Patent ID: 7435599
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for processing a specimen from a fluid sample comprising particles in a suspended liquid using an automated specimen preparing system, the method comprising the consecutively performed operations of: (a) identifying indicia corresponding to the sample using a reader operatively connected to the automated specimen preparing system; (b) marking an analytical element with indicia corresponding to the sample indicia using a printer operatively connected to the automated specimen preparing system; (c) reading the element indicia using the reader; (d) verifying that the element indicia is readable and that the element indicia corresponds to the sample indicia using a processor operatively configured to perform the verification; and (e) transferring a specimen from the sample to the element if the element indicia corresponds to the sample indicia and the element indicia is readable, wherein transferring is performed using a porous membrane for collecting a spatial distribution of the particles from the liquid suspension that are then disposed on a stratum of the element.