Automated clinical analyzer with temperature control

An automated instrument for performing a multitude of clinical assays is disclosed. Receptacles for assay reagents and patient samples, controls and standards are supported on one carousel (32), and multi-well reaction vessels (34) are supported on another (31), the two carousels sharing a common axis (14) but driven by independently operating drive mechanisms (21,22;23,24). The reaction vessel carousel (31) is surrounded by a temperature controlled shell (33) which monitors and controls the temperature of all reaction vessels on the carousel. The two carousels rotate in a programmed manner to bring the various receptacles and vessels in alignment with various workstations which contain elements such as wash tubes, liquid transfer tubes, and detection systems, in a sequence which is governed by a programmed controller.