Reagent cup holder

Abstract

A reagent cup device 1 includes a plurality of individually sealed reagent cup compartments 7, each holding a reagent cup 8 having an open end and an inner surface, at least part of which is coated with a chemical reagent. Each reagent cup compartment 7 is closed and has a first end covered by a first breakable seal 5 and a second end covered by a second breakable seal 10. Since the reagent cup compartments 7 are individually sealed by the breakable seals 5, 10, it is possible to gain access to the interior of a reagent cup compartment 7, and thereby to the reagent cup 8 held therein, without breaking the sealing of the remaining reagent cup compartments 7. Thereby degradation of the chemical reagent in the reagent cups 8 is reduced, and the expected lifetime of the reagent cups 8 is accordingly increased. The breakable seals 5, 10 may be provided with weakened zones in order to easier break the seals 5, 10 when access is desired.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.