Abstract: The lignin content of wood, paper pulp or other material containing lignin (such as filter paper soaked in black liquor) is more readily determined by flash pyrolysis of the sample at approximately 550.degree. C. in a reducing atmosphere of hydrogen or in an inert atmosphere of helium followed by a rapid analysis of the product gas by a mass spectrometer. The heated pyrolysis unit as fabricated comprises a small platinum cup welded to an electrically-heated stainless steel ribbon with control means for programmed short duration (1.5 sec, approximately) heating and means for continuous flow of hydrogen or helium. The pyrolysis products enter an electron-ionization mode mass spectrometer for spectral evaluation. Lignin content is obtained from certain ratios of integrated ion currents of many mass spectral lines, the ratios being linearly related to the Kappa number of Klason lignin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the photometric determination of protein C and/or protein S activity, especially in plasma, wherein the sample containing the protein C and/or protein S to be determined is incubated with a protein C activator from snake venom with the formation of activated protein C and/or protein S and the decrease of the formation of thrombin from prothrombin brought about by the coagulation factors and the activators thereof is determined by means of a chromogenic thrombin substrate.

Abstract: A disposable, pre-packaged device for conducting an immunoassay procedure that results in the production of separable liquid and solid phases. The device includes a cup having an inlet and presenting a liquid phase receiving chamber. An absorbent for liquid phase materials is in the chamber and a series of ribs hold the absorbent away from the walls of the chamber providing a breathing space extending around the absorbent. A porous capture media element for capturing and displaying solid phase products of the procedure is disposed adjacent the inlet of the device in fluid communication with the absorbent so that in operation the absorbent promotes flow of liquid phase through the capture element. A lid element is mounted on the cup adjacent the inlet and the lid and the cup are held together by welding of annular flanges. The lid element includes an elongated cylindrical member extending through the inlet and defining a throat for directing flow of liquid phase onto the capture media.

Abstract: A method of detecting ethanol in lachrymal fluid is provided in which an open eye of a subject is enclosed in a chamber to define a space above the eye, an ethanol vapor sensor is introduced into the space of the chamber in a spaced relation to the eye; the sensor is calibrated; and the ethanol vapor concentration in the said lachrymal fluid exuded by the eye is measured.

Abstract: A pyrolysis/desorption apparatus for use with chromatographic and spectroscopic detection systems for providing chemical analysis of samples. The device includes a tubular body having an interior reaction chamber which houses a pyrolysis/desorption probe adapted for bearing a coating of the sample composition to be analyzed. A separating tube is positioned within the reaction chamber, at a slightly displaced distance from the probe for receiving reaction product entrained within a carrier gas. A carrier gas inlet is coupled to the tubular body upstream from a portion of the reaction chamber and operates to introduce carrier gas flow through the reaction chamber and toward an opposing end of the tubular body. A carrier gas outlet is located down stream from the reaction chamber for venting carrier gas and entrained reaction products which are not split off by the separating tube.

Abstract: A process for dry sterilization of medical or dental devices and materials in which these materials are subjected to an electrical discharge in a gaseous atmosphere to produce an active low temperature plasma for surface sterilization and treatment of the devices and materials.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for monitoring the quality of water, said process comprising a first heated zone, means for introducing at least a portion of said water into said first heated zone, means for gently evaporating at least part of the water in the first heated zone and passing the vapor into and through a second heated zone, means for maintaining the temperature of said second heated zone in the range of from about 450.degree. to about 1000.degree. C., means for collecting and condensing vapor from said second heated zone to condensed liquid water and means for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion of said condensed liquid water.

Abstract: An analytical method for determining the relative amount of a particular hemoglobin derivative, e.g., glycated hemoglobin, in a blood sample wherein the amounts of both total hemoglobin and the hemoglobin derivative are measured and related mathematically, e.g., as a percentage. The blood sample is treated with the combination of a thiocyanate salt and an oxidant to denature the hemoglobin in the sample and to convert hemoglobin to met-hemoglobin. Met-hemoglobin is measured spectrophotometrically to give the amount of total hemoglobin present, and the denatured hemoglobin derivative can be distinguished and measured by immunoassay. The presence of the oxidant in the denaturant solution has been found to increase the rate of enaturation of hemoglobin thereby reducing the overall assay time and improving the reliability of the determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of iron in body fluids by liberation of the bound iron, reduction to Fe.sup.2+, addition of a color system appropriate for the detection of iron and photometric measurement in a tenside-containing sample solution, wherein a fatty acid polyethylene glycol ester, an alkanol polyglycol ether and at least 1 mole/liter quanidine hydrochloride are added to the sample solution. The present invention also provides a reagent for the determination of iron in serum, containing a reducing agent, a color material system appropriate for the detection of iron and guanidine hydrochloride and at least one tenside, wherein it contains a fatty acid polyethylene glycol ester and a alkanol polyglycol ether.

Abstract: A new and improved method and composition for determining the presence and concentration of low to trace amounts of proteins, such as albumin, in a test sample, such as urine. The method includes using a reagent composition capable of interacting with low to trace amounts of proteins to produce a visually or instrumentally detectable and/or measurable response. The method can be used in wet assays or in dry test strip assays, wherein the reagent composition is incorporating into a carrier matrix. The new and improved reagent composition, comprising a dye, such as a polyhydroxybenzenesulfonephthalein-type indicator, like pyrocatechol violet; a tungstate, such as ammonium tungstate; and, if necessary, a suitable buffer, is incorporated into the carrier matrix to provide sufficient sensitivity to low to trace protein levels and sufficient color resolution between low to trace protein levels, thereby affording an accurate and trustworthy protein assay of test samples having a low protein concentration.

