least five samples. 29. The sample handling system of claim 27, wherein the sample rack is linear. 30. A sample handling system for a chemical or biological material analyzer, comprising: a sample rack configured to hold at least one sample tube containing patient sample or control sample; a plurality of non-concentric carousels located on a platform, wherein each carousel comprises a plurality of slots distributed radially about a perimeter of the carousel, each of the slots being configured to hold the sample rack; and a transfer device configured to transport the sample rack directly between opposed, radially-aligned slots of two non-concentric carousels and between the perimeter of both of the two non-concentric carousels. 31. The sample handling system of claim 30, wherein the transfer device comprises a pin sized to slidably engage a transfer slot positioned in a base of the sample rack. 32. The sample handling system of claim 30, further comprising a programmable controller programmed to coordinate movements of the transfer device and at least one of the carousels, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to determine an optimized order for processing a plurality of samples, wherein the determination of the optimized order is based, at least in part, on a processing requirement associated with each of the plurality of samples, and on any rush or STAT requests for any of the samples, and wherein the programmable controller is programmed to maintain at least one slot in at least one carousel empty in order to permit priority loading of the sample rack. 33. The sample handling system of claim 30, further comprising: a spring positioned on a first side wall of a slot, the spring biasing a sample rack against a second side wall of the slot; a label reader for reading a label associated with the sample rack, wherein the label reader is positioned adjacent to the transfer device; an automated rack loader and a second transfer device comprising means for moving the sample rack between a carousel and the rack loader; a control storage component positioned adjacent to a carousel; and a third transfer device disposing the sample rack between a slot and the control storage component, and wherein at least one carousel further comprises a button member positioned at a base of a slot, and a flat spring, biasing the button member to engage a detent on a base of the sample rack. 34. A sample handling system for a chemical or biological material analyzer, comprising: a platform; two non-concentric carousels located on the platform, each of the plurality of non-concentric carousels including slots, the slots extending along a radius of each of the plurality of carousels to a outermost radial perimeter thereof, the slots being adapted to hold a plurality of sample racks, and wherein guide slots are formed in each of the slots; and a transfer mechanism including a projecting element moveable in the guide slots and adapted to engage a sample rack to move the sample rack directly between opposed, radially-aligned slots of the radial perimeters of the two non-concentric carousels.