JPH1194817A - Analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a packing shape for an analyzer in such a way that, in the analyzer making use of chromatography, the chromatography is executed surely even when a sample liquid in an excessive amount is supplied, that a waste material can be reduced and that the analyzer can be made low-cost. SOLUTION: A test strip comprising a sample addition part 1, a reaction part 2 and a water absorption part 3 is covered with a liquid nonpermeable sheet 4. In the sheet 4, an opening part 5 is formed only in the sample addition part 1. The test strip is wrapped with a moistureproof sheet 6 so as to be preserved for a long period. When the test strip is used, a part in a sample addition window 7 and parts in confirmation windows 8, 9 out of the moistureproof sheet 6 are torn off so as to be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an analyzer for measuring components in a liquid sample by using chromatography, and more particularly to an improvement in the packing form of a chromatography material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, analyzers using chromatography have been widely used for chemical tests and clinical tests on liquid samples. This analyzer consists of an elongated test strip using a porous carrier such as nitrocellulose or glass fiber filter paper as the chromatography material, and this test strip is placed in a hollow case made of an impermeable resin material such as plastic. It is what was held.

[0003] Examples of liquid samples include water, aqueous solutions, urine, blood, body fluids, solids, and solutions in which powders and gases are dissolved.
Water quality inspection, stool inspection, soil analysis, food analysis, etc.

The principle of measurement is to detect and quantify a specific substance by utilizing an enzyme reaction or an antigen-antibody reaction. As a measurement method, a liquid sample is directly added to one end of an analyzer, or a liquid sample is stored in a container in advance and one end is immersed.

[0005] Since these analyzers are stored for a long time before use, they are individually sealed and packaged using a moisture-proof material such as an aluminum seal in order to maintain performance, or a plurality of these are collectively sealed in an aluminum can or the like. It was generally preserved.

[0006]

However, in the configuration of the conventional analyzer described above, since there is a gap between the hollow case and the test strip, when an excessive amount of the liquid sample is supplied, the liquid sample enters the gap. As it flows in, the test strip may be soaked up to its upstream side. In such a case, there was a problem that the chromatography was not performed accurately and the measurement could not be performed. Such a problem also occurs when the analyzer falls or falls down.

Further, the above-mentioned conventional analyzer is covered with an expensive plastic hollow case, but is disposable, and disposal is difficult.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an analysis apparatus according to the present invention does not use a hollow case made of plastic, but uses a test strip made of a chromatography material only in a portion to which a liquid sample is added. Leaving
It is characterized in that it is tightly covered with a solution impermeable sheet and is covered with a moisture-proof sheet so that it can be opened so that only the added portion of the liquid sample is exposed when used.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to simplify the configuration of the apparatus as much as possible, to reduce costs and wastes, and to ensure that chromatography can be performed regardless of the supply amount of the liquid sample.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an analyzer for analyzing a specific component in a liquid sample by using a chromatography, wherein a test strip made of a chromatographic material is applied to a liquid sample. Leaving only the portion to which the liquid sample is added, directly covering with a solution-impermeable sheet, and further surrounding the liquid sample so that only the added portion of the liquid sample is exposed at the time of use. The analyzer is characterized in that the analyzer is packaged.

Thus, even if the liquid sample is excessively added,
The test strip protected by the solution impermeable sheet, the liquid sample sequentially permeates only from the sample addition portion,
Chromatography can be performed reliably. Further, since the test strip is not covered with the plastic hollow case but is merely covered with the sheet material, the cost of resin molding is not required, and the disposal is easy.

[0012] The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the moisture-proof sheet is made transparent so that the result of the chromatographic analysis displayed on a part of the test strip can be visually checked. An analyzer according to claim 1,
The analysis result can be easily confirmed, which is convenient.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the invention described in claims 1 and 2 of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, an analysis apparatus that obtains the measurement result by coloring using an antigen-antibody reaction will be described as an example.

