Scientific apparatus, namely, solid matrix materials for use in the screening of biochemical activity, detecting the presence of analytes in samples, and identifying sample type; devices for filling and capping solid support matrices; instrumentation for handling and processing solid support matrices for chemical and biological synthesis, namely, manual and automated sorters for identifying and distributing solid support matrices to containers for synthesis, washing, compound cleavage, screening and storage equipment washers, synthesis systems for chemical and biological synthesis on solid support matrices, test specimen cleavers and evaporators for cleaving and drying specimens from solid supports; detectors for detecting fluorescence, chemiluminescence, absorbance, alpha screening and radioisotope emission; temperature-controlled enclosures and specimen holders for growing biological molecules and crystals; imaging devices for viewing specimens within temperature-controlled enclosures; robotic handling systems for manipulating specimens and imaging devices within temperature-controlled enclosures; computer controllers, user interfaces and computer software for interfacing with and controlling sorters, washers, synthesis systems, cleavers and evaporators, detectors, temperature-controlled enclosures, imaging devices and robotic handling systems, network servers, local and remote databases, local and remote data processors, for communicating with local and remote user interfaces, and for analyzing data generated therefrom