Chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus

• US 8,822,230 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• 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:
  US12/641,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 according to the present invention, 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 method of chromatography quantitative measuring and determining a deficiency in an amount of inspection target solution and insufficient development of a chromatography test strip, said method comprising:

applying the inspection target solution to the chromatography test strip;

holding a marking reagent with a marker reagent hold part, the marker reagent capable of being eluted by development of the inspection target solution;

causing, in a base part, a specific binding reaction between the marker reagent and an analysis target included in the inspection target solution while the marker reagent and the analysis target are not immobilized; and

in a detection part, where a bounded material of the marker reagent and the analysis target is immobilized, using a chromatography quantitative measuring apparatus to apply an optical beam emitted from a light source to the chromatography test strip, detecting 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 signal,

wherein during said quantitatively measuring the concentration of the analysis target, a position on the base part to which the marker reagent flows out of the inspection target solution is measured from the signal by applying the optical beam to a downstream end part of the base part on the chromatography test strip, thereby determining deficiency in the amount of inspection target solution applied and insufficient development on the chromatography test strip.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical beam is scanned from an upstream end part of the base part on the chromatography test strip to the downstream end part thereof.