Serum sample quality determination

摘要

A method and device for measuring HIL levels in blood serum samples that are disposed in an automated, clinical chemistry analyzer. The device probe can be attached adjacent to a pipette or sample probe of the analyzer and includes fiber optic bundles and a light-reflecting surface. A cutaway portion is provided between the ends of each of the fiber optic bundles and the light-reflecting surface. One of the four fiber optic bundles is optically coupled to a light-emitting source. Each of the other three fiber optic bundles collects and filters reflected light from the reflecting surface. The light filters correspond to the optimal absorption wavelengths for one of hemoglobin, bilirubin, and triglycerides. A light intensity-measuring device is optically coupled to each of the three fiber optic bundles, to measure the intensity of the filtered, reflected light. A processing device receives output data signal from the light intensity-measuring devices; stores the data; and calculates whether a serum sample has elevated levels of one or more of HIL.

主权项

1. A blood serum screening device for use with an automated, clinical chemistry analyzer, the device comprising:
a plurality of fiber optic bundles, each having a first end and a second end; a light-reflecting mirror surface that is disposed at a distal end of the device; a support element supporting the plurality of fiber optic bundles and the light-reflecting mirror and maintaining each one of the first ends of the plurality of fiber optic bundles in fixed, spaced relation with respect to the light-reflecting mirror surface, the light-reflecting mirror surface positioned such that light emitted from the first end of a first one of the plurality of fiber optic bundles is reflected to the first end of a plurality of other ones of the plurality of fiber optic bundles; and a light-emitting source optically coupled to the second end of the first one of the plurality of fiber optic bundles and operative to cause light to be:
emitted from the first end of the first one of the fiber optic bundles so as to pass through at least a portion of a serum sample when the light-reflecting mirror surface and the first ends of the plurality of fiber optic bundles are disposed therein;reflected from the light-reflecting mirror surface to the first end of the other ones of the plurality of fiber optic bundles, andemitted from the second end of the other ones of the plurality of fiber optic bundles;a plurality of light intensity measuring devices corresponding in number to the other ones of the plurality of fiber optic bundles;a plurality of light filters each having a substantially discrete filter wavelength and being disposed between the second end of one the other ones of the plurality of fiber optic bundles and one of the plurality of light intensity measuring devices such that filtered light from each of the plurality of light filters impinges upon a different one of the plurality of light intensity measuring devices; wherein
each light intensity-measuring device is operative to produce an output data signal indicative of an intensity of the filtered light at the respective substantially discrete filter wavelength impinging upon the respective light intensity measuring device.