Patent Document ID: 20080090227
Application ID: 11545827
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method of drying and spreading chromosomes, the method comprising the steps of: a) preparing a biological sample for treatment by: i) obtaining a biological sample of cells for treatment; ii) transferring the sample of cells onto a support; iii) harvesting the sample of cells; iv) adding a fixative agent to the cells after the cells are harvested; b) providing a cytogenetic chamber capable of setting predetermined conditions; c) pre-testing the cytogenetic chamber by: i) setting the chamber to a predetermined condition based on the biological sample being treated; ii) placing a pre-testing portion of the cells with the fixative agent into the chamber and reserving a remainder of the cells; iii) allowing the pre-testing cells to become acclimated to the predetermined conditions before drying the pre-testing cells; iv) aspirating the fixative from the pre-testing cells; v) drying the pre-testing cells until spreading is optimized; vi) removing the pre-testing cells and analyzing for optimal chromosome spreading; d) placing the reserved cells into the chamber at the same predetermined conditions used for the pre-testing, allowing the reserved cells to become acclimated to the predetermined conditions before drying the reserved cells, aspirating the fixative from the reserved cells, drying the reserved cells, and analyzing the reserved cells for optimal chromosomal spreading.