A system for automation of laboratory analyzers that utilizes radio
frequency identification (RFID) tags and radio frequency identification
(RFID) readers to identify containers and vessels, and the contents
thereof, that are employed in the system. Radio frequency identification
tags, conforming to the guidelines of ISO 14443 or ISO 15693 or ISO
18000, are positioned on the items of interest, such as, for example,
reagent containers, sample containers, and microplates. These tags can be
read by and written to by either a moving antenna of a RFID reader or a
stationary antenna of a RFID reader. Reading of RFID tags and writing to
RFID tags are controlled by software.