Patent ID: 9562921
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of testing a patient sample in an automated immunodiagnostic apparatus using a test card, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one test card, said at least one test card including a planar support substrate, at least one test column attached to or integral to said support substrate and a pierceable wrap covering an opening of an upper portion of said at least one test column, said pierceable wrap solely protecting the contents of said at least one test column; and moving a concave punch head into contact with the pierceable wrap directly above the contents of said at least one test column and deforming at least one wrap portion supported by a peripheral edge of said at least one test column inwardly towards the interior of said at least one test column, but without piercing the wrap, wherein the inwardly deformed portion of the pierceable wrap forms a weakened bowl-shaped section supported by the peripheral edge of the opening of the upper portion of the test column;