Method and apparatus for preparation of liquids containing suspended

Abstract

Method and apparatus for preparing a sample of liquid containing suspended material. The apparatus includes an elongated container with an open end, the internal cross section of the container being tapered to a smaller area near the closed end, and an elongated tube having, in one preferred embodiment, a hollow chamber of increased cross section near one end of the tube. The tube is insertable in the container so that the outer periphery of the chamber sealingly engages the inner wall of the container to seal a predetermined volume of liquid at the closed end of the container. The tube has an open lower end protruding into the predetermined volume of liquid, and has a sealed upper end fitted with a resilient bulb to facilitate withdrawal of the liquid into the hollow chamber. In an alternative embodiment, a sealing collar is employed instead of the hollow chamber, and the sample liquid is withdrawn into the tube itself. The method of the invention includes introducing a known volume of liquid into the container and concentrating the material in the end portion thereof. The elongated tube is inserted into the container until the chamber or the sealing collar comes into sealing contact with the container wall, to seal the predetermined volume of liquid in the end portion of the container from the remaining liquid. With the seal in place, the remaining liquid is decanted off leaving the suspended material in the original sample concentrated in the predetermined volume of liquid in the lower end of the container. Liquid is then drawn into the tube from the sealed portion of the container by manipulating the bulb or the walls of the tube, and the tube is withdrawn from the container for transfer of the sample liquid to a microscope slide for examination.