Packaging of multiple fluid receptacles

Abstract

Packaged fluid receptacles include: a plurality of fluid receptacles arranged one next to the other to form a composite structure having a top surface, bottom surface and end walls at a first end and a second end and having a longitudinal axis which extends through the end walls; and a removable support which contacts at least the top surface, bottom surface and end walls, the removable support including an attachment for applying a force to remove the support, preferably in a direction along the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the support is one-piece and has a single attachment. Preferably, the packaged fluid receptacles are cuvettes usable in a clinical analyzer. A method for inserting a plurality of cuvettes into a clinical analyzer includes: providing packaged cuvettes as described above; inserting the packaged cuvettes into a cuvette loading station of a clinical analyzer in a manner in which the tab remains accessible to application of a force; securing the packaged cuvettes in the loading station; applying a force to the tab to peel back the support from the cuvettes; and removing the support to provide individual cuvettes.