Measurement of total iron binding capacity
OwnerRoss T. Starrinventor
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Abstract
An apparatus for use in the measurement of total iron binding capacity of blood serum or plasma comprises a container having a removable closure and containing a measured quantity of dried iron-saturating substance, which is adhered to the inner surface of the container or of the closure and a measured quantity of dried alumina. The invention further provides a simple, rapid and inexpensive method for measurement of total iron binding capacity using the apparatus.
Claims2
A one-tube method for measurement of total iron binding capacity using a single pre-packaged tube having a removable cap and self-contained therein a measured quantity of dried iron-saturation substance, which is adhered to the inner surface of the tube, and a measured quantity of dried alumina comprising the steps of
- (a) pouring the measured quantity of alumina out of the tube into the cap,
- (b) adding a solvent to the tube to dissolve the measured quantity of iron-saturating substance,
- (c) adding a sample of serum or plasma containing transferrin to the tube,
- (d) briefly incubating to allow the dissolved iron to bind to transferrin in the sample,
- (e) replacing the measured quantity of alumina in the tube,
- (f) mixing the tube to allow binding of the unbound iron to the alumina,
- (g) allowing the alumina to settle, and
- (h) measuring the iron content of the resulting supernatant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.