A blood sample 12 is received into the blood separation and testing device 22, the blood separation and testing device 22 may be inserted into a processing and analyzing instrument 200 that processes and analyzes the blood sample 12. First, the blood separation and testing device 22 is spun at a high rate and the plasma portion 16 is separated from the cellular portion 14 in the separation chamber 108. Then, the speed is slowed down to drive the plasma portion 16 to the plasma chamber 112 in a central portion of the blood separation and testing device 22. The plasma portion 16 can then be processed inline through the diagnostic portion 114 of the blood separation and testing device 22. Since the blood separation and testing device 22 may be of a compact disc format, the detection zone 116 is read by the internal laser of the processing and analyzing instrument 200 while it is still spinning or running.
