Apparatus for automated chemical analysis with variable reagents

Abstract

The invention provides a reagent supply system including a reagent rack for retaining a plurality of vials. The rack has a base and first and second walls extend upwardly from the base. The first wall includes an abutment extending toward the second wall and adapted to engage a first recess on one of the vials, while the second wall includes a flexible clip having a shoulder thereon, the shoulder being biased toward a position adapted to engage a second recess on the vial. The invention also provides a method of handling reagents which includes providing a variable reagent rack adapted to retain a plurality of vials and a common reagent pack containing a plurality of predetermined common reagents adapted to coact with reagents in the vials. A patient fluid is provided and a plurality of assays to be performed on that fluid are determined. Vials are then selected, each vial containing a different assay-specific reagent necessary for one of the assays, and the selected vials are loaded onto the rack. A quantity of reagent from one the vials and a quantity of a common reagent from the common reagent pack are transferred into a reaction vessel. A quantity of reagent from a second vial and a quantity of the common reagent are transferred into a second reaction vessel.