Reagent formulations for assaying biological specimens and methods of preparing and using same

Claim 2

In a method of conducting a clinical diagnostic test on a biological specimen wherein the specimen is mixed with a liquid reagent formulation to form a specimen/reagent system, the liquid reagent formulation containing a reagent capable of effecting a reaction which causes a measurable change in the specimen/reagent system, and a change in the system resulting from the reaction is measured, the improvement which comprises preparing the liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable mixture containing the reagent and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylenediamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant.

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the nitrogen-containing surfactant is solid and the polyoxypropylene chains thereof have an average molecular weight of less than about 4000.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the polyoxypropylene chains of the surfactant have an average molecular weight of about 2750 and the weight percentage of the polyoxyethylene units thereof is about 70%.

Claim 5

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for hemoglobin utilizing a liquid reagent formulation containing potassium ferricyanide and potassium cyanide the improvement which comprises preparing the liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water, a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing potassium ferricyanide, potassium cyanide, sodium bicarbonate, mannitol and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylenediamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant.

Claim 6

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for hemoglobin utilizing a liquid reagent formulation containing potassium ferricyanide and potassium cyanide the improvement which comprises preparing the liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water, a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing potassium ferricyanide, potassium cyanide, sodium bicarbonate, mannitol and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylenediamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant.

Claim 7

A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the polyoxypropylene chains of the surfactant have an average molecular weight of about 2750 and the weight percentage of the polyoxyethylene units thereof is about 70%.

Claim 8

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for protein utilizing a liquid reagent formulation containing cupric tartrate the improvement which comprises preparing the liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation contaning cupric tartrate, sodium tartrate, lithium hydroxide, a surfactant comprising polyoxyethylene ether alcohol and urea, and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylene diamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant.

Claim 9

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for protein utilizing a liquid reagent formulation containing cupric tartrate the improvement which comprises preparing the liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation contaning cupric tartrate, sodium tartrate, lithium hydroxide, a surfactant comprising polyoxyethylene ether alcohol and urea, and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylene diamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the polyoxypropylene chains of the surfactant have an average molecular weight of about 2750 and the weight percentage of the polyoxyethylene units thereof is about 70%.

Claim 11

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for phosphorus utilizing a first liquid reagent formulation containing sodium molybdate and a second liquid reagent formulation containing ascorbic acid, the improvement which comprises preparing the first liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing sodium molybdate, tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, sodium lauryl sulfate and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylenediamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant, and preparing the second liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a second granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing ascorbic acid, sulfamic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, and the nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant.

Claim 12

In a method of assaying a biological specimen for phosphorus utilizing a first liquid reagent formulation containing sodium molybdate and a second liquid reagent formulation containing ascorbic acid, the improvement which comprises preparing the first liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing sodium molybdate, tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, sodium lauryl sulfate and a nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant obtained by the sequential reaction of ethylenediamine with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, the surfactant containing polyoxypropylene chains having an average molecular weight of between about 750 and about 6750 and polyoxyethylene chains constituting between about 10 and about 80 weight percent of the surfactant, and preparing the second liquid reagent formulation by dissolving in water a second granular, water-soluble, substantially anhydrous, storage-stable reagent formulation containing ascorbic acid, sulfamic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, and the nitrogen-containing polyoxyalkylene nonionic surfactant.

Claim 13

A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the polyoxypropylene chains of the surfactant have an average molecular weight of about 2750 and the weight percentage of the polyoxyethylene units thereof is about 70%.