Laboratory testing procedure

Claim 1

A laboratory testing procedure for specimens under refrigeration comprising the steps of providing a test tube holder apparatus which includes a container having a bottom, walls extending upwardly from said bottom, and a top secured to and extending across the upper ends of said walls, said top having a plurality of spaced apart supports integrally formed therein extending downwardly therefrom toward said bottom for removably supporting the bottom portions of test tubes therein, said container being substantially filled with a freezable liquid material comprising H 2 O and a material having colligative properties relative to H 2 O, said container being equipped with a superstructure mounted a spaced distance above said top and equipped with an aperture aligned with each of said supports whereby a test tube is supported at two vertically spaced apart positions, said superstructure including a unitary member having a top panel with depending sidewalls, said sidewalls being connected to the perimeter of said container, said superstructure being positioned above said top a distance to support a test tube at at least one-quarter of the test tube height, selectively introducing liquid materials to be tested into a plurality of test tubes, placing said test tubes in generally vertical position with only the test tube bottom portions in contact with said top supports whereby the material in said container is adapted to maintain the materials in said test tube at a temperature below about 4°C. for up to about 8 hours and while said apparatus is in ambient room temperature, maintaining said portions in heat transfer contact with said top, thereafter selectively withdrawing said test tubes from said contact for further testing, and analytically testing the contents of said test tubes.