Patent ID: 8606525

Claim:
A method for determining the remaining time a reagent in a diagnostic analyzer reagent pack can be used in a diagnostic analyzer, comprising: determining the amount of reagent in the reagent pack; providing a predetermined first correlation of remaining time vs. amount of reagent in the reagent pack; determining the total time the reagent can be used without any change in the volume of the reagent; subtracting the amount of time the reagent has been in use from the total time to arrive at a normal remaining time the reagent can be used which provides a second correlation of normal remaining time the reagent can be used versus the length of time the reagent has been in use; and determining the remaining time based on the first correlation, the second correlation and the amount of reagent in the reagent pack; wherein the first correlation is stored on a computer and the computer calculates the remaining time based on the input of the first correlation and the volume of reagent in the reagent pack, and wherein the reagent is aspirated from the reagent pack with an aspirate/dispense probe.