EP0530186A1

EP0530186A1 - Drop plate for wet or damp preparations, e.g. blood.

Info

Publication number: EP0530186A1
Application number: EP90916289A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rainer Dylla
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-23
Filing date: 1990-11-12
Publication date: 1993-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-12
Also published as: EP0530186B1; WO1991017832A1; DE59009600D1; AU7042391A

Abstract

L'invention concerne un porte-objets (10) pour préparations à teneur en eau, par exemple des préparations chimiques ou biologiques, telles que des préparations de sang, comprenant une première plaque (12) en une matière transparente de préférence, notamment en matière plastique transparente, présentant plusieurs logements (18) pour les préparations portés par la surface (14), cependant qu'il est prévu une deuxième plaque (20) applicable sur la première plaque (12) et dont la surface (24) est configurée de telle façon qu'elle forme, avec la surface (22) des logements (18) de la première plaque (12), respectivement, une fente plane ou légèrement incurvée (30) s'étendant à la surface et ayant une largeur (26) telle que le volume de la préparation remplisse sensiblement le volume de ladite fente. Pour la caractérisation de l'utilisation en cours, les plaques présentent un dispositif de verrouillage, ou bien l'utilisation de la plaque est signalée par des marquages se formant en cours d'essai. On utilise à cet effet soit des dispositifs de verrouillage, soit des découpes capillaires (56, 156) s'étendant à partir de la surface des logements.The invention relates to an object holder (10) for preparations with a water content, for example chemical or biological preparations, such as blood preparations, comprising a first plate (12) of a preferably transparent material, in particular of transparent plastic, having several housings (18) for the preparations carried by the surface (14), while there is provided a second plate (20) applicable on the first plate (12) and whose surface (24) is configured to such that it forms, with the surface (22) of the housings (18) of the first plate (12), respectively, a planar or slightly curved slot (30) extending to the surface and having a width (26) such that the volume of the preparation substantially fills the volume of said slot. For the characterization of the current use, the plates have a locking device, or the use of the plate is indicated by markings forming during the test. Either locking devices or capillary cutouts (56, 156) extending from the surface of the housings are used for this purpose.

Description

Slides for wet or moist preparations, e.g. B. blood

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a slide (also called specimen slide or spot plate) for wet or moist preparations, for. B. chemical or biological preparations, such as blood, consisting of a plate of preferably transparent material, in particular of transparent plastic, with a plurality of receptacles for the preparations carried by the surface, a second plate which can be placed on the first plate being provided, the surface of which is designed such that it forms a flat or slightly curved, areally extending gap space with a gap width such that the volume of the preparation essentially fills the volume of the gap space with the surface of the receptacles of the first plate. STATE OF THE ART

Project carriers or sample carriers of the type mentioned are known. DD 224 410 A1 (or DE 35 18 047 A1) shows a sample holder which essentially corresponds to the arrangement described at the beginning. As an advantage of such a sample holder, this publication emphasizes the inexpensive producibility and the simple and safe handling in the laboratory. According to this document, this inexpensive producibility is essentially emphasized by the identical surface shape of both the upper and the lower plate. In the middle The point of this publication is the border of the sample holder, which is designed in such a way that it causes mutual alignment in such a position that the elevations and depressions of the plates facing each other are exactly aligned with one another.

In this publication DD 224 410 A1, reference is also made to another publication, namely to DD 107 783, according to which the sample carrier also comprises two plates on which bodies for sealing the sample-bearing areas of the two plates and for their horizontal position fixing and vertical distance limit, these bodies are made of elastic material in order to be able to move the plates vertically within a certain distance. A disadvantage is the inaccurate alignment due to the grooves and their complicated manufacture.

Furthermore, in DD 224 410 A1, reference is made to EP 0018435 B1, according to which a horizontal position fixation and vertical distance limitation of two test plates is carried out by means of a special frame.

A further development of this frame is described in accordance with the explanations of DD 224 410 A1 in DE 31 07 964 A1. Here, two opposing profile strips, each with three profile edges, serve to fix the position horizontally and to set a defined vertical distance.

In both technical solutions (according to EP 0 018 435 B1 and DE 3 107 964 A1), the two plates with the areas carrying the samples are placed in the frame. It is pointed out as a disadvantage that the two technical solutions have a complicated technical structure of the frame. frame and increased technological requirements mean that no means are provided which guarantee a sealing of the sample-bearing areas to the outside, which is also sufficient for the analysis in the microliter range.

Then it is emphasized in DD 224 410 A1 that in all known technical solutions the sample carrier is formed from two non-identical plates, which according to this DD 224 410 A1 has the disadvantage that two different plates have to be produced, which is particularly the case with an injection molding implementation would cause additional costs for the second tool required. Even when using the sample holder in the laboratory, the handling of two different plates has a disadvantageous effect.

It is also mentioned briefly that the execution of the surface shape is possible as a frame in which the areas structured with the specimen carrying areas can be inserted. However, no further details are given.

The material from which the panels are to be made is plexiglass according to DD 224 410 A1.

How the sample-bearing areas of the two plates are designed is not described in detail in DD 224 410 A1. However, examples of this can be found in DD 107 783, see FIGS. 1 and 2 in this publication. The problem of mixing the sample substance with the test agent is also addressed in cases in which very small reaction spaces and the resulting adhesive forces between the Sample and the test agent on the one hand and the plates occur on the other hand, so that a vibrator is required to carry out the mixing. In order to solve this problem, it is proposed to produce the plates from optical media and to arrange them at a defined distance from one another, their being the Sample-bearing areas are separated from the other areas. The offset arrangement enables the setting and adherence to a more exact, reproducible sample thickness and the production of optically transparent samples and sample carriers, which enables immediate observation and detection of the reactions between the sample and the test medium and their immediate photometric evaluation without the interposition of filter paper, as is the case was necessary with even older state of the art. When using the sample carrier according to DD 107 783, the samples are applied to the designated areas of one plate and the test agents are placed on the remote areas of the other plate, the plates are brought together with their surfaces carrying the reagents and the samples with the test agent by repeated slight Changing the distance between the two plates mixed by hand. The short distance also provides protection against rapid evaporation of the samples. The plates can also be in the form of a film, as a result of which spacers could then be omitted because the plates are flexible enough so that the areas carrying the samples can be moved against one another.

