Test strip for detecting gastric problems based on the presence of urease
AssigneeThomas Julius Borody
InventorsThomas Julius Borody, Nicolas Peter Shortis
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Abstract
A testing apparatus for detecting urease in a gastric material taken from a human or lower animal subject is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a dry indicating composition responsive to urease, a backing sheet supporting the dry indicating composition, and a cover sheet sealingly adhered about its periphery to the backing sheet to enclose the dry indicating composition. At least one of the backing sheet or cover sheet has a transparent portion in alignment with the dry indicating composition, and wherein the cover sheet may be peeled from the backing sheet and resealed.
Claims18
A testing apparatus for detecting urease in a gastric material taken from a mammal, said apparatus comprising a dry indicating composition responsive to said urease, a backing sheet supporting said dry indicating composition, a cover sheet sealingly adhered about its periphery to said backing sheet to enclose said dry indicating composition, wherein at least one of said backing sheet or said cover sheet has a transparent portion in alignment with said dry indicating composition, and wherein said cover sheet may be peeled from said backing sheet and resealed therewith wherein said testing apparatus can be stored at room temperature.
A method for detection of a gastrointestinal disorder in a mammal by detection of urease in gastric material of the mammal, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a sample of gastric material from said mammal;
- (b) providing a dry indicating composition sealed under a transparent cover sheet, in which prior to drying, said composition comprises:
- (i) urea;
- and
- (ii) an indicator having a pKa of from about 5.0 to about 8.5 at an effective concentration;
- said composition prior to drying having a pH from about 5.0 to about 6.5, wherein the pH of said composition is at least about one pH unit lower than the pKa of said indicator,
- (c) storing said dry indicating composition at room temperature;
- (d) unsealing the transparent cover;
- (e) contacting said sample with said dry indicating composition;
- (f) re-sealing the transparent cover;
- and
- (g) observing the color of said composition;
- wherein a change of color of said composition indicates the presence of urease and the existence of a gastrointestinal disorder in the mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.