Method and apparatus for producing visual results using colorimetric strips

• US 20020031840A1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Bayer Corporation (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Noell, J Oakey, Pugia, Michael J, Albarella, James P
• Granted Patent: US 6,673,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/521 Single-layer analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/97 Test strip or test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/973 Simultaneous determination of more than one analyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/81 Tube, bottle, or dipstick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/823 Immunogenic carrier or carrier per se

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention improves the visual use of urine test strips and reagent pads by providing a single color from a reference color spectrum directly on the colorimetric strip and adjacent to the reagent area to allow easy comparison. After application of a fluid to be tested to a reagent area on the colorimetric strip, a technician is able to easily compare the color in the reagent area to the reference color area(s) to determine the presence or absence of, for example, glucose, in the fluid. Placing at least one reference color immediately next to the reagent area markedly improves technician'"'"'s accuracy in comparing and analyzing the reagent area against the reference color(s). The present invention allows a technician to easily and quickly compare a reagent area color to more than one reference area to determine the actual numerical value of, for example, the pH in the tested fluid.

Claims

1. A strip for detecting the absence or presence of a compound in a fluid, said strip comprising a reagent area and two adjacent color areas containing the same color shade, said color areas disposed on opposing sides of said reagent area, said fluid being applied to said reagent area and the resulting color in said reagent area compared to the color in said color areas.

2. The strip of claim 1, further comprising multiple reagent areas and two corresponding color areas adjacent to and disposed on opposing sides of each of said multiple reagent areas.

3. A strip for detecting the absence or presence of a compound in a fluid, said strip comprising a reagent area and an adjacent color area, said fluid being applied to said reagent area and the resulting color in said reagent area compared to the color in said color area.

4. The strip of claim 3, wherein said adjacent color area encompasses and extends outwardly away from said reagent area.

5. A strip for detecting the absence or presence of a compound in a fluid that allows the comparison of a reagent area disposed on a strip to one or more reference color areas located adjacent to said strip, said strip comprising:

one or more chemical test sites and

one or more test locations comprising;

a reagent area and two reference color areas for comparison to said reagent area, one of said reference color areas contains a color shade lighter than the expected shade of said reagent area, the other of said reference color areas contains a color shade darker than the expected shade of said reagent area.

6. The strip of claim 5, wherein said reference color areas are disposed on the left and the right of the adjacent reagent area.

7. The strip of claim 5, wherein said reference color areas are disposed on the top and the bottom of the adjacent reagent area.