According to DD 107 783, the evaluation can be carried out subjectively by visual observation or objectively with analysis measuring devices or analysis machines.

EP 0018435 B1, already mentioned, deals with a device for performing microanalyses and describes in this connection various prior art in detail. The delimitation of the sample areas takes place here by the application of water-repellent substances in such a way that a certain number of circular areas remain free. Mixing is also achieved here by changing the distance between the plates. The plate movement is carried out by a magnet and by springs, the effect of the magnet are opposite.

DE 31 07 964 A1, already mentioned, originates from the same inventor as this EP 0018435 B1 and in this respect represents a further development of EP 0018435 B1. Figure 9 of DE 31 07 964 A1 shows frames in order to "microscope" on d: 6sen7 sample plates. The frames are essentially used for fixation when optically examining the samples.

Moreover, the accuracy of the measurement method is questioned in this document if the two plates, which carry individual samples, are held and moved with the aid of a frame. There is also talk of the danger of "drying out". Then two improved frames are described, with which one can microscope several small slides next to one another, with which the smallest and the largest plate spacing can be maintained more precisely and which should be easier to manufacture and to handle.

The described construction is still quite cumbersome to handle and costly.

Mention should also be made of DE 25 27 770 C3, which is a slide for carrying out aglutination reactions, this publication essentially dealing with a rotating plate made of glass with mirroring on the rear.

Furthermore, reference is made to OE-PS 17 08 98, which deals with a shaking frame and which can be regarded as the forerunner of microtiter technology. Finally, DD 96 784 should be mentioned, which describes a method and a device for measuring enzymatic reactions using plates in which a greater number of depressions are provided for receiving test liquids, these areas being separated from one another by grooves in order to prevent the test liquid from overflowing from one test area to the other test area.

From the essay: A "Sandwich" Technique, by F. Stratton, rlt.

Med. J., 1955, ^ ^" .201, a fast method for R determination is known, in which a mixture of erythrocytes and serum is held between two slides.

With the test methods described, which (advantageously) manage with very small amounts of preparation and test agent and therefore with a given amount of test liquid and amount of preparation (such as blood) enables a significantly higher number of tests than previous test methods allowed, on the other hand the danger is avoided relatively large that only small amounts of foreign matter can deliberately or unintentionally falsify the test result. For example, if, as with most arrangements according to the state of the art, one works with reusable plates, the test result of a subsequent test could be falsified by residues of previous preparation and test liquids or test materials that could not be removed cleanly enough . It is also possible with relatively little effort to change the test result through deliberate manipulation.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is the one described at the outset

To improve the arrangement in such a way that it no longer has these disadvantages and, in particular, no test falsifications by test plates already used, which, for. B. were not cleaned sufficiently, results, and the test result can not be changed by manipulation, without this z. B. would be visible to a controller. Furthermore, the diversity of the application and the inexpensive manufacture are not to be impaired by this new arrangement.

It should also be possible to achieve a high degree of standardization by means of sera which have already been applied, and further training should be possible in which the documentation of the test results is facilitated. Finally, the arrangement should be such that, after the tests have been carried out, the test materials cannot be released into the free environment again, for example by washing, and can lead to contamination or even infection there.

The above-described task or task complex is achieved in that, according to the main claim, the plate (s) and / or a frame carrying the plate (s) and / or at least one of the receiving surfaces have a locking and / or marking device , which takes effect when the plate (s) are used for the first time and thereby forms a lock and / or warning indicator against further use.

These measures ensure that, at least not unintentionally, the already used plate or at least the already used receiving surface is used again, which could lead to false readings due to dirt effects in the microtiter test methods in question here. However, it is also ensured that plates which have already been used are recognizable as such and therefore (for example in the case of dangerous preparation or test substances) there is no risk that they will be disposed of in an unsuitable manner, for example by cleaning attempts.

Since reuse is not provided for in the construction according to the invention, or should even be ruled out, it is readily possible to use the receiving surfaces to be provided in advance by the manufacturer with an analysis layer, which then results in the desired analysis reaction after application of the preparation.

If the arrangement according to the invention is implemented in this form, a further development would also be conceivable in which the receiving surface or at least part of it has a coating which discolors when used and thereby provides a warning display. Of course, the analysis layer itself can represent such a coating. However, if the analysis layer is not to change color for analysis reasons, an additional coating could be provided on the receiving surface in addition to this analysis coating, which results in this discoloration.

Alternatively, the receiving surface can form a capillary-like depression or a gap for marking the use that has taken place, in that test or preparation material penetrates into this gap and settles there and cannot be removed there either. The gap (in the translucent material) changes its appearance and thereby marks the use.

Another possibility of excluding re-use can be realized by the locking device mentioned in the main claim, which prevents the plates carrying the receiving surface (s) from being separated from one another again after use and possibly being used again after cleaning attempts. Such a lock can also be present in addition to the marking described above, so as to achieve double security.

According to a development of the invention (claim 5), the plates can have locking devices that have a limited movement of the plates perpendicular to the plane of the plate against spring force or the like enables each other • to change the gap volume, but on the other hand does not allow a complete separation of the plates from each other. Mixing processes can be carried out in a manner known per se with the aid of the gap volume change. Mixing operations of this type are useful because, owing to the small amounts of test material, such as blood serum and test agents, these can only be insufficiently mixed using conventional methods. The novel microtiter method, in which only a relatively thin film forms between the receiving surfaces of the two plates and in which this film is contracted and pushed apart again by changing the distance between the plates, allows relatively small amounts of preparation and test material to be used, especially since Material pulled apart over a relatively large area and can thus be more easily inspected optically, even if only these small quantities are involved. On the other hand, the above-mentioned special mixing effect also results in inexpensive testing for poorly mixing preparations.

The movement of the plates can be generated by pressure against spring force, which spring force is provided by means of flexible approaches protruding in one piece from the plate material or by the rigidity of the plate itself, for example, as in the prior art, by means of projections emanating from the plate. or the plate levels are kept at a certain distance from one another by the plate edges, which distance can be reduced by pressure on the plates. This pressure can be exerted by an operator's hand, but also by mechanical means.

As a result of the adhesion, the liquid test material does not run away in an undesired manner, so that this problem of over- fHessen, as will be discussed from the prior art, no longer exists here.

