Method and apparatus for viscosity measurement

A system for measuring the viscosity of a liquid sample (18) having a volume between 200 microlitres and 5 millilitres, said system comprising:

• i) a least one well (36) for retaining the liquid sample (36)
• ii) at least one measurement apparatus (20) comprising;
• a substantially cylindrical rotatable body (26);
• a retaining means (28) of which at least a portion (32) is adapted to be received into the well (36), said portion (32) including a bore (32a) having a complimentary shape to the rotatable body (26) and in which the rotatable body (26) is disposed coaxially, the bore (32a) and the rotatable body being dimensioned and spaced apart radially so as to form an annular gap (40) extending therebetween to receive, in use, the liquid (18);
• drive means (22) for rotating the rotatable body;
• control means for controlling the speed of the rotatable body;
• current measurement means for measuring the electric current supplied to the drive means;
• means for converting the current measurement into a viscosity measurement.