In FIG. 1 (a), reference numeral 1 denotes a sample addition portion made of a nonwoven fabric or the like having good water absorbability, and contains a colored labeled antibody used for visually measuring an antigen-antibody reaction.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a reaction section composed of nitrocellulose or the like, and an analyte in a sample liquid to be analyzed, for example, a specific protein that binds to an antigen, for example, an antibody is immobilized on a part thereof. In the reaction section 2, measurement is performed by a so-called sandwich reaction between the antigen in the sample liquid bound to the labeled antibody in the sample addition section 1 and the antibody immobilized in the reaction section 2. On the further upstream side of the immobilized antibody, an antibody that recognizes and binds to the labeled antibody as an antigen is immobilized in order to know the end of the sandwich reaction.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a water absorbing portion made of a nonwoven fabric or the like, and absorbs an excessive sample liquid in the reaction portion 2. These nonwoven fabrics and nitrocellulose are examples, and may be composed of any porous carrier having water absorbency. A test strip is configured by combining the sample addition section 1, the reaction section 2, and the water absorption section 3.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a transparent liquid-impermeable sheet such as a cellophane tape, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the periphery of the test strip is tightly covered. The liquid impermeable sheet 4 is provided with an opening 5 only in a part of the sample addition part 1 so that the sample liquid flows into the test strip only from this part and does not enter from other parts. Not only the cellophane tape but also a vinyl tape or a wrap, for example, may be used.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the test strip covered with the solution-impermeable sheet 4 is further sealed with a moisture-proof sheet 6 such as an aluminum sheet so that it can be stored for a long time from the time of manufacture to the time of use. FIG. 2A is a perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a sample addition window provided opposite to the sample addition section 1 and the opening 5, reference numeral 8 denotes a measurement result, and reference numeral 9 denotes a confirmation window for visually observing the end of the measurement. The sample addition window 7 and the confirmation windows 8 and 9 are configured to be peeled off during use, and are stored in a sealed state from the time of manufacture to the time of use.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2B, the test strip covered with the liquid impermeable sheet 4 has the surface where the sample addition window 7 and the confirmation windows 8 and 9 are in close contact with the moisture-proof sheet 6. I'm pasting it. At the time of sticking, in order to prevent the liquid sample from flowing through the gap, it is necessary to stick the liquid sample as little as possible.

With respect to the analyzer configured as described above,
The analysis operation will be described. First, the sample addition window 7 and the confirmation windows 8 and 9 of the moisture-proof sheet 6 are peeled off and opened.
The sample liquid is added through the sample addition window 7. Then, the liquid sample penetrates from the sample addition section 1 and chromatography is performed to start measurement. As the measurement proceeds, a reaction result due to coloring appears on the transparent confirmation window 8. When a sign of the end of the reaction appears in the confirmation window 9 after a lapse of time, the measurement result is confirmed and determined.

When the sample liquid is added, the sample liquid flows into the test strip only from the sample addition window 7 and the opening 5 only. Even if an excessive amount of sample liquid is supplied, the test strip is covered with the liquid impermeable sheet 4 so that the test strip does not flow into the space between the test strip and the moisture-proof sheet 6 and chromatography is ensured. Can be done. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, there is no case where an excessive liquid sample flows backward and chromatography is not performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the test strip facing the sample addition window 7 and the confirmation windows 8 and 9 is not covered with the solution-impermeable sheet 4 but only the other surface is covered. Good. Also, the shape of the test strip does not necessarily have to be rectangular, but may be a shape that spreads radially or is shaped like a rice scoop.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the moisture-proof sheet 6 located at the confirmation window is peeled off. However, if at least this portion is made transparent, the structure becomes simpler.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if an excessive amount of liquid sample is supplied, chromatography can be reliably performed, waste can be reduced, and a low-cost analyzer can be provided. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of an analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a sectional view of the analyzer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sample addition part 2 reaction part 3 water absorption part 4 liquid impermeable sheet 5 opening 6 moisture-proof sheet 7 sample addition window 8, 9 confirmation window

Claims (2)

[Claims] An analyzer for analyzing a specific component in a liquid sample using chromatography, wherein a test strip made of a chromatography material is directly impermeable to a solution except for a portion to which a liquid sample is added. An analyzer characterized in that it is tightly covered with a sheet, and is further packaged with a moisture-proof sheet so that the periphery thereof can be opened so that only a portion to which the liquid sample is added is exposed at the time of use. 2. The analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the moisture-proof sheet is made transparent so that the result of the analysis by chromatography displayed on a part of the test strip can be visually checked.