Assay work station

• US 20010012492A1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Foster, Gregory J., Bransky, Jeffrey D., Case, Robert, Shimei, Thomas M., Myers, Kristi K., Woodhead, Andrew J., Acosta, Galo F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,846,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/02 Burettes; Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/543 for disposable pipette tips, e.g. racks or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/103 using disposable tips
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0098 involving analyte bound to insoluble magnetic carrier, e.g. using magnetic separation magnetic particles used in immunoassays G01N33/54326; magnetic separation in general B03C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/026 having blocks or racks of reaction cells or cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 Multiple transfer devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/113332 with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/119163 with aspirator of claimed structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays includes a base structure, a receptacle rack assembly received within a receptacle rack well formed in the base structure, a pipette tip rack assembly received within a pipette tip rack well formed in the base structure, a multiple conduit substance transfer device, and substance transfer device positioning structure. The receptacle rack assembly holds a plurality of receptacles in which a plurality of individual assays are performed, and the pipette tip rack assembly holds a plurality of contamination limiting pipette tips. The substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles or simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. Alternatively, the substance transfer device is capable of simultaneously dispensing substances into two or more receptacles, and, at about the same time, simultaneously removing substances from two or more receptacles. The positioning structure permits the substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to the receptacle rack assembly or the pipette tip rack assembly.

Claims

1. A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays, said work station comprising:

(a) a receptacle holding structure constructed and arranged to hold a plurality of receptacles;

(b) a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with a first set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set; and

(c) substance transfer device positioning structure associated with said receptacle holding structure and constructed and arranged to permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(iii) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

2. A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays, said work station comprising:

(a) a receptacle holding structure constructed and arranged to hold a plurality of receptacles;

(b) a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with a first set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set;

(c) a contamination limiting element holding structure for removably holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements which are operatively engageable by said substance transfer device to limit contact between said substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance dispensed by said substance transfer device into the two or more receptacles or between said substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance removed by said substance transfer device from the two or more receptacles, said contamination limiting element holding structure being constructed and arranged to;

(i) receive and removably hold the plurality of contamination limiting elements in an operative orientation in which the contamination limiting elements can be operatively engaged by said substance transfer device, and

(ii) allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously engage two or more of the plurality of contamination limiting elements and allow the two or more contamination limiting elements engaged by said substance transfer device to be removed from said contamination limiting element holding structure; and

(d) a substance transfer device positioning structure associated with said receptacle holding structure and said contamination limiting element holding structure and constructed and arranged to;

(i) permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage the two or more contamination limiting elements, and

(ii) to permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(1) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(2) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(3) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

3. The work station of

claim 2

, further comprising a plurality of contamination limiting elements removably held by said contamination limiting element holding structure.

4. The work station of

claim 2

, further comprising a plurality of receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure.

5. The work station of

claim 2

, said contamination limiting element holding structure comprising one or more cassettes for holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements, each said cassette comprising:

side walls which are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another;

end walls which are opposed to one another and extend between said side walls at opposite ends thereof; and

a top panel having a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of contamination limiting elements formed therein, each said aperture adapted receive one of the plurality of contamination limiting elements.

6. The work station of

claim 5

, wherein each said cassette further comprises a plurality of dividing walls which are spaced apart and extend between said side walls and, in combination with said side walls and said end walls, define a plurality of contamination limiting element compartments, wherein each said compartment is capable of housing one of the contamination limiting elements.

7. The work station of

claim 6

, further comprising a plurality of contamination limiting elements, each of said plurality of contamination limiting elements being housed in an associated one of said plurality of contamination limiting element compartments.

8. The work station of

claim 2

, said contamination limiting element holding structure comprising one or more cassettes for holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements, each said cassette comprising:

a plurality of contamination limiting element-receiving tubes, each of said tubes having a channel formed therein for receiving a contamination limiting element and an opening for providing access to said channel;

a connecting structure holding said tubes together as an integral unit; and

a frustoconical surface surrounding said opening for facilitating alignment of a contamination limiting element with said opening.

9. The work station of

claim 2

, wherein said receptacle holding structure, said contamination limiting element holding structure, and said substance transfer device positioning structure are all operatively disposed on a base structure.

10. The work station of

claim 2

, wherein said receptacle holding structure comprises a receptacle rack for holding a plurality of receptacles arranged in an array.

11. The work station of

claim 10

, further comprising a base structure, said base structure including a receptacle rack well formed in said base structure, wherein said receptacle rack is constructed and arranged to be removably disposed within said receptacle rack well.

