Patent ID: 6171554
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
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 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) 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; andc) applying said first and second indicia to the respective closed lower ends of the test tubes positioned in said wells, the application of said first and second indicia 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.