The following Examples are given for the purpose of illustrating the present invention:
Example 1.
1. Solutions:
Buffer solution 167 mmol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane and 83 mmol citric acid are dissolved in distilled water to give a total volume of 1 liter. The solution has a pH value of 5.0.
Reaction solution 1 In 10 ml. of the above-mentioned buffer solution are dissolved 20 mg. Fast Red TR (diazotised 2-amino-5-chlorotoluene.times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2). The solution is stable at ambient temperature for at least 24 hours.
Solution 2 (additional reagent for the determination of total bilirubin): 0.9 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane are dissolved in distilled water to give a total volume of 1 liter.
2. Carrying out of the test:
Into microcuvettes (layer thickness 1 cm.) are pipetted at ambient temperature the various reagent solutions in the following way:
A reagent blank value is determined for each test series. This value is obtained by proceeding in a manner analogous to that described above for the "measurement value " but replacing the serum by the same amount of water.
3. Evaluation:
From the measured extinctions, the extinction differences are calculated as follows:
From the extinction differences obtained, the bilirubin content of the sample is determined as follows:
Example 2.
1. Solutions:
Buffer solution A (for direct bilirubin): A solution of 0.13 mol citric acid in water is mixed with 0.35 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane and made up with water to a total volume of 1 liter. The solution has a pH value of 5.7.
Buffer solution B (for total bilirubin): A solution of 0.2 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane in water is brought to pH 7.0 with hydrochloric acid. 50 ml. Dimethylformamide are added thereto and made up with distilled water to a total volume of 1 liter.
Reagent solution A or B: In 10 ml. each of buffer A or B are dissolved 40 mg. Fast Violet B (diazotised 6-benzoylamino-4-methoxy-3-aminotoluene .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.12).
2. Carryinq out of the test:
Into cuvettes (layer thickness 1 cm.) are pipetted at ambient temperature the solutions stated below:
For each test series, a reagent blank value is determined. This value is obtained in that the procedure is carried out in a manner analogous to that described under "measurement value" but replacing the serum by the same amount of buffer A or B.
A blank value cuvette corresponding to Example 1, in which, instead of the reagent solution, a corresponding amount of buffer solution is used, is only necessary in the case of distinctly turbid or haemolytic sera.
3. Evaluation:
From the measured extinctions, extinction differences are calculated as follows:
From the extinction differences obtained, the bilirubin content of the sample is determined as follows:
Alternatively, the bilirubin determination can also be carried out by reading off the extinction difference between the first and fifth minute after the start (kinetic measurement).
The bilirubin content in the sample can also be determined by measuring various serum samples with a definite, known bilirubin content and producing a calibration curve from which, for each extinction difference which has been obtained by the measurement of a sample with unknown bilirubin content, the corresponding bilirubin concentration can be read off.
Equal values for direct bilirubin are obtained as above when, instead of buffer solution A, there is used a citrate buffer with the addition of Triton X 100.
Example 3.
1. Solutions:
Buffer solution: 73 mmol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane and 49 mmol citric acid are dissolved in distilled water and made up to a total volume of 1 liter. The solution has a pH value of 4.3.
Reaction solution 1: In 10 ml. of this buffer are dissolved 20 mg. Fast Red RC (diazotised 2-methoxy-5chloroaniline .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2). The solution is stable at ambient temperature for at least 24 hours.
Solution 2 (additional reagent for total bilirubin): 0.75 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane is made up with distilled water to 1 liter.
2. Carryinq out of the test:
Into microcuvettes (layer thickness 1 cm.) are pipetted at ambient temperature the following solutions in the given manner:
A reagent blank value is determined for each test series. This is obtained by proceeding in a manner analogous to that described above under "measurement value" but, instead of serum, using the same amount of water.
3. Evaluation:
From the measured extinctions, the extinction differences are calculated as follows:
From the extinction differences obtained, the bilirubin content of the sample can be determined as follows:
Comparable results are obtained when, in the above-given reaction solution 1, 20 mg. Fast Red RC are replaced by 40 mg. Fast Blue BB (diazotised 2,5-diethoxy-4-benzoylaminoaniline .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2) or 40 mg. Fast Blue RR (diazotised 2,5-dimethoxy-4-benzoylaminoaniline .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2).
Example 4.
Filter paper (for example VS 532 of the firm Binzer) is impregnated:
A: with a solution which contains 0.13 mol citric acid, 0.35 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane and 4.0 g. Fast Violet B in 1 liter distilled water,
B: with a solution which contains 0.2 mol tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, 5% Triton X 100 and 4.0 g. Fast Violet B in 1 liter distilled water and has been adjusted to pH 7.0 with hydrochloric acid, and dried at 30.degree. C.
For the determination of direct bilirubin, one drop of serum is applied to test strip A and for the determination of total bilirubin one drop of serum is applied to test strip B. After about 5 to 10 minutes, a colour change to brownish-violet can be observed. From the colour change, the content of bilirubin in the sample can be determined by comparison with a colour scale which has been produced with the help of serum samples of known bilirubin content. The colour change can also be determined with the help of a reflection photometer by measurement of the extinction change at 578 nm.
Similar results are obtained when impregnating filter papers with solutions which, instead of the above-mentioned Fast Violet B, contain Fast Red TR, Fast Red RC, Fast Blue BB or Fast Blue RR.
Fast Red TR=diazotised 2-amino-5-chlorotoluene
Fast Red RC=diazotised 2-methoxy-5-chloroaniline
Fast Blue BB=diazotised 2,5-diethoxy-4-benzoylamino
aniline .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2
Fast Blue RR =diazotised 2,5-dimethoxy-4-benzoylamino
aniline .times.1/2ZnCl.sub.2
It will be understood that the specification and examples are illustrative but not limitative of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled on the art.