APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING BLOOD SAMPLES

摘要

Red cells are separated from plasma or serum of whole blood by arranging an evacuated tube (2) sealed by a self-sealing stopper (26) above and preferably coaxial with a tube (4) containing a blood sample and sealed by a self-sealing stopper (28). A hollow double ended needle (14) is held by a fixture (6) and is disposed between and coaxial with the tubes (2, 4) and the tubes are placed in the fixture (6) in a vertical position in a centrifuge (84) and rotated about and spaced from an axis parallel to the axis of the tubes and needle. After the red cells are separated from the serum and/or plasma, the tubes (2, 4) are pushed toward one another so that the needle (14) penetrates both stoppers and the serum and/or plasma is drawn into the upper tube (2). The tubes (2, 4) and needle (14) are separated while still being rotated so that the whole blood components are separated as required.