Abstract: A composition containing polydisperse aminodextran polymer molecules is soluble in an aqueous solution at a concentration of 10 mg/ml. The molecules therein have a narrow size distribution characterized by an average molecule mean hydrodynamic diameter of greater than 115 nm, a polydispersity index of between 0.10 and 0.47, an average molecular weight (MW) greater than 3 million daltons, and an amine content of greater than 50 amines per molecule. Similar soluble compositions contain the polymer molecules with an average MW of greater than 7 million daltons. These compositions are useful in forming reagents by conjugation with proteins for labeling cells. Methods of making these compositions and reagents from conventional mixtures of aminodextran polymers involve fractionation on column chromatography.

Abstract: A multi-purpose blood diluent especially suitable for use in electronic enumeration and sizing of blood cells, determination of hemoglobin concentration and their collective indices and platelet parameters in a single blood sample by means of suitable electronic instrumentation. The diluent is characterized as azide-free and capable of affording accurate, reproducible hematological test results from the said suitable electronic instrumentation. The diluent employs a chelating agent which functions as a bacteriostat and fungistat agent to prevent adverse growth of microorganisms, methohexital sodium barbituate as a compatible stabilizing agent for maintaining desired morphology of red blood cells, and an inorganic metallic sulfate for suppressing turbidity caused by abnormal globulins and/or high leukocyte counts which are encountered in certain blood samples.