Patent ID: 6663836
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
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 being marked to orient the rack from top to bottom and from left to right, each column referenced as a sequence of numerals starting with the column furthest to the left and each row starting at the top referenced as a sequence of letters, each well thus being indentifiable by reference to the combination of letters and numbers identifying its respective intersecting column and row; b) positioning a plurality of said test tubes in said wells, said test tubes having open tops and closed lower ends protruding through the open bottoms of said wells; and c) applying one of said letters and one of said numbers to the respective closed lower ends of each of the test tubes positioned in said wells, with the letter and number applied to the lower end of each test tube corresponding to the letter and number identifying its respective well, and with the application of said letters and numbers being performed in situ and simultaneously as a single step to all of the test tubes in said wells, thereby resulting in each test tube being uniquely identified with reference to its respective well.