When low, the plates has been found in making such a manner in frame inserted, that the holding device and, if necessary movement perpendicular to the plane of the plate movably aus¬ designed l $ _j that the gap volume of space compared to the preparation volume to at least increased by a factor of 2 and / or reduced can be.

The receptacles can be designed in various ways, for example by means of columnar projections starting from a substrate. The projections can have been created by introducing intersecting grooves into a plate. This plate would therefore be made of solid material.

If the slide is to be designed as a disposable article, which is the aim here, it is, however, more economical in terms of material consumption to form the receptacles of bulges pressed out of a base plate made of thin plastic material. These bulges can form a concave, convex or flat surface for the receptacle, while the second plate has bulges which are suitably shaped and which are also pressed out of a plate made of thin plastic material. If the bulges of the first plate are flat, it may be sufficient if the second plate has no bulges but is a simple flat plate.

Such plates, which preferably consist of transparent plastic (one plate also consisting of opalised plastic, which sometimes has microscopic advantages), can also be designed in a simple manner so that the first and / or second plate in the region of the (respective) receptacle forms a lens-like thickening, so that, for example, even very small test quantities are still visible to the naked eye can be observed so well that an exact review of the test result is possible without z. B. to use a microscope.

As already mentioned, even small impurities can falsify the test result with the very small test quantities sought here, on the other hand it can happen that a plate with many images has not been completely covered with samples and used for an experiment. It is therefore important to mark in some form those areas of a plate which have already been used in order to prevent recordings which have already been used from being used again, and on the other hand the areas which have not yet been used can still be used. There is such a risk, in particular, if a plate with several recordings, in which only a few recordings have been used at first, is also to be used with regard to the recording areas which have not yet been used, in which case it must be prevented that recordings which have already been used are re-used ¬ be used. Due to the capillary-like depression or gap mentioned above, however, a marking can be made in such a way that a certain part of the preparation or test material sinks into this gap by capillary action and does not emerge again, even if the plate is subsequently cleaned because the penetrated material cannot be removed again by the capillary forces.

The material that has penetrated into this capillary-like depression, even if it should be uncolored, changes the light passage behavior in the region of the depression in such a way that it is immediately visible that the image has already been used here. If it is colored test material (such as blood), a color effect is even achieved, because e.g. B. red. Blood cells penetrate into the gap or the depression and cannot be removed therefrom, and so clearly indicate that this recording has already been has been applied and should not be used again.

As already mentioned, the slide can preferably be designed in such a way that it can be used in a (reusable) frame. The specimen slide can then be made from even thinner material, since the frame can take on the mechanical loads that occur during handling (e.g. transport, centrifugation, etc.). The material consumption for the (discarded) slide is thereby further reduced. The frame can be designed in such a way that it can hold several specimen slides at the same time, the specimen slide then only having as many exposures as, for example, require a normal blood test.

As already mentioned, it has proven useful to produce both plates from transparent material, but it may be sufficient to make only one of the two plates transparent and, on the other hand, to make the other plate opal, for example, this embodiment having advantages when there is uniform background lighting to be achieved by light, but no actual inspection is required.

It is expedient to design the frame in the form of a snap frame with an upper and a lower part, which two parts can be pivotally connected to one another at one edge by a joint. In such a snap frame, a plurality of receptacles lying next to one another for (preferably) strip-shaped plates could then be provided. These strip-shaped plates could then again each form a plurality of receiving surfaces arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the strip, for preparation and / or test liquid or test agent which has been applied completely.

Alternatively, two superimposed ones can also be used strip-like plates on one edge, e.g. B. narrow edge can be connected by means of a joint and form a latching device on its opposite edge. Instead of the joint, a second latching device could also be provided, so that in each case two strip-shaped plates lying one above the other form a latching device on at least two opposite edges, such as their two narrow edges.

The one (for example lower) strip-shaped plate could form a flag-like extension on at least one of its narrow sides in order to provide a marking or labeling surface, for example for the manufacturer's declaration of a permanently applied test agent or for user labeling Specification of patient data or preparation data.

With the arrangement according to the invention it is possible to create a method for testing preparations which are arranged in recordings according to one of claims 1 to 19, this method consisting of the following procedural steps:

a)

Placing the preparations in or on the holder (s) of the first plate,

b) optionally (if no permanently applied test agent is used) introducing test agent into or onto the receptacles provided with the preparations near or to the preparation in the first plate or into or onto a corresponding receptacle of the second plate;

^c >

Attach the second plate to form the gap volume and sucking up the preparation and possibly the test agent into the gap volume;

d) optical inspection of the preparation through the transparent

Material of the first and / or second plate through.

This process sequence, which is known per se, is improved according to the invention in that, during or after process step c) (placing the second plate to form the gap volume and sucking up preparations and possibly test agents into the gap volume), the two plates are either permanently locked together are or are changed irreversibly and visibly, an irreversibly visible change being formed, for example, by broken locking lugs, or also by test liquid penetrating into a gap, which causes a visible change that can no longer be removed.

The method can be supplemented by inserting the plate or the two plates into a frame (claim 21), this method step preferably before step (a) (in which case only one plate is first inserted into the frame) and / or is carried out after step c), with the gap volume then being changed in this way after the second plate has been placed on the first plate already inserted in the frame or after the two plates have been inserted in the frame and before step d) can be guided by cycling the panels perpendicular to their planes t to thereby mix the

To effect or facilitate preparation, possibly mixing with the test agent (claim 22). This can be done through the frame (claim 23).

If the two plates are locked together in accordance with step c), they can no longer be reused, but must be disposed of in closed condition after step d). This is cheap in that z. B. in¬ fectious test material is not enclosed by the plates until disposal and operating personnel ^ is endangered, furthermore the attempt at recycling is thwarted. An additional marking of used recordings can be omitted here. When using a frame, it is also possible to design the two plates so that only as many pictures are available as is usually the case for a test, for. B. blood test are necessary, e.g. B. 6, 8, 10 or 12 shots.

