Packaged fluid receptacles include: a plurality of fluid receptacles
arranged one next to the other to form a composite structure having a top
surface, bottom surface and end walls at a first end and a second end and
having a longitudinal axis which extends through the end walls; and a
removable support which contacts at least the top surface, bottom surface
and end walls, the removable support including an attachment for applying
a force to remove the support, preferably in a direction along the
longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the support is one-piece
and has a single attachment. Preferably, the packaged fluid receptacles
are cuvettes usable in a clinical analyzer. A method for inserting a
plurality of cuvettes into a clinical analyzer includes: providing
packaged cuvettes as described above; inserting the packaged cuvettes
into a cuvette loading station of a clinical analyzer in a manner in
which the tab remains accessible to application of a force; securing the
packaged cuvettes in the loading station; applying a force to the tab to
peel back the support from the cuvettes; and removing the support to
provide individual cuvettes.