Fluid testing system
Technology described herein includes a method that includes providing, by an optical light source, a light beam configured to traverse an optical path through a fluid comprising the biological sample in a container. A length of the optical path through the fluid is between 3.3 mm to 5.5 mm, and a center of the light beam is at a height less than 1.6 mm from a bottom interior surface of the container, and a volume of the fluid is less than 120 μL. An optical detector receives optical information after the light beam traverses the optical path. An output of the optical detector is associated with at least one parameter representing the one or more characteristics of the biological sample.
1 . A system for determining one or more characteristics of a biological sample, the system comprising:
a cuvette configured to contain a fluid comprising the biological sample, where a volume of the fluid to be contained is less than 120 μL, wherein the cuvette comprises at least one pair of opposing surfaces that are substantially parallel to each other, the at least one pair of opposing surfaces defining a portion of the cuvette into which the fluid is dispensed or from which the fluid is aspirated, wherein a length of a portion of the cuvette configured to contain the fluid is between 3.3 mm to 5.5 mm and a width of the portion is between 3.3 mm to 5.5 mm;
a probe configured to dispense the fluid into the cuvette or aspirate a portion of the fluid from the cuvette;
an optical source external to the cuvette and the probe, the optical source disposed to provide a light beam through the cuvette, the light beam configured to traverse an optical path through the fluid in the cuvette along a direction substantially perpendicular to the at least one pair of opposing surfaces, the optical source being positioned external to the cuvette such that a center of the light beam is at a height less than 1.6 mm from a bottom interior surface of the cuvette; and
an optical detector configured to receive optical information after the light beam traverses the optical path, wherein an output of the optical detector is associated with at least one parameter representing the one or more characteristics of the biological sample.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a volume of the fluid remaining in the cuvette after aspiration is less than 35%, or less than 40% of the volume of the fluid in the cuvette before the aspiration.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the probe is configurable through a user input interface, such that the volume of the fluid remaining in the cuvette after an aspiration by the probe is adjustable.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the volume of the fluid to be contained is less than 100 μL, less than 75 μL, or less than 50 μL.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the optical path through the fluid is 4 mm.
6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a programmable processor configured to:
receive and/or process the optical information to generate values for the at least one parameter including optical absorbance, and
perform evaluations related to the one or more characteristics of the biological sample using the at least one parameter and one or more values adjustable through a user input interface.
7 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a programmable processor configured to:
receive information indicative of a composition of the fluid in the cuvette, and
determine, based on the information indicative of the composition of the fluid, a dispense height of a corresponding probe above a surface of the fluid for dispensing at least one of the biological sample or a reagent component of the fluid, wherein the dispense height of the corresponding probe is determined by accounting for surface tension interactions between the fluid and walls of the cuvette.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the dispense height is between 2 mm and 4 mm from an average liquid level of the fluid in the cuvette.