Carrier for automated microbiology sample processing

Abstract

Carriers are provided for microbiological laboratory use, as are methods for their use. The carriers may be used to transport patient samples between laboratory stations and can be loaded into automated AST systems. In an aspect, a method of performing AST may include loading a tube comprising a patient sample onto a carrier. An AST panel may be loaded onto the carrier. The carrier may be conveyed to an automated inoculation assembly. The patient sample may be inoculated from the tube into the AST panel. The AST panel may be loaded into an automated AST system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), comprising the steps of:
 loading a tube comprising a patient sample onto a carrier;   loading an AST panel onto the carrier;   conveying the carrier to an automated inoculation assembly;   inoculating the patient sample from the tube into the AST panel; and   loading the AST panel into an automated AST system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of reloading the AST panel onto the carrier from the automated AST system following completion of an automated AST process, and conveying the carrier to a second laboratory station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reading and comparing identifying information from the tube and from the AST panel; and   storing the identifying information in a central database system that associates sample orders, accession numbers, panels and carriers.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising pausing the method if the identifying information from the tube does not correspond with the information from the AST panel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of reading identifying information from the carrier and at least one of the tube and the AST panel, and associating the identifying information of the carrier with the identifying information of at least one of the tube and the AST panel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of reading identifying information comprises scanning a barcode, reading an RFID tag, or reading an encoded magnetic pattern. 
     
     
         7 . An antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) system comprising:
 one or more containers each containing an array of sample wells; and   a carrier disposed under the containers comprising:
 a first stage space raised from a surface of the carrier having a stage perimeter smaller than an underside perimeter of each container; and 
 a first stage protrusion extending normal to the stage space and into one of the containers. 
   
     
     
         8 . The AST system of  claim 7 , further comprising additional stage protrusions, each stage protrusion corresponding with a corner of one of the containers. 
     
     
         9 . The AST system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second stage space adjacent the first stage space. 
     
     
         10 . The AST system of  claim 7 , further comprising a vessel disposed on the carrier adjacent the one or more containers. 
     
     
         11 . The AST system of  claim 10 , wherein the vessel further comprises a plurality of vessel wells, each vessel well located within the vessel such that each vessel well is adjacent to a corresponding container such that no other container is between the corresponding container and the vessel well. 
     
     
         12 . The AST system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle configured to accept a tube and each receptacle located within the vessel such that each receptacle is adjacent to a corresponding container such that no other container is between the corresponding container and the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The AST system of  claim 12 , wherein each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles comprises a pin portion extending into the carrier configured to align the vessel with respect to the carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The AST system of  claim 10 , further comprising an alignment member extending normal to the carrier and into the vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The AST system of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more slots disposed along an underside of the carrier configured to receive one or more arms for positioning the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . A method of performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), comprising the steps of:
 loading a patient sample onto a carrier;   loading an AST panel onto the carrier;   loading the AST panel into an automated AST system; and   transferring a portion of the patient sample to the AST panel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising identifying that the patient sample corresponds with the AST panel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein identifying includes scanning a code associated with the patient sample. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patient sample is selected from the group consisting of a positive blood culture and an isolate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising diluting the patient sample by supplying a reagent.