Abstract: An account is given of a test vessel, more specially for use in a photometer. The vessel has inwardly running wall parts forming hollows and at the edges of these hollows there are outwardly running hollow processes for taking up capillary tubes used in conditioning a liquid in the vessel for a measuring operation.

Abstract: A method of preparing samples for testing, such as blood samples for photometric testing. A small quantity of the material to be tested, such as blood, is drawn into a capillary tube. The tube is then placed in a centrifuge and subjected to the action of centrifugal force which separates the test substance within the tube into a heavier component at one end of the tube and a lighter component at the other end. A second capillary tube, having an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the first tube, is then introduced into the first tube and, by capillary action, picks up a definite measured quantity of the desired component from the first tube. The second tube, with the measured quantity of desired component therein, is placed in a cuvet previously provided with a predetermined quantity of a desired reagent liquid, and the cuvet is then shaken to disperse the contents of the second capillary tube into the reagent liquid in the cuvet.

Abstract: A photometer for measuring the light permeability of a material for testing is made portable for hand-held operation outside a laboratory for measurements such as determining the proportion of hemoglobin in human blood. It includes a battery power supply that energizes a lamp, an opening for receiving a cuvet for a measurement, and a measuring circuit having a light-sensitive element. An indicator instrument in the measuring circuit indicates zero compensation, and a manually movable wedge filter is in the path of the light beam for adjusting the light passing through the cuvet. A manually operable element effects a zero compensation of the measuring circuit before a test is made, and a viewable scale on a setting member carrying the wedge filter directly displays a test result value from adjustment of the wedge filter during measurement of the material.

Abstract: A cuvet is prepared for test analysis of a substance by placing a predetermined volume of a reagent liquid in a cuvet and then using a pipette or capillary tube for taking up a predetermined volume of the test substance by capillary action. Then the charged capillary tube is placed in the cuvet in the reagent liquid to permit the test substance to flow into the reagent liquid, and the substance is mixed with the reagent liquid in the cuvet so that the substance has a precise and predetermined ratio to the reagent liquid for speedily and accurately preparing the cuvet for a test analysis. A convenient kit is provided, containing a plurality of cuvets already charged with a measured quantity of a reagent liquid, and a plurality of capillary pipettes for use in adding measured quantities of some other liquid (e.g., blood) to the reagent liquid in a cuvet.