Containers for reducing or eliminating foaming

1. A method for reducing or eliminating the aspiration of foam into a metering probe comprising:

providing a reagent supply container having a liquid reagent therein, wherein the reagent supply container comprises:

(i) a container having

a container body having a top portion, a bottom portion and an opening for adding the liquid to or removing the liquid from the container body; and

a hollow baffle located within the container with first and second openings therein, the first opening being sealed and covered with a first pierceable seal and the second opening being sealed and covered with a second pierceable seal, wherein the first opening of the baffle is at least partially aligned with the opening of the container, and

(ii) a closure which is movable away from the opening of the container to be in an open position and movable into contact with the opening to be in a closed position, wherein the second opening of the baffle is submerged in the liquid;

providing a metering probe movable in a direction toward and away from the reagent supply container;

moving the closure away from the opening of the container;

piercing both seals covering the first and second openings of the baffle allowing liquid to enter the baffle from the end of the baffle submerged in the liquid thereby providing a foam reduced or foam free zone;

moving the metering probe into the first opening of the baffle and into contact with the liquid in the baffle;

aspirating a selected amount of liquid in the baffle; and

moving the metering probe out of the baffle.

2. A method for according to claim 1 , wherein the step of piercing both seals is performed by the tip of the metering probe.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the baffle has sidewalls with the first opening at a first end region and the second opening at a second end region, wherein the first end region of the baffle contacts the opening of the container body during transport.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the baffle forms a liquid tight seal with the opening of the container body during transport.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the baffle contacts the opening of the container at the sidewalls in the vicinity of the first opening.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second end region of the baffle extends into the container at a location away from the opening of the container.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second opening of the baffle is located in the vicinity of the bottom of the container.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the second opening is two millimeters or less from the bottom of the container.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the second opening is around one millimeter or less from the bottom of the container.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first baffle opening is located in the vicinity of the container opening and wherein the pierceable seal covering the first baffle opening also covers the container opening.

11. A method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising an opening to allow air into the portion of the container outside of the baffle.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the opening is a gap between the first end region of the baffle and the opening of the container.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the opening is formed by an indentation in the sidewalls of the baffle.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the indentation is a crease that runs along at least a portion of the length of the baffle sidewall.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the opening is in the sidewall of the baffle located in the first end region, and wherein the first end region of the baffle forms a liquid tight seal with the opening of the container body.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the opening is covered with a pierceable seal.