Patent ID: 6403036
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B01L

Abstract:
A system for monitoring an actual temperature experienced by a glass slide heated in an automated biological reaction apparatus, having an acceptable operational temperature range defined by a low temperature limit and a high temperature limit, said low and high temperature limits exceeding ambient temperature, comprising, in combination:a low temperature-sensitive indicator attached to said glass slide at a first predetermined location; said low temperature-sensitive indicator having a low temperature threshold and a low initial visual state, said low temperature threshold being substantially equal to said low temperature limit of said acceptable operational temperature range, said low temperature-sensitive indicator irreversibly changing to a low altered visual state whenever heated to a temperature substantially equal to or above said low temperature threshold; and at least a high temperature-sensitive indicator attached to said glass slide at a second predetermined location; said high temperature-sensitive indicator having a high temperature threshold and a high initial visual state, said high temperature threshold being above said low temperature threshold and substantially equal to said high temperature limit of said acceptable operational temperature range, said high temperature-sensitive indicator irreversibly changing to a high altered visual state whenever subjected to a temperature substantially equal to or above said high temperature threshold; said low and high temperature-sensitive indicators cooperatively defining recordation means for substantially permanently recording that said actual temperature falls within said acceptable temperature range whenever, upon execution of said automated biological reaction apparatus, said low temperature-sensitive indicator is in said low altered visual state and said high temperature-sensitive indicator is in said high initial visual state.