an opening therethrough and comprising at least one reagent which activates at least one pathway of the coagulation of blood;
(c) a transfer member movably mounted in the test chamber so that it can be moved towards and pierce the pierceable member; and
(d) a receiving chamber disposed in the test chamber between the partition member and the transfer member for receiving blood from the transfer member.
In use, blood is disposed by a user in the holding chamber and the test cartridge is placed in an instrument for incubation. After incubation, the transfer member is moved towards and pierces the pierceable member to contact the blood and a negative pressure is created in the test chamber, blood moves through the transfer member into the receiving chamber and through the openingin the partition member.
These Test Cartridges are intended for use with an instrument which automates some or all of the steps of the assay being conducted.
The design and geometry of the housing of the Test Cartridges and its components is selected based on the assay to be performed. In one embodiment, the test chamber is adapted to receive a sample cup, the sample cup having disposed therein the partition member, the receiving chamber and the transfer member. In such embodiments, the assay takes place in the vicinity of the partition member, the liquid sample being aspirated from the holding chamber through the transfer member into the receiving chamber positioned just below the partition member, and through the opening in the partition member.
The partition member may be porous and