Patent ID: 7494620

Claim:
A format for the optical analysis of a sample, said format comprising: a first format component having at least one first format component pin, at least one first format component hole, a first inlet surface, and a first read surface; and a second format component having at least one second format component pin, at least one second format component hole, a second inlet surface, and a second read surface, said at least one first format component pin being inserted into said at least one second format component hole and said at least one second format component pin being inserted into said at least one first format component hole such that said first read surface and said second read surface align to form a read area and said first inlet surface and said second inlet surface align to form a fill capillary gap, wherein said first format component comprises a first format component inner surface and said second format component comprises a second format component inner surface, said at least one first format component pin and said at least one second format component hole meeting at least one first pin-hole meeting interface and said at least one second format component pin and said at least one first format component hole meeting at least one second pin-hole meeting interface, each of said first and second pin-hole interfaces being joined with adhesive, with substantially no adhesive being provided between said first format component inner surface and said second format component inner surface.