Diagnostic system for differentiating sputum from saliva

• US 20040029205A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Small, Parker Adams Jr., Gaskins, Darla J., Rand, Kenneth H., Huang, Shih-Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/209,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029205A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/19
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/37 involving peptidase or proteinase
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/44 involving esterase

Abstract

A novel diagnostic system for rapidly, non-invasively and inexpensively differentiating sputum from saliva. The disclosed methods utilize a test strip or stick assay, or other similar assays, for detecting the presence of leukocyte esterase which correlates to the presence of sputum in a patient sample.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for detecting the presence of or evaluation of a pulmonary infection or condition in a patient in need of treatment thereof, comprising:

(a) collecting a sample from said patient, wherein said sample is derived from the respiratory tract of said patient;

(b) providing at least one reagent test strip or stick that comprises at least one reactant for determining the presence of leukocyte esterase or protease activity in said sample;

(c) contacting said sample with said at least one reagent test; and

(d) evaluating the presence or absence of leukocyte esterase or protease activity in said sample;

whereby said system enables identification of a sputa sample that comprises an adequate amount of sputum suitable for further testing.

2. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, further comprising testing said sputa sample for the presence of pathogens associated with pulmonary diseases or conditions.

3. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said patient is a human or animal subject.

4. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation of the presence or absence of a leukocyte esterase or protease activity is determined colorimetrically.

5. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said reagent strip or stick testing is implemented by the dip method to evaluate the presence or absence of leukocyte esterase or protease activity.

6. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said sample is obtained via the oral cavity.

7. The diagnostic system according to claim 1, wherein said sample is obtained from the mouth, throat, nose or lungs, or combinations thereof, of said patient.