Use of thermochromic liquid crystals in reflectometry based diagnostic methods
First Claim
1. In an assay for the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample in which the presence and/or concentration of the analyte is determined by measuring a color change in a solid test material using a reflectance spectrometer after the test material has been contacted with the fluid test sample and wherein assay results vary with changes in temperature of the solid test material, the improvement which comprises using the reflectance spectrometer to determine the temperature of the solid test material by measuring the reflectance of a thermochromic liquid crystal in close proximity to the solid test material and correcting the results of the assay for deviation in temperature of the solid test material from a pre-selected nominal temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for improving the accuracy of temperature sensitive diagnostic assays which are carried out using reflectance spectrometers to detect color changes in a solid test system which has been contacted with a fluid test system suspected of containing an analyte whose presence and/or concentration is being sought. The method involves determining the temperature of the solid test material by measuring the reflectance of a thermochromic liquid crystal in close proximity to the solid test material and correcting the result of the assay for a change in temperature from a pre-selected nominal temperature.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. In an assay for the presence and/or concentration of an analyte in a fluid test sample in which the presence and/or concentration of the analyte is determined by measuring a color change in a solid test material using a reflectance spectrometer after the test material has been contacted with the fluid test sample and wherein assay results vary with changes in temperature of the solid test material, the improvement which comprises using the reflectance spectrometer to determine the temperature of the solid test material by measuring the reflectance of a thermochromic liquid crystal in close proximity to the solid test material and correcting the results of the assay for deviation in temperature of the solid test material from a pre-selected nominal temperature.
Specification