Test tube rack

An improved construction test tube rack usable in alternate horizontal and vertical use positions for respectively initially loading and stamping reaction tubes and thereafter conducting tests from patient specimen tubes in such reaction tubes, comprising a rack body including a pair of end plates each having a lower edge surface for supporting the rack in its vertical position and at least one adjacent side edge surface for supporting said rack in its alternate horizontal position, said body further including a substantially planar tube grid with upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending between said end plates and supported thereby, said grid having at least one said surface provided with a plurality of upstanding aligned and longitudinally spaced members for supporting and longitudinally spacing a plurality of reagent test tubes thereon, at least one control bar longitudinally extending along said one grid surface and operable between open and closed alternate positions, said control bar having an inner surface member in opposition to said one grid surface and adapted to contact said reagent test tubes supported thereon in its closed position and positioned away from said one grid surface in its open position, said closed control bar position adapted for use in said vertical rack position to lock said reagent tubes in an upright position, and wherein both the upper and lower surfaces of said tube grid are provided with said reagent test tube spacing members and said end plates having two side edge surfaces adjacent said lower edge supporting surface for respectively supporting said rack in first and second alternate horizontal positions, there being two control bars each respectively adapted for positioning in an open and closed position, said end plates each having means for receiving and longitudinally orienting an elongated stamp pad in a generally normal attitude above said grid upper and lower surfaces in said alternate first and second horizontal positions for gang stamping indicia upon said reagent test tubes.

An improved construction test tube rack usable in alternate horizontal and vertical use positions for respectively initially loading and stamping reaction tubes and thereafter conducting tests from patient specimen tubes in such reaction tubes, comprising a rack body including a pair of end plates each having a lower edge surface for supporting the rack in its vertical position and at least one adjacent side edge surface for supporting said rack in its alternate horizontal position, said body further including a substantially planar tube grid with upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending between said end plates and supported thereby, said grid having at least one said surface provided with a plurality of upstanding aligned and longitudinally spaced members for supporting and longitudinally spacing a plurality of reagent test tubes thereon, at least one control bar longitudinally extending along said one grid surface and operable between open and closed alternate positions and having an upper surface provided with longitudinally spaced openings for receipt of patient specimen tubes, said control bar upper surface terminating in a longitudinal edge proximally spaced to said one grid surface and adapted to contact said reagent test tubes supported thereon in its closed position and positioned away from said one grid surface in its open position, said closed control bar position adapted for use in said vertical rack position to position said specimen tubes adjacent said reagent tubes and to lock said reagent tubes in an upright position, and wherein both the upper and lower surfaces of said tube grid are provided with said reagent test tube spacing members and said end plates having two side edge surfaces adjacent said lower edge supporting surface for respectively supporting said rack in first and second alternate horizontal positions, there being two control bars each respectively adapted for positioning in an open and closed position, said end plates each having means for receiving and longitudinally orienting an elongated stamp pad in a generally normal attitude above said grid upper and lower surfaces in said alternate first and second horizontal positions for gang stamping indicia upon said reagent test tubes.

An improved construction test tube rack usable in alternate horizontal and vertical use positions for respectively initially loading and stamping reaction tubes and thereafter conducting tests from patient specimen tubes in such reaction tubes, comprising a rack body including a pair of end plates each having a lower edge surface for supporting the rack in its vertical position and at least one adjacent side edge surface for supporting said rack in its alternate horizontal position, said body further including a substantially planar tube grid with upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending between said end plates and supported thereby, said grid having at least one said surface provided with a plurality of upstanding aligned and longitudinally spaced members for supporting and longitudinally spacing a plurality of reagent test tubes thereon, at least one control bar longitudinally extending along said one grid surface and operable between open and closed alternate positions and having an upper surface provided with longitudinally spaced openings for receipt of patient specimen tubes, said control bar upper surface terminating in a longitudinal edge proximally spaced to said one grid surface and adapted to contact said reagent test tubes supported thereon in its closed position and positioned away from said one grid surface in its open position, said closed control bar position adapted for use in said vertical rack position to position said specimen tubes adjacent said reagent tubes and to lock said reagent tubes in an upright position, and wherein both the upper and lower surfaces of said tube grid are provided with said reagent test tube spacing members and said end plates having two side edge surfaces adjacent said lower edge supporting surface for respectively supporting said rack in first and second alternate horizontal positions, there being two control bars each respectively adapted for positioning in an open and closed position, said control bars each having a lower extension downwardly extending from said upper surface at a position distal from said grid surfaces, said lower extensions in turn pivotally supported between said end plates, said upper control bar surface comprising a longitudinally oriented series of rigid, open hoops into which said specimen tubes are adapted to be inserted in upright position, the longitudinal edge of said upper control bar surface being a longitudinal extending upright plate attached to the inner surfaces of said hoops.