12. The work station of

claim 11

, wherein said receptacle holding structure further comprises one or more removable receptacle holding panels having a plurality of receptacle receiving apertures formed therein, said one or more removable receptacle holding panels being removably attachable to said receptacle rack for providing insert apertures by which each of the receptacles is inserted into said receptacle rack.

13. The work station of

claim 2

, wherein said contamination limiting element holding structure comprises a pipette rack for holding a plurality of pipettes arranged in an array.

14. The work station of

claim 13

, wherein said pipette rack comprises a top panel and upstanding sidewall structures supporting said top panel, said top panel having formed therein a plurality of slot arranged generally in parallel with one another, and wherein said contamination limiting element holding structure further comprises one or more cassettes for holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements, each of said one or more cassettes being constructed and arranged to be operatively positioned in an associated one of said slots formed in said top panel.

15. The work station of

claim 13

, further comprising a base structure, said base structure including a pipette rack well formed in said base structure, said pipette rack being constructed and arranged to be removably disposed within said pipette rack well.

16. The work station of

claim 2

, wherein said substance transfer device comprises:

(a) an elongated central support member;

(b) a pair of upstanding handle members attached to and extending upwardly from said central support member proximate opposite ends thereof;

(c) a substance dispensing apparatus operatively mounted to said central support member and including two or more conduits, said substance dispensing apparatus being constructed and arranged to simultaneously dispense substance from each of said two or more conduits of said substance dispensing apparatus into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set; and

(d) a substance removing apparatus operatively mounted to said central support member and including two or more conduits, said substance removing apparatus being constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance through each of said conduits of said substance removing apparatus from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance removing apparatus is constructed and arranged to remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time said substance dispensing apparatus is dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

17. The work station of

claim 16

, wherein said substance dispensing apparatus comprises a dispenser manifold defining a central conduit and two or more branch conduits extending from said central conduit, said central conduit of said dispenser manifold being connected to a source of substance to be dispensed into the receptacles, and, wherein said substance removing apparatus comprises an aspirator manifold defining a central conduit and two or more branch conduits extending from said central conduit through which substances are removed from the receptacles by aspiration, said central conduit of said aspirator manifold being connected to a container for storing substances aspirated from the receptacles.

18. The work station of

claim 2

, wherein said substance transfer device positioning structure comprises:

a receptacle registration structure disposed proximate said receptacle holding structure; and

a contamination limiting element registration structure disposed proximate said contamination limiting element holding structure,

and, wherein said substance transfer device includes a transfer registration structure constructed and arranged to be selectively engaged with either said receptacle registration structure or said contamination limiting element registration structure,

wherein said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to position said substance transfer device with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure, when said transfer registration structure is engaged with said contamination limiting element registration structure, to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage the two or more contamination limiting elements,

and, wherein said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to position said substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure when said transfer registration structure is engaged with said receptacle registration structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(iii) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

19. The work station of

claim 18

,

wherein said receptacle registration structure comprises a pair of elongated guide supports, one of said elongated guide supports being positioned on either side of said receptacle holding structure, each of said elongated guide supports having a plurality of aligned, vertically extending guide holes formed therein, each of said guide holes of one of said pair of elongated guide supports being aligned with a corresponding guide hole of the other of said elongated guide supports,

wherein said contamination limiting element registration structure comprises a pair of elongated guide supports, one of said elongated guide supports being positioned on either side of said contamination limiting element holding structure, each of said elongated guide supports having a plurality of aligned, vertically extending guide holes formed therein, each of said guide holes of one of said pair of elongated guide supports being aligned with a corresponding guide hole of the other of said elongated guide support, and

wherein said transfer registration structure comprises a pair of spaced, generally parallel guide rods extending from said substance transfer device,

wherein one of said guide rods of said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a one of said guide holes of one of said elongated guide supports of said contamination limiting element registration structure and the other of said guide rods of said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to be inserted into said corresponding aligned guide hole of the other of said elongated guide supports of said contamination limiting element registration structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage the two or more contamination limiting elements, and

wherein one of said guide rods of said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a one of said guide holes of one of said elongated guide supports of said receptacle registration structure and the other of said guide rods of said transfer registration structure is constructed and arranged to be inserted into said corresponding guide hole of the other of said elongated guide supports of said receptacle registration structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to:

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(iii) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

20. The work station of

claim 11

, further comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel dividing walls extending laterally across a bottom portion of said receptacle rack well so as to define a plurality of spaced, laterally extending, substantially parallel receptacle receiving troughs across said bottom portion of said receptacle rack well for receiving therein portions of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle rack.

21. The work station of

claim 20

, further comprising magnetic structures incorporated into or defining said dividing walls to create a magnetic field within said troughs so as to expose any substance contained within the plurality of receptacles received within said receptacle receiving troughs to said magnetic field.

