Blood sample apparatus and method

A capillary tube carrier apparatus for obtaining the hematocrit of a sample of blood therein by centrifugation of said capillary tube carrier apparatus comprising:

• said capillary tube carrier apparatus comprising:
• a planar basal element having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end being defined as the direction of the centrifugal forces imposed on said capillary tube carrier during centrifugation;
• a chamber for receiving the sample of blood, said chamber being formed in said basal element;
• a blood-receiving blotter means comprising an absorbent material in said chamber for releasably receiving the sample of blood;
• a capillary channel formed in said basal element in fluid communication with said chamber and extending from said upper end to said lower end;
• an overflow reservoir in fluid communication with said capillary channel between said chamber and said capillary channel;
• and
• a transparent overlay for said basal element, said transparent overlay forming a capillary tube by enclosing said capillary channel, said transparent overlay covering said overflow reservoir and selectively enclosing said chamber after the sample of blood has been received in said blood-receiving blotter means;
• centrifugation means for forcing said sample of blood from said chamber into said capillary tube where the centrifugal forces of said centrifugation means separates red blood cells from plasma in the sample of blood to provide a reading of said the hematocrit of the sample of blood, said overflow reservoir receiving surplus blood in excess of blood required to fill said capillary tube from the sample of blood;
• and
• handling means for transporting said capillary tube carrier apparatus from place to place and for storing said sample of blood at a location remote from said centrifugation means.

A method for enclosing a sample of blood in a capillary tube carrier while obtaining the hematocrit reading thereof by centrifugation comprising:

• constructing said capillary tube carrier comprising the steps of:
• obtaining a basal element configured to be subjected to centrifugation, said basal element having an axis corresponding to the centrifugal forces imposed on said basal element during said centrifugation, said axis having an upper end and a lower end, said centrifugation providing said centrifugal forces toward said lower end;
• forming a capillary channel in said basal element with an entrance at said upper end;
• preparing a chamber in said basal element above said entrance at said upper end, said chamber being configured to receive the sample of blood and containing an absorbent material for releasably receiving the sample, said chamber being in fluid communication with said capillary channel through said entrance;
• producing an overflow reservoir adjacent said entrance of said capillary channel and in fluid communication with said capillary channel;
• and
• creating a capillary tube out of said capillary channel by enclosing said capillary channel with a transparent overlay;
• obtaining the hematocrit reading of said sample of blood comprising the steps of:
• placing the sample of blood in said chamber;
• subjecting the sample of blood to said centrifugation, said centrifugation forcing the sample of blood from said chamber into said capillary tube and separating the sample of blood into red blood cells and plasma thereby providing said hematocrit reading;
• and
• receiving excess blood in said overflow reservoir from the sample of blood after said capillary tube has been filled during said centrifugation;
• and
• transporting the sample of blood from place to place, the sample of blood being enclosed in said capillary tube carrier.