Abstract: A test element (10) used to determine concentration levels of free and total chlorine in a water sample comprises a test pad (12) adhered to a substrate (14), wherein the test pad (12) is impregnated with a stabilized DPD solution. The test pad (12) is color responsive to different concentration levels of chlorine in the water and compared to a color chart to determine the level of free chlorine and/or total chlorine in the water. The stabilized DPD solution may include N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxalate salt, a polymeric anhydride such as a methyl-vinyl anhydride and an organo-sulfate such as dimethylsulfone.

Abstract: A test element (10) used to determine concentration levels of free and total chlorine in a water sample comprises a test pad (12) adhered to a substrate (14), wherein the test pad (12) is impregnated with a stabilized DPD solution. The test pad (12) is color responsive to different concentration levels of chlorine in the water and compared to a color chart to determine the level of free chlorine and/or total chlorine in the water. The stabilized DPD solution may include N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxalate salt, a polymeric anhydride such as a methyl-vinyl anhydride and an organo-sulfate such as dimethyisulfone.

Abstract: A system and method of transforming information between UCS and EBCDIC-friendly representations comprises a two-stage transformation process using a first stage which transforms a UCS string to and from an intermediate form string, referred to as an I8-string. A second stage transforms the I8-string to and from a string in an EBCDIC-friendly representation. The two stages employ transformations which result in control characters and other selected characters being represented as single octets in the I8 and EBCDIC-friendly strings and the transformations are symmetric in both stages. The second stage can produce EBCDIC-friendly strings in one or more selected EBCDIC encodings.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonenzymatic method useful for the semiquantitative determination of glucose, a test composition and test device. Glucose concentration in an aqueous test sample can be determined by preparing a test solution by contacting an aqueous test sample and a dihydroxide component, at an initial pH above 6.5, capable of forming a complex with glucose which complex formation releases a proton, and determining the final pH of the test solution. The invention also provides a self-indicating device format which allows the determination of glucose concentration by merely counting the number of pads which have changed color. No comparison to a color chart is required. The glucose test of the present invention is free of the interferences found in enzymatic glucose tests.

Abstract: A method and composition for the enzymatic assay of a liquid test sample, such as urine or serum, for a specific analyte, such as glucose. The method utilizes a dry phase test strip comprising a carrier matrix impregnated with a stabilized enzyme reagent composition including an oxidase enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, that is capable of interacting with the analyte of interest; a chromogen that changes color in response to the analyte-oxidase enzyme interaction to reveal the presence and/or concentration of the analyte in the test sample; and a stabilizer, such as a hydrazide, like GIRARD'S Reagent T, or an amino acid, like arginine, or an amino acid derivative, like the tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane sale of glutamic acid, to improve the heat stability and shelf life of the dry phase test strip.

Abstract: The invention provides a nonenzymatic method useful for the semiquantitative determination of glucose, a test composition and test device. Glucose concentration in an aqueous test sample can be determined by preparing a test solution by contacting an aqueous test sample and a dihydroxide component, at an initial pH above 6.5, capable of forming a complex with glucose which complex formation releases a proton, and determining the final pH of the test solution. The invention also provides a self-indicating device format which allows the determination of glucose concentration by merely counting the number of pads which have changed color. No comparison to a color chart is required. The glucose test of the present invention is free of the interferences found in enzymatic glucose tests.

Abstract: A method and composition for the enzymatic assay of liquid test sample, such as urine or serum, for a specific analyte, such as glucose. The method utilizes a dry phase test strip comprising a carrier matrix impregnated with a stabilized enzyme reagent composition including an oxidase enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, that is capable of interacting with the analyte of interest; a chromogen that changes color in response to the analyte-oxidase enzyme interaction to reveal the presence and/or concentration of the analyte in the test sample; and a stabilizer, such as a hydrazide, like GIRARD'S Reagent T, or an amino acid, like arginine, or an amino acid derivative, like the tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt of glutamic acid, to improve the heat stability and shelf life of the dry phase test strip.

Abstract: A new and improved test device and method of determining the presence and concentration of fructosamines in a test sample. The test device includes a test pad comprising a carrier matrix incorporating an indicator reagent composition capable of interacting with fructosamines to produce a detectable or measurable response. The carrier matrix of the device includes a bibulous matrix, such as filter paper, or a nonbibulous matrix, such as a polymeric film. In addition, a new and improved indicator reagent composition comprising a dye, such as tetrazolium violet; a suitable buffer; and an accelerator compound is incorporated into the carrier matrix to provide a test pad demonstrating sufficient color resolution and having sufficient sensitivity to fructosamines in a test sample. Therefore, a fast, more accurate and trustworthy fructosamine assay of a liquid test sample, such as whole blood or serum, is achieved.

Abstract: A stable test device for the determination of a peroxidatively active substance comprising a carrier containing 1,4-diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide and a benzidine indicator in a molar ratio of from 0.9 to 3.0. The composition can be incorporated in a carrier matrix along with a ferric chelate to provide ascorbate resistance thereto, which is important in a urine test for occult blood. The test device is stable under storage and heat stress and can be used to prepare a multitest strip containing a glucose test based on a peroxidase/potassium iodide indicator system.

Abstract: A viability test device wherein the viability of a test composition for the determination of an analyte of interest can be determined by simply wetting the device with ordinary water. The viability device can be prepared in three formats: a control or calibrator device, an internal control device and a self indicating device. Unreacted analyte, or an analog thereof, can be incorporated in a limited defined portion of a dried carrier matrix incorporated with a test composition to provide an internal control test device. When wetted with water, a positive optical response, usually color, indicates the test composition can provide a viable test for the analyte. The internal control test device is particularly advantageously used by diabetics in their own homes where a negative test response could be due to the desired control of the user's condition or due to deterioration of a test composition because of unfavorable storage conditions.

Abstract: A viability test device wherein the viability of a test composition for the determination of an analyte of interest can be determined by simply wetting the device with ordinary water. The viability device can be prepared in three formats: a control or calibrator device, an internal control device and a self indicating device. Unreacted analyte, or an analog thereof, can be incorporated in a limited defined portion of a dried carrier matrix incorporated with a test composition to provide an internal control test device. When wetted with water, a positive optical response, usually color, indicates the test composition can provide a viable test for the analyte. The internal control test device is particularly advantageously used by diabetics in their own homes where a negative test response could be due to the desired control of the user's condition or due to deterioration of a test composition because of unfavorable storage conditions.