Patent ID: 6143573
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A system for extracting a liquid specimen from a via and for performing a self-cleaning operation with a wash fluid to reduce carryover, comprising:a multiple port valve;a needle for at least partial immersion in the liquid specimen, the needle coupled to a first port of the multiple port valve by a first path;a syringe coupled to a second port of the valve by a second path;an outlet to a specimen analyzer coupled to the multiple port valve by a third path;a fourth path fluidly couplable to the wash fluid and selectively couplable to at least a portion of the first path to flush the wash fluid through the at least a portion of the first path and out the needle; anda holder to hold the vial and to receive an end portion of the needle when the vial is absent from the holder, the holder having a wall that at least partially surrounds the needle when the wash fluid is discharged out of the needle, and a drain to carry away said wash fluid discharged from the needle when the vial is absent from the holder.