Reducing signal distortions
OwnerLindy Jane Murphy, Hugh Allen Oliver Hillinventors
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Abstract
The invention relates to reducing signal distortions occurring when a potential is applied to an electrochemical cell. Electrochemical measurements are obtained in the presence of a specific chemical entity which is an aminoglycoside, an organic polyamine and/or a substance capable of raising the ionic strength of the sample.
Claims19
A measurement cell comprising at least two electrodes, a redox agent, and at least one chemical entity, the cell being configured for use in an electrochemical method involving measurement of a current between the at least two electrodes when the cell and the redox agent contact a liquid sample and a potential is applied across the electrodes, the potential generating a peak current that subsequently decays, wherein:
- (a) each chemical entity comprises one of an aminoglycoside, an organic polyamine, and a substance capable of raising the ionic strength of the sample, and is substantially redox-inactive;
- and
- (b) each chemical entity being provided in the measurement cell in sufficient amounts so as to be suitable for increasing the rate of decay of current from said peak current thereby at least reducing the occurrence of signal distortion of the current.
An electrochemical method for detection of cholesterol or triglyceride present in a sample, comprising:
- (a) providing a measurement cell comprising at least two electrodes, a redox agent and at least one chemical entity;
- (b) contacting said sample in the measurement cell with the redox agent and the at least one chemical entity, wherein each chemical entity is substantially redox-inactive and comprises one of an aminoglycoside, an organic polyamine, and a substance capable of raising the ionic strength of the sample;
- (c) applying a potential across the electrodes and thereby generating a current which comprises a peak current that subsequently decays over time, the rate of decay from the peak current being increased by the presence in the measurement cell of the at least one chemical entity relative to a measurement cell not having at least one said chemical entity;
- and
- (d) measuring a current between the at least two electrodes after occurrence of the peak current.
A reagent mixture for use in an electrochemical method, comprising:
- (a) a redox agent;
- (b) one or more chemical entities, wherein each chemical entity is substantially redox-inactive and comprises one of an aminoglycoside, an organic polyamine, and a substance capable of raising the ionic strength of the sample;
- and
- (c) one or more of (i) glycerol phosphate oxidase in combination with glycerol kinase, (ii) cholesterol oxidase, (iii) cholesterol dehydrogenase, and (iv) glycerol dehydrogenase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.