A system and method for non-contact specimen container characterization includes a processor, and a specimen container diameter sensor, and a specimen container length sensor. The non-contact specimen container can also include a cap color sensor. The sensors are located in a fixed position relative to a conveyor for transporting a plurality of specimen containers. Another embodiment is directed to a system and method for detecting centrifuge imbalance along multiple axes. First, second and third comparators compare an accelerometer output corresponding to x-, y- and z- axes with reference voltage levels. The outputs are used to determine whether to discontinue operation of the centrifuge. The outputs can also be used to generate alerts.