Abstract: A microscope inspection slide including at least one examination chamber formed by bonding together a base plate and a cover plate. The base plate having a chamber floor surface raised above a deck surface on the base plate, and the cover plate having a roof surface with a depth control ridge positioned about a portion of the edge of the chamber roof surface. Bonding the cover plate to the base plate forms an examination chamber with the distance between the roof surface and floor surface maintained constant, and entrapped gases and excess fluid allowed to drain from the examination chamber through notches in the depth control ridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a sample of liquid for examination and analysis. The apparatus includes a tube closed at one end and open at the other, and a pipette dimensioned for insertion into the tube. The pipette has a sealing surface which is slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the tube. Protruding from the sealing surface is a rib which is aligned along the longitudinal axes of the pipette and which engages a portion of the inside wall of the tube to maintain the pipette in the tube.

Abstract: Methods of making and using a stable diagnostic reagent for use in serological testing procedures, and in particular, non-auto-agglutinating polystyrene latex particles with surfaces containing a protein, substantially methylated serum albumin, and a bound, negatively-charged polymeric compound. The particles may be sensitized with a number of negatively-charged compounds, including proteins, polysaccharides and various cell nuclear components. When the coated latex particles are adsorbed with native deoxyribonucleic acid, the resultant immunological reagent can be used to detect certain autoimmune diseases, particularly serum lupus erythematosus.

Abstract: A method and a stable reagent for the detection of pathogenic bacterial infections in humans, and in particular, a stable diagnostic composition comprising non-degraded streptolysin-O protein directly adsorbed onto polystyrene latex particles and method of use are disclosed. The reagent may be prepared by adsorbing one or more layers of the streptolysin-O toxin onto the surface of the latex particle, effecting an intermolecular cross-linkage of the streptolysin-O, and further stabilizing the reagent by the addition of a bacteriostatic agent. Accordingly, the present invention provides a significant advance regarding the qualitative determinations of streptococci infections by providing a stable diagnostic reagent and method for such determinations.

Abstract: An improved transparent slide, and method of manufacture, the slide having a plurality of covered chambers defined between generally parallel and uniformly spaced sidewalls integral to the slide and having a channeled configuration for inducing a liquid specimen into the chambers, wherein the size of the chamber and the thickness of the side walls is significantly reduced from prior structures. An improved molding method adapted for producing the thinner slide sidewalls, the method including the use of a plurality of injection ports for delivering molten plastic to a mold and locating of a plurality of symmetrical dams in the mold that act to uniformly distribute and improve the flow of molten plastic near chamber forming portions of the mold.

Abstract: Microspores derived from flowering plants are dispersed in fluids to simulate leukocytes. Reconstituted body fluids utilized as standards in clinical examination of fluids such as urine contain a known quantity of microspores to simulate leukocytes when examined under a high power field. Microspores utilized to simulate leukocytes have a particle size of between 10 microns and 25 microns and are stained utilizing the same stains and techniques utilized for staining leukocytes. Microspores derived from the Paper Mulberry tree are highly preferred for use as leukocyte resembling particles.