Abstract: A specimen collection device including a sheet of flexible material and two generally parallel slits formed near opposite edges of the sheet. This sheet is preferably rectangular and is of sufficient dimensions such that the slits may receive a conventional toilet seat to suspend a central portion of the device under the seat within a toilet bowl. The central portion is adapted to receive a fecal specimen and the device and specimen may be easily disposed of.

Abstract: Improved fecal occult blood test having a matrix such as paper printed or impregnated with guaiac. The improvement comprises increasing the sensitivity while maintaining or improving the specificity of the test by employing an alcoholic-peroxide developing solution which contains an enhancing agent. The enhancers comprise phenolic type compounds such as esters of parahydroxybenzoic acids.

Abstract: A specimen collection device including a sheet of flexible material and two generally parallel slits formed near opposite edges of the sheet. This sheet is preferably rectangular and is of sufficient dimensions such that the slits may receive a conventional toilet seat to suspend a central portion of the device under the seat within a toilet bowl. The central portion is adapted to receive a fecal specimen and the device and specimen may be easily disposed of.

Abstract: An extraction vial includes a reservoir portion having generally parallel walls, a neck portion defining an opening into the reservoir portion and a channel surrounding the opening, a nozzle portion integral with reservoir portion at a second end of the reservoir, a sealing closure that closes the nozzle, a base integral with the sealing closure and including a support surface adapted to support the vial in an upright position, and a cap received and removably maintained within the channel. An extraction liquid may be contained within the vial for extracting sample from a carrier. The vial may be used by adding the carrier to the extraction liquid within the vial, closing the vial with the cap, agitating the vial to release sample from the carrier, and removing at least the sealing closure or, preferably, the sealing closure and base whereby extraction liquid can be expelled from the vial.

Abstract: Improved fecal occult blood test having a matrix such as paper printed or impregnated with guaiac. The improvement comprises increasing the sensitivity while maintaining or improving the specificity of the test by employing an alcoholic peroxide developing solution which contains an enhancing agent. The enhancers comprise phenolic type compounds such as esters of parahydroxybenzoic acids.

Abstract: A specimen slide in accordance with the present invention comprises a front panel including a test material placement side and a portion of a test sheet, the test material placement side including at least one aperture which is configured to accept a test sample through the aperture onto the test sheet, and a back panel including a developing side through which the opposite side of the test sheet is exposed. An indicating means is located on the developing side portion of the test sheet within proximity to, but not directly on, the portion of the test sheet directly opposite to the aperture.

Abstract: A method and specimen slide for obtaining fecal occult blood specimens. The slide includes first and second portions each including front and back panels. The first portion includes one or more apertures formed through its front panel which exposes a reagent-carrying sheet and the back panel of the first portion includes a flap that may be opened for the application of additional reagents to the back of the sheet. The second portion includes an aperture in its front panel and a flap formed in its back panel. A sheet is carried between the front and back panels of the second portion onto which a fecal specimen may be smeared. The sheet includes pre-perforated removable portions that may be easily accessed through the flap. As an alternative embodiment, the back panel of the second portion may include a removable tab to which is fixed the specimen sheet. The tab and specimen sheet may be removed for easy access to the removable portions of the specimen sheet.

Abstract: A method and slide for collecting and testing fecal occult blood which permits multiple analyses of a single fecal sample. The slide contains a pocket-like member on a portion of the inside front cover of the slide. An absorbent insert is disposed in the pocket. When the cover is in a closed position the pocket overlies the fecal smear on the specimen viewing sheet and the insert can be removed from the pocket. This design permits an analysis to be done on the specimen receiving sheet of the slide together with a second confirmatory test on the insert.

Abstract: A method and device for collecting and testing fecal occult blood which permits multiple analyses of a single fecal sample. The device is a combination of a sampler for collecting the fecal matter and a test slide. The fecal sampler comprises a pocket-like wipe pad for obtaining direct anal stool smears. An insert is disposed in the pocket of the wipe pad. The slide has a profiled opening similar to the design of the wipe pad. This opening acts as a receptacle for the pad when the fecal smear is transferred to the guaiac specimen receiving sheet of the slide. When the slide is closed the insert can be removed from the wipe pad. This design permits an analysis to be done on the specimen receiving sheet of the slide together with a second confirmatory test for human hemoglobin on portions of the insert. The fecal material on the insert is physically removed from the guaiac specimen receiving sheet.

Abstract: A method and novel absorbent substrate for determining the presence of occult blood in gastric fluid. The substrate is acid treated and contains guaiac. The method includes the addition of the gastric fluid to the acid treated guaiac substrate which is developed with a buffered developing solution. Preferably the substrate is an acid treated sheet of absorbent paper and the developing solution is an aqueous buffered solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Poly(ester/carbonates) are produced by adding phosgene to a reaction mixture of bisphenol A and terephthalic acid as ester-forming reactants, at mole ratios in the range between 2.0:0.8 and 2.0:1.3, in which the reaction medium consists essentially of pyridine, the concentration of bisphenol A plus terephthalic acid is in the range between 5 and 50 grams per 100 ml of pyridine; and the phosgene is added under agitation at a rate of at least 0.07 gm-mmole/liter.sec. The process is carried out at temperature in the range between 50.degree. C. and 115.degree. C. and not below the temperature given by the Arrhenius equation:1nU=10-12/0.001987 Twhere U is phosgene feed rate in gram-moles/liter.second and T is absolute temperature of the reaction mixture (degrees Kelvin). Preferred phosgene feed rates are at least 0.13 gram-millimoles/liter.second; and preferred temperatures of the reaction mixture are between 60.degree. C. and 80.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for poly(ester-carbonates) from dihydric phenols, especially bisphenol A; aromatic or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids, especially terephthalic acid; and phosgene as carbonate precursor wherein a reaction of the acid and phosgene is carried out in a first stage forming dicarboxylic acid chloride; and then phosgene and bisphenol A are added in separate streams, simultaneously during most of the second or condensation stage. Thereby only one kettle is required for carrying out the complete polymer production.

Abstract: An improved process is described for preparing solutions or slurries of aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides in high purity, particularly terephthaloyl chloride, useful as an acylating agent for making polyesters from bisphenols, by adding an aromatic dicarboxylic acid to a liquid medium of phosgene in an inert chlorinated paraffinic hydrocarbon solvent, at a temperature of about 10.degree. to 50.degree. C, wherein at least 1.02 equivalents of a weak tertiary amine base per equivalent of carboxylic acid group is present in the reaction mixture throughout the reaction period, whereby a yield of dicarboxylic acid chloride of at least about 90% of theory, based on the total dicarboxylic acid employed in the reaction, is obtained.