Diluent and method for potentiometric assay of liquids

Claim 2

In admixture, a urine sample selected for potentiometric assay, and a diluent for said sample, said diluent comprising an aqueous solution having a pH of at least about 10.0 and a predetermined concentration of (a) a protonated water-soluble organic amine having (i) a pKa greater than or equal to about 9.3, and (ii) a hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, bonded to the nitrogen of the amine, wherein the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy is no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen and (b) an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce a total ionic strength of said admixture within the range of about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar.

Claim 3

An admixture as defined in claim 1, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of 2-(diethylamino)-1-ethyl alcohol, 2-amino-1-ethyl alcohol, and 2-ethylamino-1-ethyl alcohol.

Claim 4

In admixture, a urine sample selected for potentiometric assay, and a diluent for said sample, said diluent comprising an aqueous solution having a pH of at least about 10.0 and a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR2## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce a total ionic strength of said admixture within the range of about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar.

Claim 5

In admixture, a urine sample selected for potentiometric assay, and a diluent for said sample, said diluent comprising an aqueous solution having a pH of at least about 10.0 and a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR2## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce a total ionic strength of said admixture within the range of about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar.

Claim 6

An admixture as defined in claim 3, wherein said salt is the acetate salt of an alcohol selected from the group consisting of 2-(diethylamino)-1-ethyl alcohol, 2-amino-1-ethyl alcohol, and 2-ethylamino-1-ethyl alcohol.

Claim 7

An admixture as defined in claim 1 or 3, comprising a polymer present in amounts sufficient to provide to said solution a viscosity between 1.3 centipoise and 1.9 centipoise when measured at 25° C.

Claim 8

An admixture as defined in claim 1 or 3, comprising a complexing agent for Ca.sup.⊕⊕ and Mg.sup.⊕⊕.

Claim 9

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength range of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of (a) a protonated water-soluble organic amine having (i) a pKa greater than or equal to about 9.3, and (ii) a hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, bonded to the nitrogen of the amine, wherein the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy is no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen and (b) an acid anion; said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (iii) a polymer present in amounts sufficient to provide to said solution a viscosity between about 1.3 centipoise and about 1.9 centipoise when measured at 25° C.

Claim 10

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength range of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of (a) a protonated water-soluble organic amine having (i) a pKa greater than or equal to about 9.3, and (ii) a hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, bonded to the nitrogen of the amine, wherein the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy is no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen and (b) an acid anion; said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (iii) a polymer present in amounts sufficient to provide to said solution a viscosity between about 1.3 centipoise and about 1.9 centipoise when measured at 25° C.

Claim 11

A diluent as defined in claim 7, wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of 2-(diethylamino)-1-ethyl alcohol, 2-amino-1-ethyl alcohol, and 2-ethylamino-1-ethyl alcohol.

Claim 12

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR3## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (iii) a polymer present in amounts sufficient to provide to said solution a viscosity between about 1.3 centipoise and about 1.9 centipoise when measured at 25° C.

Claim 13

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR3## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (iii) a polymer present in amounts sufficient to provide to said solution a viscosity between about 1.3 centipoise and about 1.9 centipoise when measured at 25° C.

Claim 14

A diluent as defined in claim 9, wherein said salt is the acetate salt of an alcohol selected from the group consisting of 2-(diethylamino)-1-ethyl alcohol, 2-amino-1-ethyl alcohol, and 2-ethylamino-1-ethyl alcohol.

Claim 15

An admixture of a diluent as defined in claim 7 or 9 and a urine sample selected from potentiometric assay.

Claim 16

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength range of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of (a) a protonated water-soluble organic amine having a pKa greater than or equal to about 9.3, and a hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, bonded to the nitrogen of the amine, wherein the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy is no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, and (b) an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to product, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (ii) a complexing agent for Ca.sup.⊕⊕ and Mg.sup.⊕⊕.

Claim 17

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength range of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of (a) a protonated water-soluble organic amine having a pKa greater than or equal to about 9.3, and a hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, bonded to the nitrogen of the amine, wherein the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy is no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, and (b) an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to product, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar; and (ii) a complexing agent for Ca.sup.⊕⊕ and Mg.sup.⊕⊕.

Claim 20

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR4## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar, and (iii) a complexing agent for Ca.sup.⊕⊕ and Ma.sup.⊕⊕.

Claim 21

A diluent for compressing the ionic strength of an aqueous sample, comprising an aqueous solution having (i) a pH of at least about 10.0; (ii) a predetermined concentration of a salt having the structural formula ##STR4## wherein R 1 is alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R 2 is alkylene of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the oxygen-to-carbon bond of the hydroxy being no more than two bonds removed from the nitrogen, m is 0, 1 or 2; n is (3-m); and Z is an acid anion, said predetermined concentration being effective to produce, when 4 parts of said solution are added to 1 part of two different saline solutions, one having a total ionic strength of 130 millimolar and the other a total ionic strength of 410 millimolar, a range of said ionic strength for the diluted saline solutions that is between about 150 millimolar and about 250 millimolar, and (iii) a complexing agent for Ca.sup.⊕⊕ and Ma.sup.⊕⊕.