Clot detection methods for clotting time testing

1. A method of detecting the formation of a clot in a fluid sample during a coagulation test phase including one or more test periods, the method comprising:

a. providing a test chamber having a top and a bottom and further providing a disk positioned within the test chamber;

b. filling the test chamber with the fluid sample;

c. conducting a plurality of test cycles, each test cycle including:

i. positioning the disk at a disk maximum position within the test chamber; wherein the disk maximum position is the highest point at which the disk is positioned during the respective test cycle;

ii. dropping the disk;

iii. determining a highest disk maximum position which is the highest disk maximum position measured during all of the test cycles conducted; and

iv. determining a current disk minimal position which is the lowest position at which the disk falls within the test chamber during the last test cycle and a lowest disk minimal position which is the lowest disk minimal position measured during all of the test cycles conducted;

d. calculating a reference disk-span being equal to the highest disk maximum position minus a lowest disk minimal position;

e. identifying a reference for enabling disk minimum position being equal to the lowest disk minimal position;

f. calculating a reference for enabling integration of disk minimum position equaling the reference disk minimum position+(Y %×the reference disk-span); wherein Y % is a value between 0 and 100%;

g. subtracting the lowest disk minimal position from the current disk minimal position to calculate a change in minimal position;

h. comparing the change in minimal position to the reference for enabling integration of disk minimum position; wherein, if the change in minimal position is less than the reference for enabling integration of disk minimum position, a clot will not be indicated to be detected and when the change in minimal position is greater than the reference for enabling integration of disk minimum position, then a disk change value is set to be the change in minimal position;

i. adding each disk change value of all conducted test cycles to calculate a distance minimum sum; and

j. during at least one specified test period, comparing the distance minimum sum to a clot detection reference; wherein if the distance minimum sum is greater than the clot detection reference, a clot is indicated to be detected; wherein if the distance minimum sum is not greater than the clot detection reference, a clot is not indicated to be detected.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of measuring a first parameter during each test cycle; wherein the first parameter is indicative of a viscosity of the fluid sample.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of assessing the first parameter either indicating a clot to be detected or not indicating a clot to be detected independent of step (j).

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of measuring a second parameter during each test cycle; wherein the second parameter is indicative of a viscosity of the fluid sample.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of assessing the second parameter and the first parameter and either indicating a clot to be detected or not indicating a clot to be detected independent of step (j).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each test cycle is conducted in an equal amount of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disk is made of a ferromagnetic material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a height of the test chamber is divided into a plurality of lift zones; wherein during step (c)(i) the disk is positioned with a magnetic field and the magnetic field varies depending on the lift zone in which the disk originates.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clot detection reference varies as the repeated test cycles are conducted.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid sample includes heparin.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid sample includes a viscosity-altering substance and the method further comprising a sample mix phase prior to step (c).

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clot detection reference is set to equal a clot detection threshold x the Reference Disk-Span.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the clot detection threshold changes over time.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein Y % is 2%.

15. A method of detecting the formation of a clot in a fluid sample during a coagulation test phase including one or more test periods, the method comprising:

a. providing a test chamber having a top and a bottom and further providing a disk positioned within the test chamber;

b. filling the test chamber with the fluid sample;

c. conducting a first test cycle including:

i. positioning the disk at a first disk maximum position within the test chamber; wherein the first disk maximum position is the highest point at which the disk is positioned during the first test cycle;

ii. measuring the first disk maximum position;

iii. dropping the disk; and

iv. determining a first disk minimal position which is the lowest point at which the disk falls within the test chamber during the first test cycle;

d. conducting a second test cycle including:

i. positioning the disk at a second disk maximum position within the test chamber; wherein the second disk maximum position is the highest point at which the disk is positioned during the second test cycle;

ii. measuring the second disk maximum position;

iii. dropping the disk; and

iv. determining a second disk minimal position which is the lowest point at which the disk falls within the test chamber during the second test cycle;

e. conducting a third test cycle including:

i. positioning the disk at a third disk maximum position within the test chamber; wherein the third disk maximum position is the highest point at which the disk is positioned during the third test cycle;

ii. measuring the third disk maximum position;

iii. dropping the disk; and

iv. determining a third disk minimal position which is the lowest point at which the disk falls within the test chamber during the third test cycle;

f. calculating a reference disk-span being equal to the highest of the first, second and third disk maximum positions minus the lowest of the first, second and third disk minimal positions;

g. identifying a reference disk minimum position being equal to the lowest of the first, second and third disk minimal positions;

h. calculating a clot detection reference being equal to the reference disk minimum position+(X %×the Reference Disk-Span); wherein X % is a value between 0 and 100%;

i. conducting a fourth test cycle including:

i. positioning the disk at a fourth disk maximum position within the test chamber; wherein the fourth disk maximum position is the highest point at which the disk is positioned during the fourth test cycle;

ii. measuring the fourth disk maximum position;

iii. dropping the disk; and

iv. determining a fourth disk minimal position which is the lowest point at which the disk falls within the test chamber during the fourth test cycle; and

j. comparing the fourth disk minimal position to the clot detection reference; and

k. repeating steps j(i-iv) to conduct fifth and sixth test cycles and comparing the fifth and sixth disk minimum positions to the clot detection reference; and

l. either declaring a clot to be detected when all of the fourth-sixth disk minimum positions are greater than the clot detection reference or not indicating a clot to be detected when any of the fourth-sixth disk minimum positions are not greater than the clot detection reference.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of measuring a first parameter during step (i)(ii); wherein the first parameter is indicative of a viscosity of the fluid sample.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of assessing a change in the first parameter and either indicating a clot to be detected or not indicating a clot to be detected independent of step (l).

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein, after step (j), the method further comprises the steps of updating each of: 1) the reference disk-span being equal to the highest of the first-fourth disk maximum positions minus the lowest of the first, second, third, and fourth disk minimum positions; 2) the reference disk minimum position to equal the lowest of the first, second, third and fourth disk minimum positions; and 3) the clot detection reference.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein X % is greater than 8%.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein X % varies throughout the coagulation test phase.