Total protein measurement using whole blood refractometry

Abstract

Optical systems and methods for the quantification of total protein in whole blood or other multiphase liquids and colloidal suspensions using refractometry without the need for preparatory steps such as cell separation or centrifugation. A refractometer is integrated with the flow cell to enable the measurement of the refractive index of a flowing sample based on the substantially cell-free boundary layer of the sample present under certain flow conditions. The dimensions of the flow cell are chosen to produce a cell-free layer in the whole blood flow, wherein the cell-free layer is thick enough to reduce scattering of light from the light source of the refractometer. Numerical methods are used to compensate for scattering artifacts. The numerical compensation method is based on the slope and width of the peaks in the derivative curve of the angular spectral image of the flowing sample produced by refractometry.

Description

technical field [0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the field of clinical analyzers, and more particularly, to methods and devices for measuring total protein in plasma without separating the plasma from a whole blood sample. Background technique [0002] In various clinical situations it is important to measure certain chemical characteristics of plasma in whole blood samples. For example, it is often important to measure analytes in plasma, extracellular hemoglobin, bilirubin, and lipid particles. These situations include, for example, routine patient visits to a doctor's office, emergency room, or monitoring of inpatients. A number of techniques and devices are commonly used to measure chemical characteristics of bodily fluids in various clinical situations. For example, measurement of analytes in bodily fluid samples can be accomplished by various methods such as spectrometry and refractometry. [0003] Some techniques for analyzing bodily fluids are co...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Light scattering by cells in whole blood significantly reduces the accuracy of refractive index measurements without compensation or optical assessment of cell-depleted plasma

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