Abstract: A composition which reduces the turbidity of samples of artificial or naturally occurring biological fluids comprising:a buffering agent;a nonionic surfactant;a lipolytic enzyme; and water.The composition provides a catalyst for and agents which hydrolyze triglycerides present in the sample to glycerol and free fatty acids. Also present in the composition is a fatty acid scavenging agent or agents to render the catalyzed fatty acids water-soluble. The fatty acid scavenging agent may be cyclodextrin, albumin or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A holding device for seeding cells on a surface of a prosthesis including chamber means for partially defining a first chamber with the first surface, and sealing means for providing a seal between the chamber means and the prosthesis so as to isolate the seeding surface from another portion of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reacting materials to provide a product. In a reactor (20) having an inner column (A) and an adjacent coaxial outer column (B), and having an upper zone (II) and an adjacent lower zone (I), both zones (I,II) are filled with a liquid (C). A gas (4) is fed into the liquid (C) at the lower end of the upper zone (II). The liquid (C) and a part of the gas (4) are circulated generally upward in one column (A or B) and generally downward in the other column (B or A) in the upper zone (II). Particles (15) of a solid substance are provided in a column (A or B) in the lower zone (I). The liquid (C) is circulated between the lower zone (I) and the upper zone (II) in such manner that the liquid (C) contacts and fluidizes the solid particles (15) while confining them to the lower zone (I), while the gas (4) contacts the liquid (C) and is confined to the upper zone (II).

Abstract: A method is provided which can be used to accurately determine the boiling points of middle to heavy petroleum residues (AEBP of 250-1400 degrees F.) using temperatures well below their decomposition temperatures. The method involves the use of a capillary supercritical fluid chromatography apparatus, and consists of a calibration run followed by a measurement run. First, a temperature T1 (between 100 degrees C. and 180 degrees C.) is established in a gas chromatographic (GC) oven of the SFC apparatus, and that temperature is maintained throughout the method. Then a calibration run is performed on a calibration standard using a pressure program, and a calibration function is calculated using the known boiling points of the calibration standard. Then the test sample is run using the same pressure program and the calibration function is used to calculate the boiling point distribution of the test sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and materials for the detection of ketone and aldehyde analytes in fluid samples by means of reacting analyte containing samples with a first solid matrix material to which a nitroprusside salt is coupled and a second solid matrix material to which an amine is covalently coupled. Methods and devices are also provided for ascertaining the fat catabolism effects of a weight loss dietary regimen comprising determining the breath acetone concentration of the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of a system in a blood centrifuge for separating the constituents (fractions) of the whole blood taken from a donor "in vivo" and provided with anticoagulants. A control is provided which as input quantity includes a signal on the flow rate of the full blood and on the output side is connected to the speed setting means for the blood centrifuge. The transfer function of the control is so defined that on a change of the full blood flow the speed of rotation is set so that the volume ratios of the blood fractions to the full blood remain constant. Preferably, the output signal of the control is proportional to the square root of the full blood flow. The control is preferably formed by a microprocessor.

Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with arrangements which are disposed on a preparative route leading to water analysis from extraction of water samples. Specifically, an injection unit for injecting water samples into a combustion chamber is improved, wherein a slide block type is employed, but conventional trouble of accumulation of involatile matters around injection site is avoided by change of designs with a slide block and an injection pipe. Next, a micro syringe unit for extraction, measurement of water samples is improved by arranging two syringes connected in branch, wherein a second syringe is intended to feed a quantity of water to dilute a target sample water which will be extracted to a first syringe and in operation, the second dilution water will be influenced to the target first water on route leading to the first syringe. Third, a calibration unit is introduced to mix a reference water sample which has been known of its volume and its concentration into a target water sample to be analyzed.

Abstract: An apparatus for fractionating a cell suspension, which comprises a casing having a substantially columnar space in the interior, which is substantially closed to the space outside the casing, a liquid-treating chamber in the casing adapted to be filled with a cell suspension passing through this liquid-treating chamber, a separating membrane having a separating wall surface inside the casing and disposed to separate and cause a cell component to pass through the separating membrane, a rotary body rotatably arranged in the liquid-treating chamber, a driving mechanism for rotating and driving the rotary body, a cell suspension introduction path, a treated liquid discharge path, and a separated component discharge path.

Abstract: A universal blood diluent for use in hematology analysis is the subject of this invention. The diluent consists of an aqueous solution of 0.4-1.5% by weight of either Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 or NaNO.sub.3 or a combination of the two. Also included is 0.1-0.4% by weight of a salt of the formula XH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 where X is either Na or K and 0.1-2.4% by weight of a salt of the formula X.sub.2 HPO where X is Na or K. The phosphate salts may be hydrous or anhydrous. A mixture of Na and K phosphate salts may also been employed. The salts should be present in a ratio of from 1:1 to 1:6 (by weight), XH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 :X.sub.2 HPO.sub.4. 0.1 to 1% by weight of one or both of NaCl and KCl is also included. The Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and NaNO.sub.3 should be present in a ratio of at least 1:1 (by weight) relative to the chloride salt. The pH of the diluent should be within the range of 6.0-8.0 and it should have an osmotic strength of 200-400 milliosmoles.