As in the prior art, it is favorable to arrange the recordings in a certain grid, for example in an orthogonal grid (in which the recordings are arranged in rows and columns) or in a polar coordinate grid (in which the recordings are in concentric circles to each other). Another alternative would be a spiral arrangement. This grid-like arrangement facilitates machine inspection by, for example, successive scanning by means of an automatic device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

It shows:

1 shows a perspective illustration of a first embodiment of a specimen slide with columnar, round cross-sectional receptacles with a flat receiving surface and a second plate partially shown; 2 shows another embodiment of a specimen slide, in which the images have been created by introducing intersecting grooves in a substrate and thereby also form flat image surfaces, with an indicated second plate and an indicated optical scanning device for the individual images;

Fig. 3 in two partial figures, a slide, which also has a flat receiving surface, but the second plate has a surface adapted to this slide shape, the plates are either made of solid material (left part view) or of thin-walled material by forming Bumps have developed (right illustration);

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of Fig. 3;

5 in a view similar to FIG. 3, an embodiment in which the surface of the receptacle is curved, the curvature of one side being concave and that of the other side being convex, both plates optionally being the actual slide plate and the other plate can be used as a second plate;

6 is a sectional view of a slide plate known per se and having a plurality of receptacles, the receptacles having a relatively large volume, the outer bottom surface of this known slide being placed as a second plate;

7 is a slide with large-sized accommodating capa- tities of various forms, as already known in principle and arise from the prior art;

FIG. 8 shows a section through a specimen slide according to FIG. 7, in which, however, the second plate is designed such that it largely fills the specimen slide cavities and thereby forms the thin gap space according to the invention, again possibly with simultaneous production of a lens;

Fig. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 schematically different ways to move the two plates against each other against spring force;

14 shows an enlarged representation of a receptacle provided here with a flat surface, which has a capillary-like depression or gap for marking the use that has taken place;

15 is a perspective view of two strip-like plates, each provided with five receiving devices, which fit together and are inseparable from one another;

16 shows an enlarged partial section through the plates according to FIG. 14;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a frame for receiving z. 14, as an alternative to the introduction of plates with only one receptacle or of plates with z. B. double or triple strips, the frame can either have only a lower part or a hinged to the lower part of the cover, as can be seen here; and - Ig -

Fig. 1 8A, B and C in a top view, side view with enlarged detailed representations and in a front view a practical embodiment of a lower strip part (lower strip-shaped plate), which is injection molded from polyamide, for example, and has locking devices on both narrow sides and with ten receiving surfaces for preparations and is equipped with a marker;

19A, B and C in corresponding representations the associated upper strip part, which can be snapped into the lower part according to FIG. 18;

20A, B, C and D a top view and a view from above or from the right according to FIG. 20A and an enlarged view of a corner area of a lower frame part, again z. B. made of polyamide, in which several (here six) strips can be inserted according to Figures 18 and 19.

21A, B, C and D corresponding views with respect to the upper frame part, which can be placed on the lower frame part and can be connected to this via a hinge;

22A, B are perspective views of a possible hinge connection between the two frame parts, once in the opened state and once in the closed state;

23A and 23B corresponding representations in the form of a cross-sectional view. BEST WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Fig. 1, a slide 10 for wet or moist preparations, for. B. chemical or biological preparations, such as blood, for which a blood group determination is to be made, shown, consisting of a plate 12 made of plastic, with a plurality of columnar projections 16 extending from the surface 14, each of which has a receptacle 18 for the preparation form, which can be dripped onto the flat surface of the receptacle 18 with conventional devices, for example with pipettes, as is also indicated schematically in FIG. 8.

Also recognizable is a second plate 20 that can be placed on the first plate 12, the surface 22 of which is so designed (namely that it is flat overall) that it matches the surfaces 24 of the receptacles 18, which are also flat, of the first plate 12 each form a (here also flat), gap-extending gap 30 with such a gap width 26 that the volume of the preparation, which is designated 28 in FIG. 8, for example, essentially fills the gap space 30. In this way, the (liquid) material is held in the gap, even if the two plates are now handled in some form, for example placed in an evaluation device. Even when the two plates are held at an angle, the material thus remains in the area of the receiving space 18 and does not flow into the area of other receptacles.

This also applies if the distances between the individual receptacles 18, which are relatively large according to FIG. 1, are significantly smaller, as is the case in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, where a plate 112 can be seen whose surface 114 is divided by the introduction of intersecting grooves 32, 34 and thereby the individual receiving areas 118 arise, on the surfaces 124 of which preparation agents and, if appropriate, test agents can be dripped on in the manner already described. A second plate 20, which here also only forms a flat surface, is then placed, again the capillary action causes the preparation liquid to spread out on the surface 124 on the one hand, mix it on the other hand, and thirdly also to hold it in this area so that the danger does not exist that residual liquid passes from one receiving surface 118 to an adjacent receiving surface.

The embodiment according to FIG. 2 is particularly space-saving because empty spaces lying between the individual receiving surfaces 127 are small. The arrangement is also particularly well suited to enable automatic scanning of different samples, for example in that an optical evaluation device 36 scans the individual recording areas 118 individually in rows or columns, as indicated, for example, by the directional arrows 38.

By means of a lighting device 40 arranged below the plate 112, sufficient light can be radiated from below through the plate 112 for observation purposes.

In FIG. 9, in a side view, plate 112 and plate 20 can again be seen, with a gap width 26 shown here in a greatly exaggerated manner. This gap width can be defined, for example, by projections 42, which are preferably located near the edge of one or the other also both plates are located. If one now presses the two plates against one another, the distance 26 can be reduced, for example as a result of the flexibility of the plate material, as a result of which the gap volume is also included 11 -

the recordings 118 decreases. If you let go again, the distance increases and the gap volume increases. As a result of this movement of the plates perpendicular to and away from the plate plane, see also arrows 44, the preparation liquid (possibly including the test liquid) is spread out in the gap space volume and contracted again, spread out again and contracted again, which causes an extraordinarily strong mixing action.

