MULTICUVETTE ROTOR FOR USE IN A CENTRIFUGAL ANALYZER

A multicuvette rotor for use in a centrifugal analyzer defines a circumferential array of elongated radially extending cuvettes. The rotor includes a one-piece body member of material that is transparent at analytical wavelengths and has a planar upper surface and defines a circumferential array of elongated cuvette recesses, and a one-piece cover member of similarly transparent material that has a planar lower surface parallel to the planar upper surface of the body member. A continuous seal extends around each cuvette recess between the planar upper and lower surfaces to define the circumferential array of analytical cuvettes. Each elongated cuvette defines a first chamber for receiving a first constituent with a loading port in the cover member through which the first constituent is introduced into the first chamber region, a second chamber region for receiving a second constituent with a loading port in the cover member through which the second constituent is introduced into the second chamber region, divider structure between the first and second chamber regions provides a transfer passage between the first and second chamber regions through which the first constituent may be flowed into the second chamber region for forming a reaction product with the second constituent, and structure defining an analysis region adjacent the radially outer wall of the cuvette where. the resulting reaction product is subjected to analysis. Extending along the top of each sidewall of each cuvette between the loading ports of the first and second chamber regions is barrier structure that fills the junction between the cover and body members so that there is no capillary channel at that junction and premature mixing of the constituents due to wicking movement of a constituent stored in one of the chamber regions to the other chamber region along that junction is inhibited.