Apparatus and method for alphanumerically identifying and arranging test tubes

A method of uniquely identifying a plurality of discrete test tubes, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a rack having an array of wells with closed bottoms, said wells being located at the intersections of mutually perpendicular columns and rows and being configured and dimensioned to receive single test tubes,
• b) assigning first indicia to said columns and second indicia to said rows, each well thus being uniquely identifiable by reference to the first and second indicia assigned to its respective intersecting column and row;
• c) providing a plurality of test tubes having open top ends and closed lower ends;
• d) applying combinations of said first and second indicia as markings to the respective closed lower ends of the test tubes, the indicia applied to the closed lower end of each tube corresponding to the indicia assigned to the intersecting column and row of one of said wells;
• e) transferring the marked test tubes into the wells of said rack, with the indicia identifying each test tube corresponding to the indicia identifying its respective well, whereupon each test tube is uniquely identified with reference to its respective well.

A method of uniquely identifying a plurality of discrete test tubes, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a rack having an array of wells with open bottoms, said wells being located at the intersections of mutually perpendicular columns and rows and being configured and dimensioned to receive single test tubes, said rack having first indicia identifying said columns and second indicia identifying said rows, each well thus being identifiable by reference to the first and second indicia identifying its respective intersecting column and row;
• b) providing a plurality of test tubes, each test tube having a closed lower end;
• c) marking said first and second indicia to the respective closed lower ends of the test tubes with a laser;
• and
• d) positioning the test tubes in corresponding to the wells of said rack, with the indicia applied to the closed lower end of each tube corresponding to the indicia identifying its respective well, thereby resulting in each test tube being uniquely identified with reference to its respective well.

A method of uniquely identifying a plurality of test tubes for location in an array of wells in a holding device, said wells being located at the intersection of mutually perpendicular columns and rows, and said test tubes having open tops and closed bottoms, said method comprising:

• providing said holding device with a visible feature;
• arranging said holding such that said feature is positioned at a selected orientation;
• assigning indicia uniquely identifying each of the wells of the thus arranged holding device, said indicia being in a preselected sequence;
• applying corresponding indicia simultaneously to the bottoms of said plurality of test tubes;
• and
• filling said wells with said test tubes, with the indicia applied to the bottom of each test tube corresponding to the indicia assigned to its respective well.