Patent ID: 6852527

Claim:
An apparatus for concentrating and measuring cells in biological samples comprising: a) a first chamber for receiving a biological sample, said first chamber having a sample introduction opening at a top end of said first chamber and a membrane placement opening at a bottom end of said first chamber; b) a collection membrane located below the membrane placement opening of the first chamber, said collection membrane able to trap cellular elements of the biological sample, said collection membrane placed in an optically level position; c) a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber, said second chamber having the membrane placement opening at a top end of the second chamber and a vacuum port at a bottom end of the second chamber; d) an absorbent pad located within the second chamber adjacent to the vacuum port and said collection membrane, said absorbent pad able to trap liquid from the biological sample; and e) a housing containing the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed on an imaging system stage for analysis.