Appropriate stop devices, for example also in the form of projections 42, can thereby ensure that the change in gap volume complies with a favorable measure, for example it will be advantageous if the gap space volume can be increased and / or reduced by approximately a factor of 2 compared to the preparation volume.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, it is somewhat difficult to carry out the gap volume change and thus the mixing process in all the receptacles 118 distributed over the surface at the same time and of equal size, if this is necessary at all (e.g. it could be that only a few of the Recordings 118 are loaded). If a change in the gap volume that is as uniform as possible is desired, an embodiment can be carried out, for example, according to FIGS. 10 to 13, the spring force not being achieved by the plate material but by special spring-like projection devices 142 or 242, FIGS. 13 or 12 , or by metal springs, e.g. B. as a leaf spring 343 (Fig. 10) or coil springs 443 (Fig. 11). These are preferably arranged near the edge and connect the two plates in a suitable manner, an arrangement such. B. could serve as a hinge (142. Fig. 13) and the other as a hinged closure, and which are designed so that they allow a substantially parallel movement of the two plates to each other. In the projections 242 shown in Fig. 12, the configuration is such that the projecting lugs 242 can withdraw into corresponding recesses 243, so that the two plates can come directly to each other in their edge regions, in which position a preferred volume size for the gap space volume could be provided.

Incidentally, guide devices (e.g. pin 443 in FIG. 11), connecting devices and the like. Ä. Conceivable between the two plates, also stackable arrangements, as it is described in more detail in the prior art, so that further explanations are omitted.

1 and 2 may consist essentially of solid injection molded plastic, but may also be cast and grindable from glass, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the receptacles 218 are made from one position existing plastic base plate 212 pressed out bulges are formed. This embodiment saves material and is particularly suitable as a disposable item. The second plate 220 can in turn consist of a flat plate, as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, or, as shown in FIG. 3, of a plate which in turn has bulges but is congruent with the bulges of the plate 212, see right side of FIG. 3. Such an embodiment can also be used in reverse, in which the plate 220 forms the receptacle (as a depression) and the plate 212 represents the second plate which forms the gap space 230 when placed on the first plate forms. The construction shown has the advantage that a mutual guidance between the two plates automatically results in that the protruding expressions or bulges of the plate 212 are encompassed by the recessed expressions of the plate 220. On the left side of FIG. 3, the two plates are shown as solid plates, an embodiment which is also possible and of which a sectional view along lines IV-IV is shown in FIG. 4. 4 (or according to the left half of FIG. 3) has a preparation 28 and a test liquid separated from it dripped onto the receptacle 318 according to FIG. 4, with one (or more) further test liquid 48 (see FIG. 8) could be dripped on, or a test preparation already manufactured by the manufacturer, e.g. B. is applied as a gelatin layer.

In some test arrangements, it is necessary to keep the different liquids separate at first, because they react very quickly, so that the arrangement according to the invention should (and can also be) used in such a way that two or more than two liquids are used Components are first dripped onto the receptacle 118 separately, then the second plate is placed, the overall arrangement is brought under the observation device and then the mixing process is only triggered by moving the two plates towards one another and the reaction is thus initiated, with the observation then being carried out attention the reaction process is observable.

5 shows an arrangement in which the gap space 330 is curved in a view similar to FIG. 3, the receiving surface being able to form a concave curvature or a convex curvature depending on the position of the two plates.

An arrangement can be seen in FIG. 6, in which one of the plates, namely the second plate 420, represents an arrangement which is known per se, but which is used here “inappropriately”, namely in such a way that the receiving spaces are not so are used, but the usually unused outer surfaces of the floor form the cover for the receptacle 418 for the preparation by a ZH -

The first plate 412 or 512 can be formed, the plate 512 forming a lens-like device in the area of the receptacle 418, by means of material thickening 48. The advantage of this arrangement is that devices that are already commercially available can be used once for regular tests, in which the receiving space 50 is used with its large volume, as previously, or, as shown in FIG. 6, arranged in reverse and used with an additional plate 412 or 512 to create the gap space 418 , with the associated advantages of the substantially lower material consumption, the improved and possibly the later to be carried out mixture and possibly the improved optical monitoring by z. B. lens effect, reference number 48.

Conventional, large-volume specimen slides as well as specimen slides as shown in FIG. 7, which can also have receiving openings 50 with conventional round bottoms, 150 with flat bottoms or 250 with a tapered shape, alternatively or in combination, can also be used in this way 8: First, the preparation (eg 28) is introduced into the receiving space 50, which is shown here with a round bottom, then a test agent 46, possibly another test agent 48, where every two or three substances z. B. can be introduced by means of conventional pipettes 52, then the second plate 620 is then placed, which has such a shape in the manner already described that there is a gap 30 in which the preparation 28, optionally with mixing with test liquid 46th , 48 with simultaneous mixing, as shown in Fig. 8, center. Optical devices, indicated schematically by the lens 54, which in turn can be formed by a thickening 148 of the plate 620 itself, see left in FIG. 8, then an observation of the preparation 30 by the Material of the plate 620 possible.

A part of a plate 12 can be seen in FIG. 14, with a projection 16 which builds on it and forms a receptacle 18. A lateral or ring-shaped capillary-like depression or gap 56 or 156, which is arranged in the vicinity of the edge of the receiving surface 24, emanates from this receptacle and can also have a different shape, but must be arranged in such a way that the receiving surface 18 applied sample or test material has the opportunity to penetrate to a small extent into this gap or this depression 56, 156 as a result of capillary action, in such a way that a residue is retained in this gap even when it dries out or is washed out. If the gap is appropriately fine and the capillary action is correspondingly large, this can easily be achieved. Since the material 16 is preferably transparent, material that has entered the slit 56, even if it is also transparent and colorless, changes the refraction ratios within the slit 56 such that the presence of this material can be seen by the eye or optical devices. This is particularly true when the material adhering in the gap 56 is colored, such as blood, which causes a red marking in this gap 56 as a result of the red blood cells, so that it can be seen immediately that the projection 16 with its receptacle 18, for example, for Blood tests have already been used. With a larger number of such projections 16, as shown for example in FIG. 1, it can therefore be seen which of these several projections have already been used and should not be used again.

Instead of an unintended reuse of recording devices for e.g. B. To prevent blood tests by such a marking, there is another construction, as will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. - 2 ⁽ o

FIG. 15 shows a lower plate 712, which can be designed similarly to the plate 212 according to FIG. 3, and an upper plate 714, which can be configured quite analogously, that is to say again how the plate 212 according to FIG. 3 can be shaped. The plate, as shown in FIG. 15, has five receptacles 718 lying next to one another, each with a flat surface here, locking and / or guiding devices being carried at both ends of this strip-like structure, which on the one hand move up and down enable the two plates 712, 714 similar to the type shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, but at the same time lock the two plates 712, 714 together in such a way that they cannot subsequently be taken apart and used again.

