JP3536267B2 - Urine test strip that measures time simultaneously - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual urine test paper used in a dip and lead urine test.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In clinical tests, a so-called dip is a simple test that uses a dry analysis tool such as a test strip at the site of screening tests and group screenings as initial diagnostic information of various liquid samples represented by urine tests.・ And-read method is the mainstream. The dip-and-read method is a standard color chart (color sample) prepared separately by immersing the analytical tool in the urine to be inspected in a cup and then pulling it up to visually read the color response of the analytical tool. Is a method of judging the analysis result by visually comparing.

The external appearance of the analytical tool used here is that obtained by processing a filter paper, which is obtained by impregnating various measuring reagents corresponding to the analysis target, on a strip-shaped support made of plastic or paper into a small reagent pad. A urine test strip provided with one or more is generally used. The reagent pad exhibits a visually identifiable response such as a color reaction due to the reaction with the analyte in the liquid sample.

This type of visual urine test has been practically used and has been popular since ancient times. Therefore, the number of measurement items is increasing daily, and in addition to the conventional items such as PH, glucose, protein, bilirubin, ketone bodies, occult blood, and urobilinogen, measurement items such as nitrite, white blood cells, and specific gravity are successively added. It has been put to practical use. Therefore, one urine test strip is now 1
Test strips for multi-item urine tests that can test 0 items have also been put to practical use.

In the standard color tone table used at the same time, the names of measurement items, standard colors of several stages, and the corresponding densities are described. The order of the detection parts on the test paper and the order of the items in the standard color table are the same, so if you align the tip of the test paper with the standard color table, the reagent pad and color sample for each item will be adjacent. ing.

Generally, the principle of color tone change of the reagents contained in a plurality of item-based detection sections differs from item to item, and the determination time also differs from item to item. Therefore, the time from the immersion of the test paper in urine until the end of the reaction, that is, the predetermined time until the color response is compared with the standard color tone table (hereinafter, abbreviated as determination time) is also displayed on the standard color tone table. Such time display is often written on the surface of the instruction manual or storage container.

By the way, when the number of items (that is, the number of reagent pads) of one urine test strip is small, the measurement of each corresponding reagent pad is performed at the optimum timing according to the judgment time displayed in the standard color tone table. The result can be determined. However, as the number of items increases, it becomes difficult to make a correct determination at the optimum timing.

This is because, if it is attempted to make a judgment at the time as instructed by the standard color chart, the eyes of the measurer shift to the clock after seeing the display time of the standard color chart, and then shift from the clock to the urine test paper. This is because the color response of the reagent pad is memorized after searching for the reagent pad to be used, and the standard color table is re-entered. For this reason, if the user is confused about the determination or is searching for a corresponding reagent pad, the determination may not be performed on time. In particular, as the number of measurement items increases, the complexity of the measurement increases and it becomes impossible to make determination at the optimum timing, and the measurement accuracy deteriorates.

Further, a reagent pad to be judged at a certain timing (for example, 30 days after immersing the urine test paper in urine) and another timing (for example, 60 seconds after immersing the urine test paper in urine). Mistaken for other reagent pads that have,
When the urine test strip is brought close to the standard color chart and the colorimetric determination is performed, the arrangement of the urine test strip may be slightly shifted and the standard color chart of the adjacent reagent pad may be mistakenly viewed. Especially, when the reagent pads having the same color or similar colors are adjacent to each other, there is a high risk that such an error occurs.

The factor that causes such an error is that the information regarding the determination time and the information for clarifying the correspondence between the color response of the reagent pad and the standard color chart are displayed only on the standard color chart side. Due to being there. That is, the information to be given to the measurer in order to prevent the human error of the measurer is put on only one color sample which is compared with the response of the reagent pad, and the information is insufficient.

