摘要 |
A compartmented body fluid specimen collection tube (10) is provided which allows the user to select a size compartment (14,16) depending upon the quantity of specimen required. Thus, the tube of the invention may be of the standard size which is much easier for the user to handle than very small tubes when taking a blood sample, but a selected size compartment (14,16) is available. The manufacturer of the tube itself may use a single mold for making tubes accommodating differing required specimen quantities, and, thereafter the vendor may select either size compartment (14,16) for imparting a vacuum and the other processing required into a final product. The invention allows the use of a single standard size laboratory equipment array for processing collected specimens of varying quantities, as well as a single standard stopper (28). Finally, reduced vacuum application or "partial draw" tubes are avoided, thus eliminating the problem of unpredictable specimen draw response because of varying atmospheric pressures at different locations of use. <IMAGE> |