Method for testing specimens located at a plurality of service sites
First Claim
1. A method of testing a specimen, wherein the testing is conducted at a service site using a testing device, the method comprising:
- enabling entry of donor and client information into a database accessible by a host computer;
enabling a site attendant to access at least one of said donor and client information at a local computer remote from said host computer, wherein said local computer is located at the service site;
providing a specimen container that carries machine readable identification information;
enabling testing of a specimen at the service site using the testing device, wherein the specimen was deposited by a donor into the specimen container and at the service site;
associating the machine readable identification information carried by the specimen container with an electronic chain of custody form to positively associate the deposited specimen with the donor;
enabling electronic communication of the machine readable identification information to the host computer, wherein the communication is conducted across a communications network;
uploading from the testing device and to the host computer remote from the service site a test result associated with the test specimen and obtained from the testing device, wherein the uploading is conducted across a communications network;
generating the electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen;
obtaining via an electronic signature pad the donor'"'"'s handwritten signature applied by the donor; and
receiving control instructions for the testing device from the host computer.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically testing a fluid specimen, e.g., urine, to indicate the presence of specified chemical components in the specimen. The system preferably utilizes an assaying device comprised of a collection cup and a cap which carries at least one test strip. The device includes an integrated aliquot delivery mechanism actuatable to wet the test strip with an aliquot delivered from the fluid specimen. The assaying device is configured to operate in conjunction with an electronic reader device capable of actuating the aliquot delivery mechanism and reading the reaction of the test strip. A preferred reader device defines a keyed receptacle for accommodating a complementary shaped cup housing in a particular orientation. The reader device is comprised of a camera for capturing the image of a test strip, an actuator for actuating an aliquot delivery mechanism, and a microprocessor/controller for (1) controlling the camera and actuator and (2) processing the image.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A method of testing a specimen, wherein the testing is conducted at a service site using a testing device, the method comprising:
-
enabling entry of donor and client information into a database accessible by a host computer; enabling a site attendant to access at least one of said donor and client information at a local computer remote from said host computer, wherein said local computer is located at the service site; providing a specimen container that carries machine readable identification information; enabling testing of a specimen at the service site using the testing device, wherein the specimen was deposited by a donor into the specimen container and at the service site; associating the machine readable identification information carried by the specimen container with an electronic chain of custody form to positively associate the deposited specimen with the donor; enabling electronic communication of the machine readable identification information to the host computer, wherein the communication is conducted across a communications network; uploading from the testing device and to the host computer remote from the service site a test result associated with the test specimen and obtained from the testing device, wherein the uploading is conducted across a communications network; generating the electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; obtaining via an electronic signature pad the donor'"'"'s handwritten signature applied by the donor; and receiving control instructions for the testing device from the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of enabling testing of a specimen received from a donor at service site using a testing device, the method comprising:
-
enabling entering of donor information into a database; providing a specimen container that carries machine readable identification information., wherein the specimen was deposited by the donor into the specimen container and at the service site; associating the machine readable identification information carried by the specimen container with an electronic chain of custody form to positively associate the deposited specimen with the donor; enabling electronic communication of the machine readable identification information to the host computer, wherein the communication is conducted across a communications network; enabling a site attendant at the respective service site to test the test specimen using the respective testing device; enabling uploading from the testing device and to either or both of a local computer or a host computer a test result associated with the test specimen and obtained from the testing device, wherein the uploading is conducted across a communications network; enabling generating of the electronic chain of custody form that controls a chain of custody procedure for the specimen; enabling receipt of an electronic signature indicative of the donor'"'"'s handwritten signature and applied by the donor via an electronic signature pad; and exercising at least some control of the testing device via the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
Specification