It is most preferable that the inspection is made at the optimum timing according to the judgment time, but it is quite possible that the judgment is not made at the optimum timing as long as it is done by a person. In order to solve the problem, there is a urine test strip in which the determination time has a certain range (for example, the determination time of 30 to 60 seconds). Further, for example, even if the determination time is set to 30 seconds or the like, even if the determination is not made at the optimum timing in anticipation that there is a range of determination timing,
Some urine test strips are provided with a measure for slowing the change over time in the coloration response of the reagent pad so that the measurement results will not be greatly separated if the timing is in the vicinity thereof. However, the above-mentioned measures are completely unnecessary if they are judged at the optimal timing, and in reality, they are sacrificed at the expense of something such as a decrease in detection sensitivity. Is.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-33251 discloses an analytical tool in which a test reagent pad and a standard reagent pad for advancing a color reaction depending on the reaction time are attached on a support. In this analysis tool, the standard reagent pad has a function of a standard color tone table, and the determination is performed by comparing the coloration of the test reagent pad with the coloration of the standard reagent pad. Since the standard reagent pad shows coloration according to time, it can be determined regardless of time. However, since this analytical tool is judged by comparison with the standard reagent, only two kinds of results, "whether it is darker or lighter than the color of the standard reagent" can be obtained.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an analytical tool which allows a measurer to easily make an accurate visual judgment of a measurement result without erroneously judging the judgment time required by the measurer. Especially.

[0014]

In order to solve the above problems, a urine test strip having a plurality of item-specific reagent pads for detecting a specific component in urine on a support according to the present invention is a plurality of reagent pads. Are installed on the support in a line in the order of reaction time according to the item, and an elongated mechanism that starts measuring the time when immersed in urine is provided on the support in parallel with the row of reagent pads. Has been.

The condition of "mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine" used in the present invention is an elongated rod-shaped object which starts to change color from one end when immersed in urine, and the speed of color change is It has some correlation with the passage of time. The speed of discoloration may be uniform or accelerated, but it is necessary to know the speed in advance.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As an example of the structure of the "mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine", a substance which absorbs urine at a constant speed on the surface of a long and narrow colored tape affixed to a support to disintegrate into water There is one in which a water-disintegrating substance is exposed by forming an opening at one end and covering it with a hydrophobic substance. When the mechanism is immersed in urine, the urine absorbed from the exposed part of the opening disintegrates the water-disintegrating substance at a constant rate and penetrates. The water-disintegrating substance covering the colored tape is mixed with urine at the same time as it is disintegrated so that it becomes light-transmitting, and the color of the colored tape appears, so that the place where urine has penetrated can be determined. Even if the whole mechanism is submerged in urine when immersed in urine, the water-disintegrating substance excluding the opening is covered with the hydrophobic substance, so there is no concern that it will disintegrate at once.

Examples of substances that disintegrate in water include water-soluble resins such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide and carboxymethyl cellulose. The slightly opaque nature of these materials allows them to sufficiently mask the color of the colored tape. But,
In view of improving the permeability of urine and surely covering the color of the colored tape, recycled pulp or water-soluble paper obtained by making pulp from the above water-soluble resin as a binder can also be used as a substance that disintegrates with water.

On the basis of the same principle, as an example of the structure of "mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine", a long and thin matrix for sucking urine at a constant speed is used to form a coloring substance having different color tones in dry and wet states. And a matrix is coated with a hydrophobic substance and an opening is provided at one end to expose the matrix containing the color-developing substance.

As an example of a coloring substance having different color tones when dry and when wet, anhydrous copper (II) sulfate and anhydrous iron chloride (II) are used.
There is I). Drying of anhydrous copper (II) sulfate (anhydrous)
Is colorless, but when it is given water, it forms a pentahydrate and is blue in color. Similarly, anhydrous iron (III) chloride is black in its anhydrous form but yellow in its hexahydrate. Any anhydrous compound,
It hydrates quickly with water. When the mechanism is dipped in urine,
Urine absorbed from the exposed portion of the opening hydrates the anhydrous hydrate at a constant rate and penetrates. Since it discolors at the same time as hydration, the place where urine penetrated can be determined.

Examples of the matrix include a filter paper for advancing urine by utilizing the capillarity in fine pores, and a gel-like substance for advancing urine by a liquid absorbing action in a dry state. Besides using a porous matrix such as a filter paper, a single thin pipe having an inner diameter capable of inducing a capillary phenomenon may be used. The space inside the pipe corresponds to the matrix.

