Patent ID: 8420030

Claim:
A well plate for holding a sample during an analysis thereof, the well plate comprising: a plate, a plurality of analysis wells located in the plate for holding respective samples during analysis thereof, and at least one holding well located in the plate for receiving the sample prior to transfer to one of the analysis wells, each holding well being located between two adjacent analysis wells, wherein at least one of the analysis wells of a first type is adapted for holding the sample during a mechanical analysis thereof and further comprises: a hollow interior region extending downwardly from an open mouth located adjacent the plate and terminating in a sample accommodating portion for holding the sample during analysis thereof, the sample accommodating portion comprising: a base of circular shape, and a lower cylindrical side wall extending around and upwardly from the base, and defining with the base an annular channel, the annular channel being adapted for accommodating a ball of magnetically responsive material therein and for guiding the ball around the base in response to an applied magnetic field, an upper portion of the hollow interior region being of substantially square transverse cross-section and tapering downwardly from the open mouth, and a portion of the sample accommodating portion located between the cylindrical side wall and the upper tapering portion of the hollow interior region being adapted for facilitating an optical analysis of the sample in the sample accommodating portion and comprising two spaced apart side walls parallel to each other.