Patent ID: 8323585

Claim:
A method of configuring a metering tip for use as a microcentrifuge tube in a clinical analyzer, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a metering tip, said metering tip comprising an upper port, an opposing lower port and a sample cavity in fluid communication with each of said upper and lower ports; b) attaching said metering tip to a proboscis of said analyzer, said proboscis being heremetically sealed to the upper port; c) aspirating a fluid sample from a sample supply in said analyzer into said sample cavity through said lower port of said metering tip; d) aspirating a volume of air with said aspirated sample, said volume of air being aspirated into said tip through said lower port following the fluid sample aspiration step and providing an insulating layer between said sample and the lower port; e) sealing said lower port of said metering tip in order to create a fluid container; f) removing said proboscis and closing said upper port using a cap sized to releasably engage and cover said upper port; and g) separating particles in said fluid sample from the remainder of said fluid sample, wherein the separated particles and sample are retained within said sample cavity of said metering tip for detection of particles.