The method of incorporating the anhydrous compound into the matrix is to prepare an aqueous solution, impregnate the filter paper, and mix in the case of gel. After that, the hydrate contained in the matrix may be returned to the anhydrous form by sufficiently drying. In the case of a single thin pipe having an inner diameter capable of inducing a capillary phenomenon, it is sufficient to sprinkle an anhydrous compound on the inside of the pipe, but normal urine is colored, so an anhydrous compound is especially required in the case of a pipe. do not do.

Hydrophobic substances such as cellulose acetate and ethyl cellulose, and plastics are used as the hydrophobic substances for covering the above-mentioned water-disintegrating substance or matrix and for preventing the entire part except the exposed part from urine when immersed in urine. Can be used. However, it is necessary that these hydrophobic substances only cover the surface without seeping into the matrix or the water-disintegrating substance.

As the method of covering with the hydrophobic substance, as shown in the sectional views of FIGS. 7 to 9, only the water-disintegrating substance or the matrix portion may be covered, or they may be sandwiched on the support. One piece of plastic may be laminated. When laminating a plastic, it is desirable that the plastic be light transmissive. In the case of a thin pipe with an inner diameter that can induce the capillary phenomenon, since the pipe is usually molded with glass or hydrophobic plastic that does not dissolve in water, no hydrophobic substance is needed, and the pipe material itself is Corresponds to "coating of hydrophobic material". All that is required is to place the pipe on the support.

[Mechanism that starts measuring time when immersed in urine]
The urine permeation rate is previously determined from the amount of the water-disintegrating substance used therein and the cross-sectional diameter of the matrix, and the urine permeation rate is defined and applied to the support. That is, it is clarified at what time and to what part the discoloration of the mechanism progresses, and the scale is shown on the support as shown in FIG. Then, the reagent pad of each item is installed beside the position corresponding to the position indicated by time based on the mechanism. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the scale is not marked, and the determination time is shown by numbers on the reagent pad side.
If the beginning of the discoloration of the mechanism comes to the side of the reagent pad, the proposal of the reagent pad may be observed.

Here, since a plurality of reagent pads having different reaction times (judgment times) are arranged in a line in the order of the reaction time depending on the item, the reagent pad for the item having a short reaction time is on the side close to the opening. Is desirable.

Since the position of the reagent pad is determined according to the mechanism for measuring the time, even if there is unevenness in the time difference of the determination time of the reagent pad, the distance between the reagent pads is adjusted as shown in FIG. You can solve it just by changing it. But Figure 3
If the arrangement of the reagent pads is irregular, as in the case above, a large support must be prepared, and there is a risk that urine will not be applied to all reagent pads if the bottom of the cup that received urine is shallow. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, of the mechanism for measuring the time, a portion corresponding to an intermediate position between the reagent pad having the determination time of 30 times and the reagent pad having the determination time of 60 seconds is inflated to absorb the adsorbed urine. You can also slow down once there. This will allow you to place 6 next to the 30 second reagent pad.
A 0 second reagent pad can be installed.

When there are a plurality of measurement items, among the determination times, there are naturally reaction items that require a short time and reaction items that require a long time. The length of the mechanism for measuring this time becomes long. That is, a large amount of urine is required to cause water disintegration and hydration. Therefore, when the time difference is small, the urine volume secured at the opening may be sufficient, but when the time difference is large, the urine volume at the opening may be insufficient. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a certain amount of urine may be supplied to the exposed portion by providing a function of securing and holding a certain amount of urine in the opening portion. As an example, there is a method in which a matrix or gel having sufficient water retention is installed as a separate part near the exposed portion. In the figure, in order to reduce the production cost, the exposed portion of the opening of the matrix used in the mechanism for measuring the time is largely protruded, and the portion serves as a urine holding function.

In use, for example, 10 seconds after being soaked in urine and pulled up, the leading position of discoloration of the mechanism for measuring time extends to the scale after 10 seconds, and next to it, the visual judgment is made after 10 seconds. There is a reagent pad to be used. That is,
Just by observing the discoloration of the mechanism that measures the time like a bar graph, you can check the judgment time of the reagent pad next to it, and you can also check the color response of the reagent pad without moving the line of sight almost. . On the other hand, when the leading position of discoloration comes to the side of the reagent pad whose determination time is 10 seconds, that moment corresponds to 10 seconds after being pulled out from the immersion, and therefore the coloration of the reagent pad is observed.

