초록 ▼

The precision in reflectance or absorption measurements used to determine the presence and concentration of a component in an assay liquid is unexpectedly increased to essentially eliminate the variability of different reactant carriers and variability in reflectance or absorption instruments by inc

The precision in reflectance or absorption measurements used to determine the presence and concentration of a component in an assay liquid is unexpectedly increased to essentially eliminate the variability of different reactant carriers and variability in reflectance or absorption instruments by including, either within the reactant carrier or within the assay liquid sample, in addition to a primary color forming or color changing indicator, a secondary inert colorant compound or dye having a light absorption wavelength peak separated from a light absorption wavelength peak of the primary indicator or chromogen by at least 80 nm. To achieve the full advantage of the present invention, the colorant material or marker should be inert to the reactant system in the carrier and should be inert to the assay liquid to provide a light reflectance or light absorption response essentially distinct from the light reflectance response of the primary chromogen to compensate for measurement variability. In this manner, any inaccuracy obtained from a reflectance or absorption measurement of the secondary colorant marker, incorporated into the carrier or into the assay sample in known concentration, can be used for compensation of a reflectance or absorption measurement of the primary color formed as a result of interaction or reaction of the test sample with the reagent composition, and, therefore, the concentration measurement of a predetermined component of the assay liquid.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of measuring the concentration of a predetermined chemical compound in an assay liquid comprising: distributing a predetermined quantity of a reagent composition into a liquid-absorbent or liquid-adsorbent reagent carrier, wherein the reagent composition includes a compound capable of inter

A method of measuring the concentration of a predetermined chemical compound in an assay liquid comprising: distributing a predetermined quantity of a reagent composition into a liquid-absorbent or liquid-adsorbent reagent carrier, wherein the reagent composition includes a compound capable of interaction with a predetermined componet of the assay liquid to cause a detectable change in the light reflectance of the carrier at a predetermined wavelength by formation of color or a color change in a primary chromogen; said reactant composition also including a secondary, inert colorant marker material having a light absorption wavelength peak different from a light absorption wavelength peak of the primary chromogen by at least 80 nm; drying the carrier; contacting a surface of the dried carrier with the assay liquid to cause color changes detectable at wavelengths characteristic to both the primary chromogen and the secondary colorant in said carrier; detecting the light refelctance of the carrier at a wavelength characteristic of the light reflectance of the primary chromogen, and detecting the light reflectance of the carrier at a wavelength characteristic of the light reflectance of the secondary, inert colorant marker material; determining the concentration of said predetermined chemical compound based upon the degree of color change in the primary chromogen; and correcting the concentration determination based upon the light reflectance measurement for the secondary chromogen.