Importance

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Abstract

A reagent cartridge for use in an automated clinical analyzer, the reagent cartridge including a plurality of storage compartments each including wall members. The reagent cartridge includes connecting members formed integrally with the storage compartments for holding the storage compartments in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and separating the wall members from each other to thus prevent reagent migration between adjacent reagent compartments. Each of the storage compartments includes an access opening and a neck formed about the opening, the neck including a collar that is spaced a predetermined distance from a bottom wall of the associated storage compartment, the predetermined distance adapted to accommodate an automatically controlled reagent transfer probe. The reagent cartridge is adapted to be inserted into slots formed in a reagent cartridge storage apparatus on the automated analyzer, the reagent cartridge and slots together forming a positioning and detent mechanism which removably secures the cartridge in the slot for sure and definite positioning of the cartridge during automatic operation of the analyzer.

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First Claim