These devices 742, 743 can be configured differently on the left and on the right side of the strip-like plate 712 and 714, for example, twice on one side and only one on the other side, as can be seen in FIG. 15 is, or also be designed differently in some other way, so as to ensure that the two plates 712, 714 can, if necessary, be placed one on top of the other in only one orientation. This is necessary, for example, if the plate 712 with its receptacles 718 has to take, for example, five different blood samples, while the counterplate 714 may have to take different test materials on their corresponding receptacles, and these test materials each have very specific samples on the other strip 712 should be assigned so that a rotation of the strip 714 with respect to the strip 712 must not occur.

The handling of the strips according to the invention can be simplified even further if the strip or plate, for example comprising several recordings, has another Has area that can be used for identification, for example to identify the patient belonging to the blood sample.

The arrangement according to FIG. 15 can be seen in an enlarged partial sectional view in FIG. 16, wherein a special embodiment of the locking and guide devices 742 and 743 described can be seen here: the locking takes place here in that a U-shape designed receiving space of the plate 712 is equipped with projections 68, which lie behind recesses 70, which is formed by an arrow-like projection 743 of the plate 714. This arrow-like projection tapers to a point and can also have an incision 72, so that the penetration of this arrow-like projection 763 into the U-shaped space 742 is made possible.

The plates 712 and 714 can still have stiffeners at the edge, for example by flanging 74.

In order to be able to make the material of this disposable arrangement according to FIG. 15 even thinner and thereby reduce the use of material without making handling more difficult, a further configuration in the form of a frame arrangement consisting of a base frame is conceivable according to FIG. 17 76 and possibly a cover frame 78, the two frames 76, 78 being able to be connected by a hinge 80 if desired, so that the two frames 76, 78 can be opened and closed in a convenient manner. The base frame 76 either forms the same or, as here, also differently designed receiving spaces 82, 84 and 86 for test plate arrangements of different sizes. A frame 76 according to FIG. 17 without intermediate walls 88 would, for example, be suitable for receiving a test plate 12 according to FIG. 1, either with a plate 20 already attached, possibly locked according to FIGS. 15, 16, or in the manner that the plate 20 is received by the cover frame 78, so that the plate 12 and the plate 20 only come together and lock when the two frame parts 76, 78 (see arrow 90) are closed, and the mixing could then take place as a result that the two frame parts 76, 78 are pressed against each other instead of the plates 12, 20 themselves. Of course, the frames 76, 78 are designed in such a way that the optical inspection can be carried out unhindered, for which purpose the frames 76, 78 are either themselves made of transparent material again, or corresponding openings in the frame base 290 or lid base 94 are located. Alternatively, trough-like, elongated receiving spaces 84 can also be provided next to one another, for example to accommodate strip-shaped plates or plate combinations, as shown in FIG. 15. Again, one plate could be accommodated in frame 76, the other plate in frame 78.

It is also conceivable to accommodate wells for only one sample in each case in the form as shown by reference number 612 in FIG. 8 in the individual receiving spaces 86 according to FIG. 17, the frame 76 being all such receiving spaces 86 could include.

The bottom 92 could also be designed by means of pin-like projections in such a way that such cups or bowls are nonetheless held in place without intermediate walls 88, while differently designed strip-shaped receptacles, for example having the shape of FIG. 15, also have such projections 76 so that with a single frame structure according to FIG. 76 either large-area recordings, or strip-shaped recordings or individual cup-shaped or cup-shaped recordings are securely held, while the upper frame 78 then has the appropriate recording devices, for example, a single part 620 according to FIG. 8, so that the sample 28 receives the desired flat spread within a capillary space 30.

The lens-like device 54 could then also be carried by the frame 78.

The strap parts 76, 78 are reusable, even if the receiving devices used therein, for example for blood samples, are disposable items according to FIG. 15.

The following FIGS. 18 to 23 then show in various views and representations a possible practical embodiment of a slide which can be inserted in a frame. 18A, 18B and 18C show in a top view, a side view and a view from the right a first (lower) strip-shaped plate 812, pressed from approximately 1 mm thick plastic material (such as polyamide), the strip 812 as a whole here 10 juxtaposed receptacles 818, here of square shape, which, like in the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 and 16, are formed by material pushed upwards. To reinforce it, the strip 812 has raised edges 875, 877, 879 which surround the receiving surfaces 818 in a box-like manner. Flag-like projections 881, 883 also emanate from the end face edge regions 877 and 879, which on the one hand facilitate handling, and on the other hand can serve as a marking area for patient data, sample data and also for the dispensing of any test chemicals that may be present. From these edges 877, 879, lugs 885, 887 protrude inwards, with which lugs corresponding lugs 889, 890 of the second (upper) plate or strip shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C can hook, so that the two strips to lock in their superimposed position with each other. In the locked position, the receiving surfaces 814 of the strip 812 are aligned with the corresponding receiving flat 818 of the strip 814. The dimensions are chosen here so that the strip 818, which also has a box-like stiffening by the edges 891, 893, 895 , with this box shape can be inserted into the box formed by the strip 812. Here, too, approaches 882, 884 are present, which on the one hand serve as alignment and locking means when inserting this strip into the corresponding frame 878 according to FIG. 21A, see the depressions 982 there, but on the other hand also serve for marking purposes in the manner already described can. To prevent the strip 814 from coming off the (upper) frame 878 can fall out again after insertion, serves a resiliently attached nose 896 on the two ends of the strip 814, which lies with its surface 897 behind a corresponding surface 997 of a projecting edge 996 of the frame 878 and thereby after the Bringing the strip into the two recesses 982 of the frame 878 and locking the strip by means of these lugs 296 behind the strip 996 the strip is firmly connected to the frame and can no longer fall out, even if, for example, this upper frame is folded down, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 22B.

The frame consists essentially of solid material, preferably again plastic, which can also be transparent, the construction details being shown in the figures.

Strips and frames are each constructed so that they cannot be mixed up, i.e. H. that a lower strip cannot be placed in the upper frame. For this purpose, a depression 1082 is provided in the lower frame, see FIGS. 20A to D, which is so wide that it is able to accommodate the corresponding flag-like extension 883 of the lower strip 812, while the corresponding extension 884 of the upper strip 814 does not fit here and is therefore immediately recognizable that the wrong strip is inserted. This also applies conversely to the lower frame, in which only the lower strip fits, while the upper strip cannot be inserted here.

