Container for receiving and separating a fluid, preferably blood plasma, into its ingredients

A container for receiving and separating a fluid into two or more ingredient fractions, comprising:

• a first container section and a second container section, said container sections being movable relative to one another so that they can selectively be fully coupled, partially coupled, or separated from one another;
• each of said container sections including a fluid receiving chamber and an abutting portion cooperating with the other container section when the container sections are fully or partially coupled;
• said container sections adapted to be selectively sealingly engaged when fully or partially coupled, such that a connecting channel between said chambers is formed comprising said abutting portions;
• at least one of said container sections and a portion of the other container section being made substantially of rigid material, the rigid container section and the rigid portion of the other container section being adjacent one another when the container sections are fully coupled;
• said container sections further comprising respective valve seats proximate said connecting channel and respective valve members;
• said valve members comprising portions adapted to cooperate with said valve seats to selectively sealingly close said fluid receiving chambers when said container sections are separated;
• said valve members further comprising projections which are mutually abutting at least when said container sections are fully coupled;
• said projections dimensioned to maintain the distance between said cooperating portions of said valve members at a value which is greater than the distance between said valve seats when said container sections are fully coupled, and to allow said cooperating portions of said valve members to engage said valve seats to close said fluid receiving chambers before said container sections are separated;
• and
• retaining means for ensuring that said valve members do not engage said valve seats when said container sections are fully coupled.