System and method for determining fill volume in a container

Abstract

A system and method for detecting a pathogen in a sample is provided, the system capable of measuring the volume of a sample in a container through the use of various measurement technologies, thereby ensuring that a user is aware of volumes not meeting specification and/or allowing correction of results to account for the out-of-specification sample.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system for detecting a pathogen in a sample, comprising a plurality of sample containers comprising a growth medium and adapted to receive a biological fluid sample; an incubation and measurement module comprising a plurality of individual openings, each opening adapted to receive one of the plurality of sample containers; a weight variation sensor, separate from or part of said incubation and measurement module, the weight variation sensor adapted to determine a sample volume in said sample containers; and one or more interfaces adapted to perform one or more tasks selected from the group consisting of: (a) notifying a user if said sample containers are not within predetermined sample volume specifications, (b) accepting instructions on subsequent handling of said sample containers that are not within predetermined sample volume specifications, and (c) prompting user to place said sample container into a test rack of said incubation and measurement module if sample volume is within sample volume specification wherein the weight variation sensor: i) determines a prior container weight, wherein the prior container weight is a container weight before the sample is added thereto; ii) stores the prior container weight; iii) determines a sample container weight after the sample is added to the sample container; iv) subtracts the prior container weight from the sample container weight to obtain a weight difference; and iv) calculates a sample volume from the weight difference. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said weight variation sensor is part of said incubation and measurement module. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said weight variation sensor is separate from said incubation and measurement module. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising a computer for notifying the user if said sample containers are not within predetermined sample volume specifications and for prompting the user for a response. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the prior container weight is determined by reading a barcode on the sample container. 
     
     
         31 . The system of claim  1  wherein said one or more interfaces are at least one component selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a barcode reader.