Urine Sample Marking Using Chemical Tracers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying individual urine samples are prone to sample substitution and require labor-intensive supervision, which is inefficient and can lead to misidentification or mislabeling, especially in large-scale testing scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Administering unique marker substances such as acesulfame, acetylated monoglycerides, and polyethylene glycol to individuals, which are then detectable in their urine, allowing for the identification of the sample donor through mass spectrometric methods, eliminating the need for direct supervision during urine collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If labor-intensive supervision is used during urine collection, then sample identification reliability is improved, but productivity decreases and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is administered to the subject before urine collection, establishing a unique chemical signature in advance. This preliminary action enables automatic sample identification later without requiring supervision during the actual collection process, thus maintaining reliability while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human supervision with a chemical-biological system. Unique marker substances are introduced that can be detected in urine samples through analytical instruments, substituting the need for human observers and manual verification processes
2Reliability
If direct supervision is required during urine collection, then sample authenticity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The subject themselves introduces the marker into their system by consuming it, and their own urine excretion provides the sample. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external supervision while maintaining authenticity, as the marker creates a unique fingerprint that can only come from that specific subject
Solution Approach 2:
The marker substance acts as an intermediary between the subject and the testing process. It carries identification information through the subject's metabolism and appears in the urine sample, serving as a chemical mediator that proves sample authenticity without requiring human intervention
3Measurement precision
If multiple unique markers are administered to different individuals, then sample identification precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each subject receives a marker with specific local qualities - unique chemical composition, concentration, or combination of substances tailored to that individual. This local differentiation enables precise identification while the complexity is managed through systematic assignment rather than random complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses variations in marker parameters (chemical composition, concentration, molecular weight) to create unique identifiers. By changing these parameters systematically across different subjects, the system achieves high identification precision while managing complexity through controlled parameter variation rather than unmanageable system complexity
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 method ensures accurate sample identification, reduces labor intensity, and prevents sample substitution by using a double-blind process, allowing individuals to collect samples privately and reducing the risk of mislabeling or misordering.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the presence or amount of the marker substances in the urine samples
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is generally related to methods and compositions for uniquely marking individual urine samples to be identifiable to a particular subject either individually or from among a group of subjects.