As can be seen from FIGS. 18A and B, the lower strip 812 also has a locking projection 898 in order to fix the strip in the lower frame accordingly, for which purpose it has a projecting strip 1096 with a lower contact surface 1097, see FIG. 20B. The projection 898 of the lower strip is shaped differently than the speaking projection 896 of the upper strip, the design being selected such that the holding force in the frame for the lower strip is slightly less than the holding force of the upper strip within the upper frame. This enables the following to be achieved: First, the lower strip is placed in the lower frame, the strip being jammed in the frame with the aid of the projections 898 to such an extent that it can no longer fall out of its own accord, and then the upper strip 814 in the upper frame is inserted at the corresponding point aligned with the lower strip and clamped by means of the projection 896, the frames 876 and 878 according to FIG. 22 a being able to lie flat on the work surface in this insertion position. The samples are then applied to the receptacles 818 of, for example, the lower strip, a test liquid is applied to the corresponding receptacles on the upper strip, if this does not already contain a test substance applied in the factory, and the upper frame is then placed on the 22B, whereby the two strips with their receptacles 818 come together and interlock and lock with one another with their projections 887 and 890. Now the sample substance and test substance react with one another and give, for example, a precipitate that is visible through the transparent strip material surface. After the end of the examinations, the upper frame is removed from the lower frame again, for example by opening it again, whereupon the interlocked strips come loose from one of the frames, for example here from the lower frame, so that the interlocked strips in the upper one Frame remain and either with this to z. B. Control purposes are kept or removed from them and disposed of.

The connection of the two frame parts 876, 878 by means of a joint is explained in more detail in FIGS. 23a and 23b. FIG. 23A shows a frame consisting of the frame parts 876 and 878 with a joint 880, the frame part 876 at its end carrying the joint 880 merging into an attachment 802 which is U-shaped in cross section and which is open with its cross section Is directed towards the outer surface 803 of the frame part 876 and, with its closed end 804, projects beyond the inner surface 805 receiving the test strips to form a pivot bearing for the other frame part 878. In the inner end of the U, which forms a semicircular inner surface, there is inserted a bearing pin or pin 806 which can be slidably and rotatably received and which is fastened at both ends to a retaining tab 807 or merges into one which in turn laterally adjoins the (upper according to FIG 23B) frame part 878 is fastened, for example screwed by means of screws 808. The bearing pin 806 has a radial depression 809 near each of its two ends (there may be further recesses in between), which is oriented such that it points towards the open end of the U when the frame is closed and towards a pin or a screw 811 is aligned, which in the position shown in FIG. 23B extends close to the circumferential surface of the bearing pin 806, but does not extend into the depression 809 in the rest position of the frame. The bearing pin 806 is held in the position shown by a spring element 813, which is present, for example, in the form of a spiral spring placed around the pin 811, which is supported on the one hand on a locking strip 815 for the U-profile and on the other on the circumferential surface of the bearing pin 806 or on an intermediate piece slidably placed on this circumferential surface, not shown. If pressure is exerted on the lower and upper frame part 876, 878, the upper frame part 878 with the shaft 806 moves downward within the U-shaped profile 802 against the force of the spring 813 in the direction of the pin 811, in which case the pin 811 penetrates into the depression 809 so that the movement of the two frame parts 876, 878 towards one another and away from one another in their folded state is not impaired by the presence of the pin 811.

This movement is used for mixing, for example, as already described.

In order to obtain a defined mixing movement of the same type in all the specimen strips inserted, it is expedient if the path of movement of the two plates from one another and to one another is limited, for example in the present case by striking the shaft 806 at the bottom of the U. Profile 802 (movement of the frame parts away from one another), on the other hand by the provision of stops between the two surfaces 805 and 817 of the frame parts facing each other in the closed position. These stops can be formed by the surfaces 805, 817 themselves, or by additionally attached stop projections or tabs 819 on one or both opposite surfaces 805, 817 of the frame parts 876, 878.

The construction described allows a stable guidance and alignment of the two frame parts 876, 878 to one another, so that it is ensured that, even in the case of very small receiving areas, the preparation liquid (on e.g. the lower frame part) and the test liquid (on z. B. the upper frame part) is ensured.

The construction also ensures that a uniform parallel guidance is achieved when the two frame parts move relative to one another, and that an identical stroke is achieved for all sample strips and thus also for all individual samples lying opposite one another, so that the mixing processes are the same for all samples and z. B. meet a certain standard, so that it is ensured that different results do not result from different mixing intensities, which do not come about due to differences in preparation.

The construction described is also designed in such a way that it does not lead to canting when folded, since the compression of the two frame parts in the direction of arrows 823 is only possible when the two frame parts have reached the closed position, as shown in FIG. 23B. Previously, misalignment of bore 809 with pin 811 prevents shaft 806 from escaping the U-shaped end of part 802. These measures prevent the frame parts from being inadvertently moved towards one another in the region of their articulation during folding, which leads to an oblique orientation, so that the closing process is disturbed or other canting occurs.

The arrangement of a frame in which a large number of individual sample strips, each with a larger number of individual samples in turn, can be accommodated, also enables automation which is expedient in many cases. For example, the frame could be placed in a device which accomplishes the mixing process by forcing the lifting movement of the two frame parts toward one another, for example by magnetic devices or by pneumatic drive, for example at a frequency of two lifting movements per second, so that at a stroke rate of about 50 to 60 for a thorough mix, the total treatment time is about 1 / £. Minute would be.

With a larger number of samples, the pressure to be applied is relatively large, so that a 50-fold lifting movement with the hands is larger for some operators He orders efforts so that a mechanical drive would also be useful for this reason.

