Automated medical sample collection and testing for providing blood coagulation indication

An automated method of measuring blood attributes, the method comprising:

• by a processor of a sample collection and testing device:
• starting a pump of the sample collection and testing device to move a blood sample in a fluid flow pathway of the sample collection and testing device, the sample collection and testing device comprising a plurality of optical fluid measurement elements located across the fluid flow pathway such that a leading edge of the blood sample consecutively reaches each of the plurality of optical fluid measurement elements across the fluid flow pathway;
• for each optical fluid measurement element in the plurality of optical fluid measurement elements of the sample collection and testing device:
• receive a signal from the optical fluid measurement element indicating a detection of the leading edge of the blood sample in the fluid flow pathway;
• and
• receive a plurality of light intensity measurements from the optical fluid measurement element after the leading edge of the blood sample is detected by the optical fluid measurement element, each light intensity measurement measured at a corresponding point of time;
• determine a travel time of the blood sample between the consecutive optical fluid measurement elements;
• and
• provide a mapping of a combination of the travel time of the blood sample between each two consecutive optical fluid measurement elements and the light intensity measurements received over a time period from the plurality of optical fluid measurement elements into an indication of a thickness or a thinness of the blood sample.