Abstract: During an initial priming procedure, the blood draw/return needle(s) fluid flow system is primed with a nonblood fluid (e.g. a saline solution) having known fluid viscosity. The pressure drop occurring across the needle orifice(s) is determined at a knonw flow rate for this predetermined fluid of known viscosity. During subsequent blood constitutent processing operations, the pressure drop across the needle orifice is measured for a second known flow rate of blood constituents. From these measured relative values of pressure and flow rates, the blood viscosity value can be calculated and used to estimate (e.g. via a table look-up or analytical calculation procedure) a hematocrit value of the blood constitutents as a function of the measured blood viscosity value.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for analyzing closely adjacent minerals in specimens of naturally occuring minerals. A sectioned mineral sample is mounted on a glass slide and placed in a vacuum chamber. An optical microscope is used to examine the sample through a window in the vacuum chamber. A laser beam is used for pyrolyzing a portion of the specimen causing gases to be released. Gases released from the mineral are analyzed by a mass spectrometer. Relative movement of the sample and laser beam, pyrolysis of target samples, and analysis of released gases can be automated.

Abstract: Species-linked diamine triacetic acids of the formula ##STR1## wherein T is an organic species containing at least one amine, hydroxyl, or thiol functional group, L is the residue of at least one of those functional groups and R is a two or more atom long covalent bridge, are disclosed. Methods for their preparation, for the preparation of metal chelates from them and for the use of the chelates are also disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the metal ions employed in the formation of the chelates are rare earth metal ions capable of forming fluorescent chelates which can in turn be employed in fluoroassay techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to dispersion polymers, processes for their preparation and their use, the dispersion polymers being obtained by a seed polymerization process in the presence of seed latices with a high residual monomer content and a monomer mixture of at least one compound of the formula I ##STR1## wherein n=1-6; R.sub.1 =H or CH.sub.3 andR.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are identical or different, whereR.sub.2 and R.sub.3 =-(CH.sub.2).sub.m -CH.sub.3, and m=0-7, or ##STR2## or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 =an aryl radical, and if appropriate acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid and monomers from which the seed latex is prepared.The invention furthermore relates to the biologically active latex conjugates which are obtained using the dispersion polymers and are particularly suitable for serological and immunological determination methods.

Abstract: An isotonic multipurpose blood diluent, and a method for use of this diluent with a weak lysing reagent system which is especially suitable for routine enumeration of traditional hemogram values, and also the determination of lymphoid-myeloid populations of leukocytes, particularly in automatic particle counting systems.This blood diluent is capable of affording accurate, reproducible test results. It is an osmotically balanced aqueous solution of preselected pH containing Procaine hydrochloride for maintaining erythrocyte morphology during operation, N-(2-acetamido)iminodiacetic acid (ADA) as a blood cell stabilizing agent, and bacteriostatic agents including sodium 1-hydroxypyridine-2-thione, and dimethylolurea which, together with the ADA, allow preferential determination of myeloid-lymphoid leukocytes, and other hematological values.The lysing agent is a mixture of an aqueous solution of at least one quaternary ammonium salt having surface active properties, and an alkali metal cyanide.

Abstract: A packaged single-phase reference liquid comprising a gas and liquid-impermeable sealed container and a reference liquid containing a highly diffusible gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing fluid inclusions. A sectioned mineral sample is mounted on a glass slide and placed in a vacuum chamber. An optical microscope is used to examine the sample through a window in the vacuum chamber to identify a single fluid inclusion. A linear rotary feedthrough includes a diamond stylus on the end thereof that is received in the vacuum chamber. The feedthrough is manipulated by the operator to urge the diamond stylus against the identified fluid inclusion thereby rupturing the same. The gases, including evaporated volatile liquids, released from the inclusion are analyzed by a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Method for dectecting the presence of impurities in an oil sample is provided. The method involves the steps of introducing an oil sample into a first flexible container, breaking the capsule within it by squeezing the flexible container in the vicinity of the capsule, transferring the aqueous layer to the second container, and breaking the capsule within the second container in the same manner. A chemical reaction occurs in the second container indicating whether the impurity is present at a given threshold concentration.

Abstract: A biphasic culturing apparatus which employs multiple solid nutrient media in a single vessel includes an enclosed container which has an opening defined in one of its surfaces for introducing material into the container. At least one container surface includes a flat, transparent portion for viewing the solid and liquid nutrient media from outside the container. A first partition inside the container divides the interior volume thereof into upper and lower portions, and at least one second partition divides the upper container portion into a plurality of compartmental volumes. A liquid nutrient medium is located in the lower container portion, and a solid nutrient medium is contained in each compartmental volume. The first and second partitions are configured so that each solid nutrient medium may be separately innoculated with the liquid medium.

Abstract: A diagnostic test device for detecting the presence of a component in a liquid sample comprises a liquid impervious receptacle vented by a liquophobic element. The receptacle houses an absorbent which contacts and draws liquid through a microporous reaction medium, gas being displaced from the absorbent during the liquid absorption. The liquophobic element vents the displaced gas while ensuring the containment of liquids within the receptacle. The diagnostic test device may also comprise a cover having an aperture communicating with the microporous medium for the application of liquids thereon while providing a liquid impervious seal with a wall of the receptacle. The cover may also force the microporous medium into positive contact with the absorbent to promote absorption.

Abstract: A device is formed with a closed chamber which contains a test serum, and which chamber permits the insertion of a blood sample to be tested. The blood sample and test serum react within the chamber, and the device includes optical elements, such as a magnifying lens, so as to view reaction test results. The test serum may be in a liquid or dry form.