Process for measuring endotoxin and apparatus used therefor
AssigneeWako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.
InventorsYoshitsugu Sakata, Haruki Oishi, Yasumichi Hatayama, Hiromi Shiraishi, Kazuya Yanagisawa
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Abstract
Endotoxin contents in samples can be determined qualitatively, or quantitatively, singly or in parallel, with high precision in a short time by a process comprising applying a light to each sample solution, measuring an initial transmitted light amount I.sub.0 and a transmitted light amount at a time t, I(t), to give a ratio R(t)=I(t)/I.sub.0, and judging a gelation point by a threshold value of R(t), or further obtaining a gelation time from the gelation point. An apparatus used therefor is also disclosed.
Claims21
A process for measuring an endotoxin which comprises
- mixing a sample with an endotoxin gelating reagent to give one or more sample solutions,
- applying a light to each sample solution,
- measuring a transmitted light amount at an initial stage I.sub.0 and that after a reaction time t, I(t), in each sample solution to give a ratio R(t)=I(t)/I.sub.0, and
- judging a gelation point by the ratio R(t) reaching a certain value in the range of 75 to 97%.
An apparatus for measuring an endotoxin comprising
- one or more optical systems each comprising a light source, a sample solution-holding vessel, and a means for detecting transmitted light amounts,
- a constant temperature bath for maintaining the optical systems at a constant temperature and keeping the vessel still,
- a means for correcting the sensitivity of the optical systems and for judging a gelation point by the ratio R(t)=I(t)/I.sub.0, wherein I.sub.0 is a transmitted light amount at an initial stage and I(t) is a transmitted light amount after a reaction time t, reaching a certain value in the range of 75 to 97%,
- a means for instructing the initiation of measurement of transmitted light amounts connected to the means for correction and judgment, and
- a timer for measuring the time passed from the initiation of measurement of transmitted light amounts for each optical system in parallel and independently and connected to the means for correction and judgement.
A process for measuring an endotoxin which comprises
- mixing a sample with an endotoxin gelating reagent to give two or more sample solutions,
- applying a light to each sample solution,
- measuring a transmitted light amount at an initial stage I.sub.0 and that after a reaction time t, I(t), in each sample solution to give a ratio R(t)=I(t)/I.sub.0, and
- judging a gelation point by the ratio R(t) reaching a certain value,
- obtaining a gelation time T.sub.G from a time required for reaching the gelation point from the mixing of the sample and the endotoxin gelating reagent, and
- determining the endotoxin contents in the samples in parallel.
An apparatus for measuring an endotoxin comprising
- a plurality of optical systems each comprising a light source, a sample solution-holding vessel, and a means for detecting transmitted light amounts, and conducting the measurement of a plurality of samples in parallel,
- a constant temperature bath for maintaining the optical systems at a constant temperature and keeping the vessel still,
- a means for correcting the sensitivity of the optical systems and for judging a gelation point,
- a means for instructing the initiation of measurement of transmitted light amounts connected to the means for correction and judgement, and
- a timer for measuring the time passed from the initiation of measurement of transmitted light amounts for each optical system in parallel and independently and connected to the means for correction and judgment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.