Abstract:
Spontaneous aspecific coloration in so-called Trinder reagents which can alter subsequent colorimetric determinations is inhibited by adding compounds of the chelating agent class to the solution. The resultant compositions contain a peroxidase enzyme, a phenylpyrazone derivative, a compound of phenolic or aromatic amine structure and a stabilizer. Preferred stablizers are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA).
Abstract:
The invention relates to the formulation of combined-composition electrolyte and pH buffers for use as standardization solutions in analyzers for clinical chemistry which simultaneously use more than one ion-selective electrode plus more than one standard solution. Each ion is present in the standard solution in stoichiometric quantity such as to compensate the effect due to the incomplete dissociation of the salt used, and to obtain an activity coefficient and liquid junction potential such as to reduce the error generated by the use of standardization solutions which do not take account of these quantities. Buffer solutions are described having a pH within the range of 6-8 and an electrolyte composition (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺ and Cl⁻) which reflect the composition of the biological liquid to be analyzed, namely whole blood, plasma or serum, in equilibrium with different partial pressures of oxygen and CO₂.
Abstract:
Electrodes for the measurement of pCO2 and/or pO2 are calibrated with an exposed aliquot of a calibration liquid. A constituent such as a ferrioxalate salt in the calibration liquid is converted to the gas in a reproducible concentration by exposure of the aliquot to light. In some instances, the calibration liquid is equilibrated with air prior to exposure. Some mechanisms of light generation of carbon dioxide also consume oxygen, so as to depress the pO2 value by a reproducible amount. The use of two different calibration liquids enables both one-point and two-point calibration of the Clark oxygen electrode and the Severinghaus pCO2 electrode of a blood gas instrument. Aqueous acidic ferrioxalate compositions are disclosed for use as calibrants of pCO2 and of pO2 after photodecomposition. Compositions with high iron(III) to oxalate molar ratios (e.g., 5:1 to 100:1 with 0.3 to 15 millimolar oxalate) produce carbon dioxide on exposure without oxygen consumption. Compositions with low iron(III) to oxalate ratios (e.g., 1:1000 to 1:2000) with 0.1 to 5 millimolar iron(III) produce carbon dioxide on exposure with concurrent oxygen consumption. Use of the two types of compositions enables calibration values to be established with varying pCO2 values and with, respectively, high and low pO2 values.
Abstract:
An electrochemical cell for measuring the activity of one or more ionic species such as pNa, pK, pCa, pNH₄, pCl etc. consisting of two sensors selective to the actual ionic species, one of which is used as the reference electrode and the other as the measurement electrode. The two sensors are chosen preferably identical. The electrode used as the reference electrode is brought into contact with a solution of known ionic activity and an ionic strength which is greater, equal to or substantially greater than that of the unknown solution to be measured. The measurment electrode is brought into contact with the unknown solution to be measured, while a third electrode is used purely for instrumental reasons and does not participate in the measurement.
Abstract:
A heating and temperature-control device for biological sample containers comprises an assembly of lamps emitting infrared radiation within a wavelength of 1-5.5 micrometers and heating said containers by irradiation, and a sensor for infrared radiation of wavelength 7-14 micrometers which picks up the emission from the containers which derives from their heating. The signal obtained from said sensor is used to control the lamp emission in such a manner as to obtain the required container temperature and then keep it constant.
Abstract:
Description of a method for the potentiometric determination of the total calcium (II) content in biological fluids (serum, plasma and urine) based on dilution of the sample. The results obtained, when compared to the usual methods in current use, show the validity of the proposed method; furthermore, the pH of the buffer solution used for diluting the sample guarantees optimum operating conditions as well as long working life of the potentiometric sensing elements and maximum reliability when compared to other methods employing acidification of the sample.
Abstract:
Liquid and lyophilized reagents for determining prothrombin time and/or fibrinogen levels in a plasma sample are disclosed. The reagents preferably are based on recombinant rabbit tissue factor. Also disclosed is a purified preparation of recombinant rabbit tissue factor having unique properties, and a novel method for making PT reagents.