Preparation of blood plasma and serum samples
AssigneeAesculapius Scientific Limited
InventorStanley Matthias Hardy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method of preparing a plasma sample, blood from a donor is placed in the inner of two concentric tubes which are releasably connected together. The outer sample tube is labelled with data relating to the blood sample. After the concentric sample tubes have been centrifuged to separate out plasma from the blood, the outer tube is disconnected from the inner tube so that plasma can be poured into the outer tube. The outer tube, which carries the label, is then retained for analysis. As an alternative to centrifuging, a leakage path which is permeable to plasma but not blood cells can be provided at the base of the inner tube and plasma forced into the outer tube by application of external pressure.
Claims31
A method of preparing a labelled sample of blood plasma or blood serum comprising the steps of taking a sample of blood from a donor;
- placing the sample of blood in the inner of two sample vessels which are releasably connected together one inside the other;
- labelling the outer of the two vessels with data relevant to the identity of the blood sample;
- separating and conveying plasma constituent of the blood sample from the inner to the outer of the two vessels;
- and retaining the labelled outer vessel containing the plasma for subsequent analysis.
A device for use in the preparation of a labelled blood plasma or serum sample, comprising an inner blood sample vessel adapted to receive a sample of blood and contained within an outer plasma or serum sample vessel which is provided with an area adapted to enable labelling and which is adapted to receive a sample of blood plasma or serum derived from blood contained within the inner blood sample vessel;
- and means for releasably connecting together the two vessels;
- the two sample vessels each comprising a generally cylindrical sample tube having an opening at one end thereof, the inner sample tube being positioned in parallelism within the outer sample tube with the opening of the inner tube adjacent the opening of the outer tube, and wherein the inner sample vessel has a leakage path communicating between the two vessels permeable to blood plasma and blood serum but not to blood
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.