Test module

Claim 1

A clinical analyzer instrument for spectrophotometrically assaying a liquid blood serum sample having; a reaction vessel, a sample vessel, a dilution vessel, a transport means for carrying the reaction vessel to a reading station, a dispensing probe, a means to withdraw and deposit a sample, and a microprocessor control means for dispensing serum samples, dilution materials, and liquid reagents into and out of these vessels; the improvement being a serial analyzer comprising: (a) a control valve means having a plurality of connection ports wherein a main connection port can communicate with any other single port; (b) a means connecting the valve means to the dispensing probe; (c) a means for connecting a diluent source to the control valve means; (d) a means for connecting at least one reagent source to the control valve means which is separate from the diluent source connection means; (e) a means for connecting the main port of the control valve means to the sample withdrawal and deposit means; (f) the transport means having a rotary motion, and separate serum, dilution, and reaction vessels being positioned thereon in a radial relationship; (g) a means for horizontally and vertically moving the dispensing probe whereby it can be positioned into a radially-spaced serum vessel to withdraw a sample, into a radially-spaced dilution vessel, first to deposit the sample and diluents, then to withdraw the diluted sample, and finally, into a radially-spaced reaction vessel to deposit at least a reagent and the diluted sample; and (h) a valve actuation means.