Patent ID: 6562299
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B01L,C12Q,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
An automated system for preparing a plurality of specimens from a plurality of fluid samples, the system comprising:a specimen preparing apparatus; a first loading station for receiving a plurality of samples; a sample transfer assembly for removing a first sample from the first loading station and transferring the first sample to the specimen preparing apparatus for preparing a first specimen from the first sample; a specimen transfer assembly for transferring the first specimen to an unloading area; a processor for automatically controlling the specimen preparing apparatus, the sample transfer assembly, and the specimen transfer assembly, such that remaining ones of the plurality of samples are processed to prepare subsequent specimens until all of the plurality of samples have been processed; and means for maintaining correlation between each one of the plurality of samples and a respective specimen prepared therefrom, wherein the correlation maintaining means comprises: an identifier in communication with the processor for identifying indicia corresponding to the first sample; a marker in communication with the processor for marking a first element with indicia corresponding to the first sample indicia; and a reader in communication with the processor for reading the first element indicia.