Chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus

• US 8,778,698 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Company Limited (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Koji, Aga, Masahiro, Shigematsu, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Chris L
• Application Number:
  US12/641,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20100098591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• US Class Current: 436/514
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/90 Plate chromatography, e.g. thin layer or paper chromatography
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/95 Detectors specially adapted therefor; Signal analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54388 based on lateral flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/967 Standards, controls, materials, e.g. validation studies, buffer systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/97 Test strip or test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/81 Tube, bottle, or dipstick

Abstract

In a chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus, a beam applied from a light source to a chromatography test strip is formed into an elliptical shape by an optical means such as a cylindrical lens, a variation in absorbance that accompanies elution of a marker regent is detected while the elliptical beam is applied between a marker reagent hold part and a detection part, and a measurement is automatically started in a prescribed period of time since the detection of variation. According to the chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus so configured, non-uniform coloration is reduced by shaping the beam elliptically with the optical means, whereby the accuracy of quantitative analysis is enhanced, and the apparatus can be operated easily.

Claims

1. A judging method for judging performance of a test strip for chromatography quantitative measuring according to development of an inspection target solution, the judging method comprising:

applying an inspection target solution to a chromatography test strip;

applying an optical beam emitted from a light source to the chromatography test strip, the chromatography test strip including an application part to which the inspection target solution is applied;

holding a marker reagent using a marker reagent hold part;

eluting the marker reagent by development of the inspection target solution;

causing a specific binding reaction in a base part to occur between the marker reagent and an analysis target included in the inspection target solution;

immobilizing a bounded material of the marker reagent and the analysis target in a detection part;

detecting, in the detection part, an optical signal utilizing a transmitted light or reflected light from the chromatography test strip, and quantitatively measuring the concentration of the analysis target included in the inspection target solution from the detected signal;

calculating a value of inclination of time variation of a value of the detected signal, which is generated due to flow of the marker reagent that accompanies with the development of the inspection target solution between the marker reagent hold part and the detection part, after said applying the inspection target solution;

comparing the value of inclination with a prescribed value set as a reference; and

judging a performance of the chromatography test strip as being deteriorated when the value of the inclination is lower than the prescribed value.

2. A judging method for judging performance of a test strip for chromatography quantitative measuring according to development of an inspection target solution, the judging method comprising:

applying an inspection target solution to a chromatography test strip;

applying an optical beam emitted from a light source to the chromatography test strip, the chromatography test strip including an application part to which the inspection target solution is applied;

holding a marker reagent using a marker reagent hold part;

eluting the marker reagent by development of the inspection target solution;

causing a specific binding reaction in a base part to occur between the marker reagent and an analysis target included in the inspection target solution;

immobilizing a bounded material of the marker reagent and the analysis target in a detection part;

detecting, in the detection part, an optical signal utilizing a transmitted light or reflected light from the chromatography test strip, and quantitatively measuring the concentration of the analysis target included in the inspection target solution from the detected signal;

scanning the optical beam so that increasing of the detected signal, which is generated due to the flow of the marker reagent that accompanies with the development of the inspection target solution downstream of the marker reagent hold part, is kept within a certain constant value set as a reference, after said applying the inspection target solution;

calculating a scanning rate of the optical beam;

comparing the scanning rate with a prescribed value set as a reference; and

judging a performance of the chromatography test strip as being deteriorated when the value of the scanning rate is lower than the prescribed value.