Abstract: Hydrocarbyl polycarboxylates are formed by the reaction of water and a basic neutralizing agent with a hydrocarbyl poly(succinic anhydride) of the formula R(succinic anhydride).sub.x, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group derived from a crude or refined hydrocarbon wax having a melting point less than 150.degree. F. and x is an integer of from 3 to 8. The hydrocarbyl polycarboxylates serve as corrosion inhibitors in aqueous compositions.

Abstract: Perfluoropolyethers having an average molecular weight higher than 390 and respectively having a kinematic viscosity lower than 8.5 cSt (at 20.degree. C.), and such as to distill by not more than 10% at temperatures lower than 140.degree. C., and by at least 90% at temperatures not higher than 260.degree. C., or, in the case in which the perfluoropolyether does not contain CF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 O units, having a viscosity lower than 18 cSt (at 20.degree. C.), and such as to distill by not more than 10% at temperatures lower than 140.degree. C., and by at least 90% at temperatures not higher than 280.degree. C., are used as the only high-temperature and low-temperature working fluid in the Thermal Shock Tests to which the electronic components are submitted, and at the same time are advantageously used in other tests used in the electronic industry, such as the Gross Leak Test and the Burn in Test, allowing the operators in this field to use one single fluid for a whole set of uses.

Abstract: A method for the analysis of a metal selected from gold, palladium and platinum, when present in solution as cyanide complex, using ion-interaction reverse phase liquid chomatography comprising concentrating the metal cyanide complex on a reverse phase concentrator column, washing the concentrator column to reduce the concentration of interfering species, stripping the metal cyanide complex onto an analytical reverse phase column, eluting the metal cyanide complex from the column, detecting and determining the concentration of the metal in solution by reference to suitable standards. This method has particular utility in the analysis of gold, platinum and palladium bearing cyanide solutions that arise in the carbon-in-pulp method of gold recovery. An apparatus which permits the rapid, accurate analysis of samples using this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the detection of a predetermined substance in a fluid is described. The method uses a test strip that is stable to storage and accelerated keeping test conditions. A sample of a fluid containing an unknown quantity of a predetermined substance is contacted with a support having thereon a reagent layer wherein the reagent layer contains a dialyzed latex polymer and a reagent detection system which reacts with the substance to provide a detectable change. The detectable change can be determined qualitatively or quantitatively to determine the presence or the amount of the predetermined substance.

Abstract: System for quantifying components in a liquid sample, for example white blood cells in blood, based on use of substantially non-compressible beads of uniform diameter as spacers between a microscope slide and cover slip. The distance between the slide and cover slip is determined by the diameter of the beads, and thus the volume of the sample being viewed can be precisely determined. Prior to use, the beads may be adhered to a microscope slide or stirring rod in a dried adhesive matrix which is soluble in the liquid sample to be examined.

Abstract: An article for washing automated immunoassay apparatus probe is provided in the form of a plug member with first and second chambers. The first chamber is defined by a inner wall and a bottom surface which when positioned below a probe of a clinical analysis apparatus provides for recirculation of liquid dispensed from the probe back along the outer surface of the probe to remove residual sample from the probe surface prior to conducting subsequent tests with the probe. In the preferred embodiment of the plug, the second chamber is provided with a plurality of passages for drainage of fluid to a reagent waste container which, in the preferred embodiment, incorporates the plug member at the orifice thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection and quantification of lipoprotein(a) present in a fluid sample which method is not sensitive to the presence of plasminogen and which comprises contacting the fluid sample with anti-apo(a) antibody and forming a first immobilized complex of lipoprotein(a)/anti-apo(a) first antibody, contacting said first complex with anti-apo B second antibody and thereafter quantitating Lp(a) based on the amount of bound anti-apo B antibody. Immobilized rabbit anti-human apo(a) antibody can be employed as the first, capture, antibody and goat-anti-human apo B antibody as the second antibody. The amount of anti-apo B antibody bound is quantitated through binding of a third antibody/enzyme conjugate, e.g., a rabbit anti-goat antibody/alkaline phosphatase conjugate, followed by reaction with a suitable enzyme substrate such as paranitrophenyl phosphate.

Abstract: A process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials in which these materials are subjected to an electrical discharge in a gaseous atmosphere to produce an active plasma for surface sterilization of the devices and materials.

Abstract: A fluorescence-labeled Fab' is produced by causing a fluorescent substance to react with a Fab', dialyzing the resultant reaction solution, allowing the dialyzate to stand at rest thereby effecting reversion of unconjugated Fab' into F(ab').sub.2 and giving rise to a reaction solution containing a fluorescence-labeled Fab' and F(ab').sub.2 and collecting the fluorescence-labeled Fab' from the reaction solution.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the quality of water, said apparatus comprising a first heated zone, means for introducing at least a portion of said water into said first heated zone, means for gently evaporating at least part of the water in the first heated zone and passing the vapor into and through a second heated zone, means for maintaining the temperature of said second heated zone in the range of from about 450.degree. to about 1000.degree. C., means for collecting and condensing vapor from said second heated zone to condensed liquid water and means for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion of said condensed liquid water.