Abstract: The determination of human serum albumin (HSA) in urine is carried out by contacting the urine with a reagent system containing a buffer and a protein error indicator. Other proteins normally found in urine can compete with the HSA for interaction with the protein error indicator thereby affecting the sensitivity of the test for HSA. The present invention involves the addition of certain polymeric competitive inhibitors to the reagent system which inhibit the interaction of the urinary proteins other than HSA with the protein error indicator to a greater extent than the interaction with HSA is inhibited thereby increasing the reagent's sensitivity for HSA. Suitable polymeric inhibitors include poly(vinyl alkyl esters), poly(alkyl acrylates), poly(vinyl alkyl carbonates) and poly(vinyl alkyl ketones).

Abstract: Disclosed is an test for the detection of protein in urine by the use of a reagent system containing a buffer and a protein error indicator. The method involves the use of tartaric acid as cation sensing buffer in combination with a non-cation sensing buffer as the buffer system in order to reduce the incidence of false positive results while using less total buffering material.

Abstract: A stable test device capable of manufacture by automated methods for the determination of chloride in an aqueous fluid sample. The test device operates by controlled diffusion of the aqueous sample into a porous matrix. The matrix is incorporated with sodium carrageenan and silver salts capable of dissolving in an aqueous fluid containing chloride, at least part of which silver salts is silver chromate. Devices prepared with the inclusion of sodium carrageenan provide a chloride test device with approximately double the shelf life under room temperature storage conditions of previous test devices prepared without sodium carrageenan. The stable test device provides useful information in less than about 2 minutes after the sample contacts the matrix. The chloride concentration of the sample is determined by comparing the pattern of silver chromate remaining after sample contact to an appropriate pattern chart.