Acetic Acid Reagent Kit for Urine Particle Differentiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for analyzing urine samples struggle to accurately differentiate between sperms and yeast-like fungi while maintaining reagent stability, as conventional antiseptic agents can damage or obscure the distinction between these particles.

Innovation Solution

The use of acetic acid or its salt as an antiseptic agent in a reagent kit, combined with a fluorescent dye for nucleic acid staining and a surfactant to lyse erythrocytes, allows for accurate detection of sperms and yeast-like fungi by differentiating them based on optical information obtained from flow cytometry analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional antiseptic agents are used in the reagent, then reagent storage stability is improved, but accurate differentiation between sperms and yeast-like fungi deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereagent storage stabilityVSAvoiddifferentiation accuracy between sperms and yeast-like fungi

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the antiseptic agent from conventional options (such as formalin or other strong antiseptics) to acetic acid, which has different chemical properties. Acetic acid provides sufficient antimicrobial activity for reagent stability while being less damaging to the structural integrity of both sperms and yeast-like fungi, thereby maintaining their distinguishable characteristics under microscopy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If acetic acid is used as an antiseptic agent, then reagent storage stability is maintained, but the damage to yeast-like fungi structure is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereagent storage stabilityVSAvoiddamage to yeast-like fungi

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs acetic acid, a mild and readily available antiseptic, which provides sufficient short-term preservation for reagent stability without causing long-term structural damage to the biological specimens. The reagent is designed for use within a specific time frame where acetic acid's antimicrobial action is adequate but its damaging effects remain minimal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures the storage stability of the reagent and enables precise detection of sperms and yeast-like fungi, improving diagnostic accuracy by maintaining the integrity of the differentiation between these urinary particles.

Implementation Method 1

a first reagent containing a fluorescent dye capable of staining nucleic acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

a second reagent containing acetic acid and/or a salt thereof as an antiseptic agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntiseptic action: Preservative

Implementation Method 3

a surfactant for lysing erythrocytes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLysis:

Data Source

PatentEP3112864B1Urine sample analysis method and use of a reagent kit for urine sample analysis

Publication Date: 2022.08.24 SYSMEX CORP

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for analyzing urine sample and a reagent kit for analysis of urine sample, which are for detecting at least sperms and yeast-like fungi as urinary particles.