Method for assaying coagulation in fluid samples
First Claim
1. A method of assaying an enzyme in a sample of blood or blood derivative by detecting an electroactive reaction product thereof, comprising the steps of:
- introducing the sample into a cartridge which includes an analysis location,metering a portion of the sample in a holding chamber terminating in a capillary stop,moving the metered sample through the capillary stop to the analysis location,mixing the metered sample with reagent at the analysis location,allowing the enzyme to react with the reagent to form the electroactive reaction product in the sample,positioning the sample at an amperometric sensor in the analysis location, anddetecting the electroactive reaction product of the enzyme reaction using the amperometric sensor, wherein the electroactive reaction product may be correlated to the amount of enzyme in the sample of blood.
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Abstract
This invention is a disposable cartridge for use at the patient side to perform traditional coagulation assays on fresh whole blood or blood derivative samples. The cartridge, in use with an electronic analyzer allows a fluid sample to be metered and quantitatively mixed with reagents which activate the coagulation cascade. An artificial substrate for thrombin, the enzyme whose action results in clot formation is also provided. Clot formation is subsequently detected using a microfabricated sensor also housed within the cartridge which detects electrochemically the product of the thrombin reaction upon the synthetic substrate.
49 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of assaying an enzyme in a sample of blood or blood derivative by detecting an electroactive reaction product thereof, comprising the steps of:
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introducing the sample into a cartridge which includes an analysis location, metering a portion of the sample in a holding chamber terminating in a capillary stop, moving the metered sample through the capillary stop to the analysis location, mixing the metered sample with reagent at the analysis location, allowing the enzyme to react with the reagent to form the electroactive reaction product in the sample, positioning the sample at an amperometric sensor in the analysis location, and detecting the electroactive reaction product of the enzyme reaction using the amperometric sensor, wherein the electroactive reaction product may be correlated to the amount of enzyme in the sample of blood. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification