Abstract: An automated electrophoresis and staining apparatus provides within a cabinet a housing with front and rear walls having opposed pairs of longitudinally spaced notches in their upper edges. Each pair of notches is adapted to successively receive and support a plate holder rack having a horizontal open frame supporting an upright electrophoresis plate onto which has been applied a sample for electrophoretic fractionization. An electrophoresis chamber and a series of vats are mounted within the housing and arranged in a row, the vats adapted to contain liquid stain and a series of plate processing solutions. The pairs of notches are in registry with the centerline of the chamber and each vat. The plate is nested within the chamber within an electrophoretic circuit for a predetermined period.

Abstract: An automated electrophoresis and staining apparatus provides a platform spaced above a base. An electrophoresis chamber and a series of vats are mounted upon the platform and arranged in a row, the vats being adapted to contain respectively a liquid stain and a series of plate processing solutions. A plate holder rack having a horizontal open frame supports an upright electrophoresis plate onto which has been applied a sample for electrophoretic fractionization. The plate is nested within the chamber within an electrophoretic circuit for a predetermined period. A power operated lift and transfer assembly upon the base is adapted to lift, transfer and lower the plate holder rack and plate from the chamber and progressively into each of the underlying vats for a predetermined period in a linear stepping motion, maintaining the plate in an upright position at all times.

Abstract: An electrophoresis method of determining the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) free cholesterols in body fluids and simultaneously determining the concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) free cholesterols in the fluid. The method includes applying a small sample of the fluid to an electrophoresis support medium, applying a direct current across the medium, applying a developing substrate to the electrophoresed lipoproteins and quantitatively determining the concentration of each lipoprotein free cholesterol. This method does permit direct and simultaneous measurement of each lipoprotein free cholesterol fraction while eliminating precipitation of each fraction as required by the prior art.

Abstract: An electrophoresis method of determining the concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) triglycerides in fluids, for example, body fluids and simultaneously determining the concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides in the fluid. The method includes applying a small sample of the fluid to an electrophoresis support medium, applying a direct current across the medium, applying a developing substrate to the electrophoresed lipoproteins and quantitatively determining the concentration of each lipoprotein triglyceride. This method does permit direct and simultaneous measurement of each lipoprotein triglycerides fraction while eliminating precipitation of each fraction as required by the prior art.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying an organic liquid sample such as blood or the like onto an absorbent sample support. The method performed by the apparatus includes the steps of filling a reservoir with a relatively massive sample, superimposing over the reservoir a sample carrier wettable by the sample and to which the sample adheres by surface tension, then immersing the sample carrier into the sample, withdrawing the sample carrier from the reservoir with the sample adhered to the carrier by surface tension, and, contacting the sample carrier with the sample support to break surface tension between the sample and the sample carrier and to deposit the sample onto the sample support.The apparatus includes a reservoir for receiving a relatively massive sample, a first guide path aligned with the reservoir, and a sample carrier displaceable along said first guide path toward and away from the reservoir with the sample carrier being immersible in the sample.

Abstract: A method for applying an organic liquid sample such as blood or the like onto an absorbent sample support. The method includes the steps of filling a reservoir with a relatively massive sample, superimposing over the reservoir a sample carrier wettable by the sample and to which the sample adheres by surface tension, then immersing the sample carrier into the sample, withdrawing the sample carrier from the reservoir with the sample adhered to the carrier by surface tension, and, contacting the sample carrier with the sample support to break surface tension between the sample and the sample carrier and to deposit the sample onto the sample support.An apparatus utilizing the method includes a reservoir for receiving a relatively massive sample, a first guide path aligned with the reservoir, and a sample carrier displaceable along said first guide path toward and away from the reservoir with the sample carrier being immersible in the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an organic liquid sample such as blood or the like onto an absorbent sample support. The method includes the steps of filling a reservoir with a relatively massive sample, superimposing over the reservoir a sample carrier wettable by the sample and to which the sample adheres by surface tension, then immersing the sample carrier into the sample, withdrawing the sample carrier from the reservoir with the sample adhered to the carrier by surface tension, and, contacting the sample carrier with the sample support to break surface tension between the sample and the sample carrier and to deposit the sample onto the sample support.The apparatus includes a reservoir for receiving a relatively massive sample, a first guide path aligned with the reservoir, and a sample carrier displaceable along said first guide path toward and away from the reservoir with the sample carrier being immersible in the sample.

Abstract: An improved method for graphically displaying optical density patterns generated by a densitometer which scans a sample to generate analog signals indicative of the optical density of the sample. The maximum amplitude and cumulative amplitude of the analog signals are computed and stored simultaneously as normalizing signals. The sample is again scanned to recreate the analog signals which are directed in two paths toward two graphic display units. The recreated analog signals directed toward the first display unit are modified by the normalizing amplitude signal to create a visual display curve of the normalized density. The recreated analog signals directed toward the second display unit are modified by the normalizing cumulative amplitude signal to create a visual display of the normalized area under the density curve.The apparatus includes a scanning system having circuitry to provide analog signals indicative of the optical density of the sample and a pair of conventional graphic display devices.