Method and apparatus for preserving human saliva for testing
OwnerDavid R. Schneiderinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the preservation of a saliva sample for use in subsequent quantitative chemical assays. The method involves collecting a saliva sample at a location, directly into a specimen cup. The specimen cup contains a predetermined volume of aqueous solution of pH buffered saline and enzymatic inhibitor and is optionally adapted with a constituent compound specific, qualitative test unit.
Claims20
An assay sample collection kit for the direct collection and preservation of a saliva sample for subsequent assay of a biologic therein comprising:
- a) an ionic solute that upon dilution to a preselected volume in water yields a solution with an osmality of a normal physiological body fluid;
- and
- b) an enzymatic inhibitor of an enzyme capable of utilizing said biologic as a substrate, said enzyme being present in the saliva sample.
A method for determining the presence of a biologic in body plasma comprising the steps of:
- a) collecting a saliva sample at a first location directly into a specimen cup, said specimen cup containing a measured aqueous solution consisting essentially of:
- pH buffered saline, and an enzymatic inhibitor;
- b) scaling said specimen cup against spillage and tampering;
- c) transporting said specimen cup to a second location;
- and
- d) assaying by conventional techniques said sample and solution subsequently for said biologic at said second location.
A method of assaying for a biological comprising the step of sampling a saliva preservative solution to detect a biologic therein selected from a group consisting of:
- virus infected cells, bacteria, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, fatty acids, melanin, hormones, steroids, cholesterol, insulin, glucogen, antibodies, polypeptides, blood groups, proteins, neurotransmitters, prostaglandin and metabolites thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.