A mechanical drive would also enable an even more uniform application of pressure, although an arrangement of compression spring devices 821 in the area of the stops 819, for example, could also remedy this. Such spring devices 821 could, for example, be attached to all four corners of the frame. If their compressive force does not significantly exceed that of the spring 813, so that the influence of the spring 813 is not negligible, such springs could only be arranged at the end facing away from the joint, in particular this applies if their compressive force would correspond approximately to that of the springs 813, so that ultimately a uniform distribution of the back pressure exerted by the springs at the four corners of the frame parts and then the overall springs would result. This uniform pressure at all four corners of the frame facilitates a uniform movement of the frame parts 876, 878 towards one another when this is carried out by hand, while in the case of mechanical operation, corresponding devices can be provided in the drive device which automatically does this. For example, appropriate locking devices (for example, suction cups or clamping jaws) could be used between z. B. the drive jaws of a vibrator drive and the externally accessible surfaces of the two frame parts 876, 878 can be achieved that they are forcibly moved with a certain stroke and a certain speed, regardless of the presence of the springs 813, 821.

COMMERCIAL EVALUATION

Slides of the type described can be evaluated commercially in medical technology as well as for chemical analyzes.

Claims

P at en t claims

1. slides (10) for wet or moist preparations, for. B. chemical or biological preparations, such as blood, consisting of a plate (12) made of preferably transparent material, in particular of transparent plastic, with a plurality of receptacles (18) carried by the surface (14) for the preparations, one of which is on the first plate (12) can be placed on the second plate (20), the surface (24) of which is designed in such a way that it is flat or light with the surface (22) of the receptacles (18) of the first plate (12) curved, area-extending gap space (30) with such a gap width (26) that the volume of the preparation essentially fills the volume of the gap space, characterized in that the plate (π) (20) and / or a frame carrying the plate (s) and / or at least one of the receiving surfaces (18) have a locking and / or marking device which takes effect when the plate (s) (20) is used for the first time and thereby blocks and / or Warning indicator against further use.

2. Slide according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving surface (18) carries an analysis layer which forms an analysis reaction after contact with the preparation with this. - Z2 -

3. slide according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the receiving surface (18) or part of this surface carries a coating that discolors when used and thereby provides a warning.

4. Slide according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the receiving surface has a capillary-like depression odßr gap (56) for marking the use by penetration of test or preparation material.

5. Slide according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plates (z. B. 712, 714) Ver¬ locking devices (z. B. 742, 743, Fig. 16) have a limited movement of the plates perpendicular to the plate plane (712, 714) against spring force or the like to each other to change the gap volume, but no complete separation of the plates (712, 714) from each other.

6. Slide according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring force is provided by integrally projecting from the plate material, resilient ^* approaches (142, 242) or by the rigidity of the plate itself (Fig. 9).

7. Slide according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plates (z. B. 712, 714) can be inserted into frames (z. B. 76, 78) that the holder and possibly movement the plates to each other by means of the frame.

8. Slide according to claim 6 or 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the plates (12, 20) perpendicular to the plate plane are mutually movable (44) that - $ 3 -

of the gap volume compared to the preparation volume can be increased and / or reduced by at least a factor of 2.

9. Slide according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receptacles (18) are formed by a substrate (12), columnar projections (16).

10. Slide according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the projections are formed by introducing intersecting grooves (32, 34) in the plate (112).

11. Slide according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receptacles (218) are formed by bulges pressed out from a base plate made of thin plastic material (212).

12. A slide according to claim 11, characterized in that the bulges form a concave, convex or flat surface for receiving, and that the second plate forms bulges shaped accordingly, which are also pressed out of a plate made of thin plastic material (Fig. 3; 5).

13. Slide according to claim 12, characterized in that the first and / or second plate in the region of the receptacle forms a lens-like thickening (48, 148).

14. Slide according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the frame is a snap frame with an upper and lower part (878, 876), which are together at one edge by a joint (999), which is preferably, at least when closed Position, a limited Movement of the frame parts relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the frame plane is permitted, are pivotally connected to one another.

15. A slide according to claim 14, characterized in that the folding frame (878, 876) has a plurality of receptacles (982; 1082) lying next to one another for, in particular strip-shaped, plates (814, 812).

16. A slide according to claim 15, characterized in that the strip-shaped plates (812, 814) each form a plurality of receiving surfaces (818) arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the strip for preparation and / or test liquid or ready-applied test agent.

17. Slide according to claim 16, characterized in that two superimposed strip-shaped plates (812, 814) at one edge, for. B. narrow edge are connected by a hinge and form a locking device on their opposite edge.

18. Slide according to claim 16, characterized in that two superposed strip-shaped plates (812, 814) form at least two opposite edges, such as their two narrow edges a Verrastungs¬ device (887, 885; 890, 889).

19. A slide according to claim 17 or 18, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that at least one, for example the lower strip-shaped plate (812) on at least one of its narrow sides a flag-like approach (883) to form a marking or labeling surface has, for example for the manufacturer's specification of a permanently applied test agent or for user labeling for the specification of preparation or patient data.

20. A slide according to claim 19, characterized in that the other plate also has a flag-like extension which is aligned with that of the first plate and covers its marking area.

21. A method for checking preparations which are arranged in receptacles according to one of claims 1 to 20, with the method steps a)

Introducing the preparations into or onto the receptacle (s) of the first plate (12), b) optionally introducing test agents into or onto the receptacles provided with the preparations near or to the preparation in the first plate or into or onto a corresponding one Receiving the second plate (20); c)

Placing the second plate (20) to form the gap volume (30) and sucking up the preparation and, if appropriate, test agent into the gap volume (30); d) optical inspection of the preparation through the transparent material of the first and / or second plate,

characterized,

that during or after process step c) the two plates are either locked inseparably or are irreversibly changed. l -

22. A method for 'checking preparations according to claim 21, characterized in that the plate C ^' π) (12; 20) is / are preferably arranged in a frame (76, 78) before step (a).

23. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that after step c) the gap volume is cyclically changed by moving the plates (12, 20) perpendicular to their planes, thereby thereby mixing the preparation, possibly Mix with the test agent.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the cyclical changing of the gap volume takes place in that the two frames (76, 78) are moved.

25. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 24, characterized in that after step d) the two interlocked plates (12, 20) from the frame (76, 78) removed and replaced by new plates.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the frame is a snap frame and the new plates in the opened frame can be used arresting, that then the samples or test liquids are applied and then the snap frame is folded under locking of the plates ^ that then if necessary a mixing is carried out by moving the frame parts towards one another, that before or after the assessment, the frame is opened again so that the one in which To examine and / or mark the remaining locked plates and / or replace them with new plates.