22. A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays, said work station comprising:

(a) a receptacle holding structure constructed and arranged to hold a plurality of receptacles;

(b) a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with a first set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set;

(c) a receiving structure for receiving a removable contamination limiting element holding device for removably holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements which are operatively engageable by said substance transfer device to limit contact between said substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance dispensed by said substance transfer device into the two or more receptacles of the first set or between said substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance removed by said substance transfer device from the two or more receptacles of the second set, said receiving structure being constructed and arranged so that the contamination limiting element holding device held thereby is positioned and oriented to;

(i) receive and removably hold a plurality of contamination limiting elements in an operative orientation in which the contamination limiting elements can be operatively engaged by said substance transfer device, and

(ii) allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously engage two or more of the plurality of contamination limiting elements and allow the two or more contamination limiting elements engaged by said substance transfer device to be removed from the contamination limiting element holding device; and

(d) a substance transfer device positioning structure associated with said receptacle holding structure and said receiving structure and constructed and arranged to;

(i) permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to the contamination limiting element holding device operatively held by said receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage the two or more contamination limiting elements, and

(ii) permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(1) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(2) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(3) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

23. The work station of

claim 22

, further comprising a removable contamination limiting element holding device operatively held by said receiving structure.

24. A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays, said work station comprising:

(a) a receiving structure for receiving a removable receptacle holding device for holding a plurality of receptacles;

(b) a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with a first set of two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in a receptacle holding device operatively held by said receiving structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in the receptacle holding device to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set;

(c) a contamination limiting element holding structure for removably holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements which are operatively engageable by said substance transfer device to limit contact between said substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance removed by said substance transfer device from the two or more receptacles of the second set, said contamination limiting element holding structure being constructed and arranged to;

(i) receive and removably hold the plurality of contamination limiting elements in an operative orientation in which the contamination limiting elements can be operatively engaged by said substance transfer device, and

(ii) allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously engage two or more of the plurality of contamination limiting elements and allow the two or more contamination limiting elements engaged by said substance transfer device to be removed from said contamination limiting element holding structure; and

(d) a substance transfer device positioning structure associated with said receiving structure and said contamination limiting element holding structure and constructed and arranged to;

(i) permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage the two or more contamination limiting elements, and

(ii) permit said substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to the receptacle holding device operatively held by said receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(1) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set,

(2) simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, or

(3) simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

25. The work station of

claim 24

, further comprising a removable receptacle holding device operatively held by said receiving structure.

26. A work station for simultaneously performing multiple assays, said work station comprising:

(a) a first receiving structure adapted to receive and carry a receptacle holding structure for holding a plurality of receptacles, said first receiving structure being constructed and arranged to position a receptacle holding structure carried thereby so that receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure are arranged and oriented to be engageable by a substance transfer device for dispensing substances into or removing substances from two or more of the receptacles simultaneously;

(b) a second receiving structure adapted to receive and carry a contamination limiting element holding structure for removably holding a plurality of contamination limiting elements which are operatively engageable by a substance transfer device to limit contact between the substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance removed by the substance transfer device from two or more receptacles, said second receiving structure being constructed and arranged to position a contamination limiting element holding structure carried thereby so that contamination limiting elements held by the contamination limiting element holding structure are positioned and oriented to permit a substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more of the contamination limiting elements simultaneously and remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from the contamination limiting element holding structure; and

(c) a substance transfer device positioning structure associated with said first and second receiving structures and constructed and arranged to;

(i) permit a substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure to allow the substance transfer device to simultaneously engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by the contamination limiting element holding structure, and

(ii) permit a substance transfer device to be positioned with respect to a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to allow the substance transfer device to simultaneously dispense substances into or simultaneously remove substances from two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure.

27. The work station of

claim 26

, further comprising:

a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure, said receptacle holding structure being constructed and arranged to hold a plurality of receptacles and to arrange and orient the receptacles so as to be engageable by a substance transfer device for dispensing substances into or removing substances from two or more of the receptacles simultaneously; and

a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure, said contamination limiting element holding structure being constructed and arranged to removably hold a plurality of contamination limiting elements which are operatively engageable by a substance transfer device to limit contact between the substance transfer device and a potentially contaminating substance removed by the substance transfer device from two or more receptacles, said contamination limiting element holding structure being constructed and arranged to;

(i) receive and removably hold a plurality of contamination limiting elements in an operative orientation in which the contamination limiting elements can be operatively engaged by a substance transfer device, and

(ii) allow a substance transfer device to simultaneously engage two or more of the plurality of contamination limiting elements and allow the two or more contamination limiting elements engaged by the substance transfer device to be removed from the contamination limiting element holding structure.

