Inventors:
James A. Mawhirt - Brooklyn NY, US
Ted Lee - Matawan NJ, US
Supinan R. Naphuket - Edison NJ, US
Charles E. Toms - Colonia NJ, US
Wai Law - Moorestown NJ, US
Catherine Cimini - Somerset NJ, US
Assignee:
International Technidyne Corporation - Edison NJ
International Classification:
G01N 33/48, G01N 21/00, G01N 21/77, C12Q 1/00
US Classification:
356 39, 356 40, 422 58, 435 4, 436169
Abstract:
The apparatus and method for quickly measuring the hemoglobin content of a sample of blood uses a light reflectance measurement of the hemoglobin sample lysed in a membrane. The reflection is inversely proportional to hemoglobin concentration. A blood sample is loaded on to a nylon mesh and dispersed within a nylon membrane, both of which have been treated with a hemolyzing agent and surfactant, and air-dried. As soon as the blood sample contacts the reagent on the membrane, the red blood cells are lysed and the hemoglobin molecules are released and dispersed into the membrane by the action of surfactant. The hemoglobin apparatus emits light at 522 nm to the reflective surface of the membrane. The intensity of the reflected light is measured by a detector in less than 29 seconds. The intensity of the reflected light is converted to hemoglobin concentration, g/dL, or mmol/L by an interpolative comparison with stored reflection data indicative of known hemoglobin contents.