Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electrode suitable for the electrochemical regeneration of the co-enzymes NADH and NADPH. The electrode has imparted on its surface a mediator function which is a 3-phenylimino-3H-phenothiazine or a 3-phenylimino-3H-phenoxazine. Also disclosed is a method of improving the performance of a biochemical fuel cell which operates with a dehydrogenase as a catalyst and a co-enzyme as the energy-transferring redox couple which involves using the improved electrode in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A sensor dispensing instrument includes a sensor magazine that contains a plurality of blood glucose sensors disposed in sensor slots. Each of the sensor slots is in fluid communication with a desiccant cavity in which desiccant material is disposed. The front and rear walls of the sensor magazine are sealed with burst foils so as to seal the sensor slots and the desiccant cavities. The sensor instrument has an outer housing with a laterally extending magazine opening adapted to receive the sensor magazine. A pivot rod is moved through the magazine and an indexing wheel into an operating position with a detent arm on the instrument housing engaging a detent groove on the magazine to position the magazine in a sensor feeding position. Once so positioned, a sensor push rod is pushed forward resulting in the push rod piercing the rear burst foil and engaging a sensor in one of the sensor slots to thereby push the sensor out through the front burst foil and into a testing position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode suitable for the electrochemical regeneration of the co-enzymes NADH and NADPH. The electrode has imparted on its surface a mediator function which is a 3-methylene-3H-phenothiazine or a 3-methylene-3H-phenoxazine compound.

Abstract: A photometer readhead is used to measure concentrations within a test sample of preselected color-developed analytes having different characteristic absorption bands. The photometer readhead comprises an artificial light source for illuminating the test sample, a plurality of light-emitting diodes for detecting light transmitted through or reflected from the test sample, and a housing assembly for enclosing and supporting the plurality of light-emitting diodes. The plurality of light-emitting diodes have spectral responses encompassing respective ones of the different characteristic absorption bands of the preselected color-developed analytes.

Abstract: A dual beam tunable spectrometer comprises a radiation source, generating means, a detector, and a shutter arrangement. The radiation source generates an incident radiative beam. The generating means, which includes an acousto-optic tunable filter, receives the incident radiative beam and generates therefrom a reference beam and a sample beam. The detector detects at least part of the reference beam, and detects at least part of the sample beam emitted from a sample following illumination of the sample with the sample beam. The shutter arrangement includes a first shutter selectively permitting passage therethrough of the part of the reference beam and a second shutter selectively permitting passage therethrough of the part of the sample beam. The shutter arrangement opens the first shutter and closes the second shutter to permit the detector to detect only the part of the reference beam.

Abstract: The present invention involves the use of certain indole sulfonates in a test control method for the Ehrlich reagent used in diagnostic tests for urobilinogen. The indole sulfonates exhibit unique solubility characteristics which facilitate their application to dry carrier matrixes with subsequent rehydration during their use in the test control method.

Abstract: A method for the determination of protein and creatinine in urine. An organic acid, in the form of its lithium salt, is dried onto a suitable substrate in the second reaction zone of a reaction vessel having a first reaction zone for the immunometric determination of the protein and a second reaction zone for the colorimetric determination of creatinine. After completion of the immunometric determination of the protein the dried organic salt is contacted with the urine containing creatinine resulting in solubilization of the organic acid salt as creatinine reactive reagent thereby facilitating the colorimetric determination of the creatinine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of inhibiting procaryotic microbial growth which method involves adding a synergistically effective combination of a lantibiotic and lysozyme to an environment in which such microbial growth is to be inhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a serum free control reagent formulation useful for the determination of a pre-selected analyte. The formulation involves an aqueous solution of a predetermined amount of the analyte together with a polymerized quaternary salt of di- or mono- allyl, di- or tri- alkyl ammonium characterized by the formulae: ##STR1## where R is straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is a number of at least 9 and .theta. represents a counteranion. The formulation typically contains a buffer to maintain its pH at a level of about 7.5 and a preservative.

Abstract: The high spatial resolution area array detection readhead and method for using the same involve modifying an existing area array detection readhead to provide improved spatial resolution within the sample detection area. One modification involves reducing the field of view of the area array detection readhead. The reduction in the field of view increases pixel spatial resolution because the same number of pixels in the area array detector cover a smaller area. This reduction can be achieved by changing the magnification of the lens of the area array detection readhead or by moving the sample detection area closer to the area array detection readhead. The next modification involves properly aligning the reduced field of view within the sample detection area to take advantage of the improved pixel resolution.

Abstract: A method of making and an amperometric electrode are provided. An electrode carbon ink is applied to a polymer substrate to form a working electrode. The substrate carrying the working electrode is placed in a gas plasma cleaner, such as an oxygen or nitrogen plasma, to clean the working electrode. A high radio frequency signal excites the gas plasma for a short exposure time in a range between 10 seconds and 30 seconds. Then a reagent layer is deposited to the plasma treated working electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the recovery of cholesterol rich fractions from mammalian serum or plasma. The process involves adsorbing the fraction on precipitated silica gel agglomerates which are then separated from the serum or plasma whereupon the adsorbed cholesterol rich fraction is eluted from the silica and recovered.

Abstract: A dry phase device separates high density lipoprotein (HDL) from a blood (serum or plasma) sample. The device contains a fluid permeable material having dispersed therein finely divided, porous silica or silicate particles as selective absorbant for HDL. By combining the device with a second layer designed to remove very low density lipoproteins/chylomicrons from the blood, and a third layer containing means for quantitative cholesterol detection, there is provided a test device for the direct determination of low density lipoproteins cholesterol.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement to the assay for protein in urine involving the use of a molybdate or tungstate salt and an indicator dye which forms a complex with molybdate or tungstate whose absorption band is shifted in the presence of protein. The improvement involves the use of an ionizable phosphate containing compound characterized by the formula: ##STR1## to reduce background interference caused by constituents normally present in urine.

Abstract: Disclosed is the use of 9H-acridin-2-one and 11H-dibenz-[b,f][1,4]oxazepin-8-one compounds as mediators suitable for the electrochemical regeneration of the co-enzymes dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) or analogs thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the determination of urinary protein and creatinine in a single reaction vessel using a continuous process. The method involves adjusting the pH to a level suitable for carrying out an immuno assay for the protein and making such a determination by an immuno agglutination technique. Raising the pH to a level suitable for determining the creatinine quickly dissipates the cloudiness caused by the agglutination reaction, so that the creatinine determination can be carried out without delay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a number of innovative electrophilic substitution reactions involving 2,5-dithienylpyrrole (2,5-DTP). More specifically, these reactions are used in the synthesis of monomers for preparing functionalized conducting organic polymers.The electrophilic substitution reactions in this invention are accomplished under conditions not requiring the use of N-1 pyrrole blocking groups to direction reaction at the pyrrole C-3 position. This is because the steric bulk of the 2,5-dithienyl groups prevent N-acylation and therefore direct reactions with electrophiles at the pyrrole C-3 position.The reaction conditions chosen have also demonstrated a greater regioselectively towards functionalization at the pyrrole 3-position than the basic reaction conditions suggested in the prior art. This result may be explained by an activation of the pyrrole 3-position towards electrophilic substitution. This is attributed to an electron donating resonance contribution of the 2,5 thienyl groups.