Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method and apparatus for mounting pre-cut capillary sized pipette tubes to aspiration tubes in a chemical processor. According to a first embodiment, the pipette tubes are dispensed from a magazine hopper into channels in a series of blocks that are connected to one another as a conveyor. The conveyor reorients the pipette tubes from horizontal to vertical to be engaged by the vertical aspiration tubes. According to a second preferred embodiment, the blocks are in the form of one or more trays that reciprocate between the hopper and the aspiration tubes. In both embodiments, the apparatus includes a clamp having a pair of closeable jaws adapted to grasp and remove the pipette tubes from the aspiration tubes after use.

Abstract: A laboratory reactor apparatus includes a suction tube, at least a portion of which has a constricted inside diameter. The lower portion of the suction tube is sealed to a sintered frit filter medium. The suction tube mounts in a reactor block into a reactor vial for receiving chemical components. An inlet channel with a first seal is formed through the block and conveys chemical component materials to the vial, and a suction channel with a second seal, coaxial with the suction tube, is used to remove resultant chemical compound materials therefrom. A pressurized gas channel containing inert gas is formed through the block to intersect the suction channel and the inlet channel.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention involves placing a pair of parallel, spaced apart sealing septa in each channel of a reactor block through which materials are added to or removed from a reactor flask such that the septa enclose a cavity within the channel. A hole is formed through the block to intersect the cavity and is connected to a source of low pressure, substantially non-reactive gas which acts to prevent materials from leaking through a hole in either septum. The reactor flask is formed of glass as a substantially conical chamber with a first tube and a second tube connected to the flask perpendicular to its axis. The second tube extends within the flask so that its interior end resides proximate the opposite interior surface of the flask. The second tube terminates in a glass frit being permeable to certain of the chemical materials in work and non-permeable to others so as to act as a filter.

Abstract: A method and reagent for determining endotoxin in various fluids. The reagent comprises Limulus amebocyte lysate, a substantially linear polymeric water soluble interference-reducing agent and either calcium or magnesium cations.