| 摘要 |
Partitioning assemblies and partitioning or seal members, utilized with containers (adapted to serve as fluid specimen collection or fluid-retaining tubes) for effecting partitioning of two differing-density fluid phases of a centrifugally separated fluid specimen, at a position not lower than the fluid phase interface, wherein the partitioning members include a separating amount of a gel-like material. This gel-like material, by having a specific gravity intermediate those of the separated fluid phases, is adapted to move within the container in response to centrifugal force, only to the vicinity of the fluid phase interface. The gel-like material thereupon is further adapted to make a transversely continuous semi-rigid contact seal with an annular portion of the container inner surface to thereby effect a seal that partitions the fluid phases. The gel-like material may also be used in combination with a spool member having a container-contacting outer surface and a central axial orifice, with the gel-like material making a transversely-continuous contact seal within the spool central axial orifice. Three-phase partitioning may also be accomplished by using first and second gel-like materials having specific gravities intermediate those of the first-second and second-third differing-density phases, respectively. The partitioning or seal members may also be utilized in closed system (evacuated) fluid collection tubes or may be hand inserted into opened (atmospheric pressure) tubes after specimen collection. Also set forth is a method for effecting partitioning of centrifugally separated fluid phases within a container. |