28. The work station of

claim 26

, further comprising a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to:

(a) operatively interact with a first set of two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in the receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device simultaneously dispenses substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set, and

(b) operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from the contamination limiting element holding structure,

said substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by the contamination limiting element holding structure, or to position said substance transfer device with respect to a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of a first set of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure,

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of a second set of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure, or

(iii) simultaneously dispense substance into each of a first set of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure and simultaneously remove substance from each of a second set of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

29. The work station of

claim 26

, further comprising a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to:

(a) operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles or to operatively interact with two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in the receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles, and

(b) operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from the contamination limiting element holding structure,

said substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by the contamination limiting element holding structure, or to position said substance transfer device with respect to a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure, or

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure.

30. The work station of

claim 26

, further comprising:

a first substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles,

said first substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said first substance transfer device with respect to a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously dispense substance into each of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure; and

a second substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from the contamination limiting element holding structure and to operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles,

said second substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to a contamination limiting element holding structure carried by said second receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by the contamination limiting element holding structure or to position said substance transfer device with respect to a receptacle holding structure carried by said first receiving structure to allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously remove substance from each of two or more receptacles held by the receptacle holding structure.

31. The work station of

claim 27

, further comprising a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to:

(a) operatively interact with a first set of two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set and to operatively interact with a second set of two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set, wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles of the second set at about the same time that said substance transfer device simultaneously dispenses substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set, and

(b) operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from the contamination limiting element holding structure,

said substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure or to position said substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of a first set of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure,

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of a second set of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure, or

(iii) simultaneously dispense substance into each of a first set of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure and simultaneously remove substance from each of a second set of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure at about the same time that said substance transfer device is simultaneously dispensing substance into each of the two or more receptacles of the first set.

32. The work station of

claim 27

, further comprising a substance transfer device constructed and arranged to:

(a) operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles or to operatively interact with two or more of the plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles, and

(b) operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from said contamination limiting element holding structure,

said substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure or to position said substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to;

(i) simultaneously dispense substance into each of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure, or

(ii) simultaneously remove substance from each of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure.

33. The work station of

claim 27

, further comprising:

a first substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously dispense substance into each of the two or more receptacles,

said first substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said first substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously dispense substance into each of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure; and

a second substance transfer device constructed and arranged to operatively engage two or more of a plurality of contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure and to remove the two or more contamination limiting elements from said contamination limiting element holding structure and to operatively interact with two or more of a plurality of receptacles held in said receptacle holding structure to simultaneously remove substance from each of the two or more receptacles,

said second substance transfer device including guide members constructed and arranged to cooperate with said substance transfer device positioning structure to position said substance transfer device with respect to said contamination limiting element holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to operatively engage two or more contamination limiting elements held by said contamination limiting element holding structure or to position said substance transfer device with respect to said receptacle holding structure to allow said substance transfer device to simultaneously remove substance from each of two or more receptacles held by said receptacle holding structure.

34. A substance transfer device for simultaneously dispensing substances into and removing substances from two or more receptacles, said substance transfer device comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) a substance dispensing apparatus operatively mounted to said support member and including two or more conduits, said substance dispensing apparatus being constructed and arranged to simultaneously dispense substance through each of said two or more conduits of said substance dispensing apparatus into each receptacle of a first set of two or more receptacles;

(c) a substance removing apparatus operatively mounted to said support member and including two or more conduits, said substance removing structure being constructed and arranged to simultaneously remove substance through each of said conduits of said substance removing apparatus from each receptacle of a second set of two or more receptacles,

wherein said substance transfer device is constructed and arranged to remove substance from each of the receptacles of the second set with said substance removing apparatus at about the same time said substance dispensing apparatus is dispensing substance into each of the receptacles of the first set.

35. The substance transfer device of

claim 34

, further comprising a pair of handle members operatively mounted to said support member to facilitate handling of said substance transfer device by a user.

36. The substance transfer device of

claim 34

, wherein a portion of each of said conduits of said substance removing apparatus defines a contamination limiting element engaging structure constructed and arranged to operatively engage a contamination limiting element for limiting contact between said substance removing apparatus and a potentially contaminating substance removed by said substance removing apparatus from the two or more receptacles of the second set.

37. The substance transfer device of

claim 36

, further comprising a contamination limiting element disengaging structure operatively associated with said substance removing apparatus and constructed and arranged to selectively disengage each of the contamination limiting elements engaged by said contamination limiting element engaging structures.