Adapter for holding a sample container to facilitate sensing of liquid level in the sample container

An adapter (10) for holding a sample container (20) includes a main body portion and a tapered body portion that forms a continuation of the main body portion. The tapered body portion includes a mouth opening that is of lesser diameter than the diameter of the main body portion. The mouth opening of the adapter (10) is sized to provide direct support of a sample container (20) which holds a liquid sample. During liquid level sensing ultrasonic waves from an ultrasound detector (100) are reflected back to the sound detector as echoes from the lip flange of the sample container (20) and from the liquid level within the sample container (20). The tapered surface of the adapter (10) deflects sound echoes away from the sound detector. The adapter (10) is thus invisible to the ultrasound detector. The echo from the liquid level is a variable duration echo and the echo from the lip flange of the sample container is a fixed duration echo that is always of lesser duration than the variable duration echo. Thus the sound detector can easily recognize the liquid level echo and convert the characteristics of the liquid level echo to a discernible liquid level.