I-shaped slit in a lidstock covering an array of aliquot vessels

1 . A lidstock for a open sample container comprising a layer having a plurality of slits formed therein to form segment intersections that facilitate penetration by an aspiration probe, the segment intersections displaced from the location for penetration by the probe.

2 . The lidstock of claim 1 further comprising at least one open generally circular well depending downwardly from an upper surface and a lower surface forming the bottom of each of the wells wherein the segment intersections are formed in the bottom of each well.

3 . The lidstock of claim 2 wherein the segment intersections are formed as a capital I-shaped slit.

4 . The lidstock of claim 2 adapted for use with an aliquot vessel array containing a plurality of liquid patient samples in a plurality of vessels, the lidstock further comprising at least one open generally circular well depending downwardly from an upper surface and a lower surface forming the bottom of each of the wells wherein the capital I-shaped slit is formed in the bottom of each well.

5 . The lidstock of claim 4 wherein the plurality of wells are distributed to mate with the plurality of vessels.

6 . The lidstock of claim 3 wherein the I-shaped slit comprises a pair of slit ends distanced apart and connected at their mid-points by a slit cross member.

7 . The lidstock of claim 4 wherein the I-shaped slit comprises a pair of slit ends distanced apart and connected at their mid-points by a slit cross member and the mid-point of the slit cross member is located at the center of well.

8 . The lidstock of claim 1 wherein the slits are formed fully through the bottom of the well.

9 . The lidstock of claim 6 wherein the length of slit ends is generally about 60-75% of the length of cross member.

10 . The lidstock of claim 6 wherein the slit cross member extends beyond the intersection with the slit ends.

11 . The lidstock of claim 6 wherein the slit ends have equal lengths.

12 . The lidstock of claim 2 wherein the segment intersections are formed as a capital V-shaped slit.

13 . The lidstock of claim 2 wherein the segment intersections are formed as a capital T-shaped slit.

14 . The lidstock of claim 2 wherein the wells have a circular sidewall closed by a bottom, the lidstock further comprising a plurality of “O-ring”-like structures formed on the sidewalls extending outwardly from each of the wells.

15 . The lidstock of claim 14 wherein the “O-ring”-like structures formed on the sidewalls of the wells fully encircle the wells.

16 . The lidstock of claim 14 wherein the “O-ring”-like structures formed on the sidewalls of the wells are formed proximate the bottom of the wells.