METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, AND REAL TIME ANALYSISOF BLOOD AND OTHER BODILY FLUIDS

摘要

An apparatus for collecting, separating, testing and storing small quantities of blood or other bodily fluid in situ. The apparatus includes a collection chamber which is abutted by a filter made of a thin sheet of fibrous material having an average pore size of less than 3 microns, The fibrous material has been treated with a mixture containing 1-40 % wt/vol carbohydrate and 0.1-15 % wt/vol non-specific protein. A preferred carbohydrate/protein mixture comprises about 10 % mannitol and about 6 % albumin. The blood or other fluid moves through the filter card by capillary action aided by an absorbent matrix with a high Klemm factor which abuts the filter card. The absorbent matrix and/or filter card can be treated with a wide spectrum of test reagents. The speed and efficiency of the separation process can be altered by: (a) changing the concentration of the carbohydrate/protein in the mixture; (b) applying pressure to one side of the filter, and/or (c) varying the relative density and pore size of the filter card and absorbent matrix.