Device and method for testing serum and plasma separated from blood cells in whole blood samples
AssigneeBabson Diagnostics, Inc.
InventorEric Olson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for separating serum or plasma from blood cells in a whole blood specimen. The present invention uses a cap with a reservoir, such that blood cells are packed into the cap when the specimen container is centrifuged. When the cap is removed, the blood cells are also removed, and the serum or plasma is left in the specimen tube where it can be readily extracted by a pipette which is able to reach all the way to the bottom of the specimen tube minimizing the dead volume.
Claims28
A specimen container for containing a whole blood sample, the specimen container including:
- a specimen tube having a closed end, an open end, and defining an inner volume therebetween, the specimen tube configured to receive the blood sample through the open end of the specimen tube;
- and
- a cap defining a reservoir having a maximum cross-sectional area greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the inner volume of the specimen tube, the cap configured to be rotatably coupled to the specimen tube to enclose the inner volume and place the inner volume in fluid communication with the reservoir,
- the specimen container configured to be centrifuged with the cap further away from an axis of centrifugation than the closed end of the specimen tube such that blood cells in the blood sample migrate into the reservoir and remain in the reservoir after the specimen container is centrifuged,
- the cap, with the blood cells disposed within the reservoir, being rotatably removable from the specimen tube to expose the open end of the specimen tube such that serum or plasma from the blood sample can be withdrawn through the open end of the specimen tube.
A specimen container for containing a whole blood sample, the specimen container comprising:
- a cylindrical specimen tube having a closed end, an open end, and defining an inner volume therebetween, the specimen tube configured to receive the blood sample through the open end of the specimen tube;
- and
- a monolithic cap defining a reservoir, the monolithic cap configured to accommodate delivery of the blood sample therethrough when the monolithic cap is coupled to the specimen and then become sealed, the monolithic cap configured to be removably coupled to the specimen tube to place the inner volume in fluid communication with the reservoir,
- the specimen container configured to be centrifuged with the monolithic cap further away from an axis of centrifugation than the closed end of the specimen tube such that blood cells in the blood sample migrate into the reservoir and remain in the reservoir after the specimen container is centrifuged,
- the monolithic cap, with the blood cells disposed within the reservoir, being removable from the specimen tube to expose the open end of the specimen tube such that serum or plasma from the blood sample can be withdrawn through the open end of the specimen tube,
- the monolithic cap further configured to be recoupled to the specimen tube.
A specimen container for containing a whole blood sample, the specimen container including:
- a cylindrical specimen tube having a closed end, an open end, and defining an inner volume therebetween, the closed end being at least one of round or conical, the open end being the only opening of the specimen container tube, the specimen tube configured to receive the blood sample through the open end of the specimen tube, the specimen tube including a coupling feature disposed on an outside surface of the specimen tube;
- and
- a cap defining a reservoir having a maximum cross-sectional area greater than a maximum cross-sectional area of the inner volume of the specimen tube, the cap including a coupling feature disposed on an inside surface of the cap and configured to be rotatably coupled to the coupling feature of the specimen tube to enclose the inner volume and place the inner volume in fluid communication with the reservoir, the cap configured to accommodate delivery or withdrawal of the blood sample therethrough when the cap is coupled to the specimen tube and then become sealed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.