In the mechanism for measuring time, an air hole for adjusting absorption of urine may be provided at one end on the opposite side of the opening exposed portion in addition to the opening exposed portion for absorbing urine. However,
In order to prevent urine from entering through the air holes, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the urine test strip is immersed in the urine even when the urine does not adhere to the urine, that is, the gripping portion grasped by the measurer. It is advisable to provide an opening for venting air.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a urine test paper according to the present invention. A "mechanism that starts measuring time when immersed in urine" is installed next to a row of reagent pads.
The figure shows the state at the time when 30 seconds have passed after pulling up from the urine. The number next to the reagent pad is
The judgment time (seconds) of the reagent pad beside it is printed on the support. If the tip of the discolored portion in the mechanism for measuring time reaches the position next to the reagent pad described as "30 (seconds)", it means that 30 seconds have elapsed, and the reagent whose determination time is 30 seconds is reached. Observe the pad. Since 30 seconds has not elapsed, the reagent pad after the determination time of 40 seconds has not reacted, and the tip of the discolored portion in the mechanism for measuring time has also advanced to the position of 30 seconds. After this, the reaction proceeds, and the discolored portion in the mechanism for measuring time also extends over time. Figure 2
It is what showed the urine test paper of FIG. 1 in the perspective view. 7 to 9 are sectional views of the urine test paper of FIG. 1 in the lateral direction.

[0031]

As described in detail above, on a visual type urine test strip having a plurality of reagent pads for each item having different determination times arranged in a line on a support, when the sample is soaked in urine, it begins to measure time. Since the shape mechanism was provided on the support in parallel with the row of reagent pads, it was only necessary to observe how the color change of the mechanism for measuring time extends like a bar graph, and the judgment time of the reagent pad next to Can be confirmed, and the color response of the reagent pad can be confirmed with almost no movement of the line of sight. Therefore, the measuring person can make an accurate visual judgment of the measurement result without misjudging the judgment time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a urine test strip according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a urine test strip according to the present invention.

[Figure 3]

FIG. 6 is a front view showing each embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 7] ~

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a urine test strip according to the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-7-35744 (JP, A) JP-A-7-229895 (JP, A) JP-A-5-52836 (JP, A) JP-A-8- 15260 (JP, A) JP-A-6-222057 (JP, A) JP-A-9-101298 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 33/493 G01N 33 / 52 G01N 31/22 121

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A urine test strip having a plurality of reagent pads for each item for detecting a specific component in urine on a support, wherein the reagent pads are arranged in a line in the order of reaction time according to the items. A urine test strip, which is arranged side by side, and has an elongated mechanism that starts counting time when immersed in urine, is provided on the support in parallel with the row of reagent pads. . 2. The mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine is a long and narrow rod, and when touching urine, the color starts to change from one end of the rod, and the color changing portion extends over time. The urine test paper according to claim 1. 3. The urine test strip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a reagent pad having an item having a shorter reaction time is installed on a side closer to a starting point of extension of a color change portion. 4. The mechanism for starting the time measurement when immersed in urine is such that the surface of a long and narrow colored tape stuck on a support is covered with a substance that absorbs urine and disintegrates into water, and is covered with a hydrophobic substance. The urine test paper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water-disintegrating substance is exposed by providing an opening at one end. 5. A mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine is such that a long and narrow matrix for sucking urine contains a coloring substance having different color tones when dried and when wet, and the matrix is covered with a hydrophobic substance. The matrix containing the coloring substance is exposed by providing an opening in the
The urine test paper according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The urine test paper according to claim 5, wherein the coloring substance having different color tones when dried and when wet is copper (II) sulfate. 7. The urine test paper according to claim 5, wherein the coloring substance having different color tones when dried and when wet is iron (III) chloride. 8. The reagent pad of each item is installed at a position corresponding to a position indicating time based on a mechanism for starting time measurement when immersed in urine.
The urine test paper according to any one of the items. 9. The urine test paper according to claim 1, which has a function of holding a certain amount of urine in the opening portion. 10. An air vent opening is provided at one end on the opposite side of the opening portion, and the air vent opening is not soaked in urine when immersed in urine. The urine test paper according to any one.