Patent ID: 8226904

Claim:
A format for optical testing of a sample comprising: a first format member comprising a first inner surface and a platform extending a distance from said inner surface; a second format member comprising a second inner surface and a well disposed within said second inner surface, said well having a predetermined volume and shaped to accept said platform of said first format member within said well, said platform filling a significant portion of said predetermined volume such that said well and said platform define a sample testing region having a sample testing region volume significantly less than said predetermined volume and having a predetermined sample testing region height; a sample fill nose disposed within said second format member and extending from a sample collection opening at a first end of said sample fill nose to intersect with said well at a second end of said sample fill nose; and a vent disposed within said second format member and extending along said second inner surface from a vent opening at a first end of said vent to intersect with said well at a second end of said vent, wherein said sample fill nose has a sample fill nose cross-section and said vent has a vent cross-section different from said sample fill nose cross-section, said vent configured to receive sample overfill from said sample testing region via said second end of said vent.