US2865718A - Urine sugar testing - Google Patents
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- US2865718A US2865718A US481587A US48158755A US2865718A US 2865718 A US2865718 A US 2865718A US 481587 A US481587 A US 481587A US 48158755 A US48158755 A US 48158755A US 2865718 A US2865718 A US 2865718A
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- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 title claims description 46
- 210000002700 urine Anatomy 0.000 title description 23
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 20
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 17
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 claims description 17
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 17
- BERDEBHAJNAUOM-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper(I) oxide Inorganic materials [Cu]O[Cu] BERDEBHAJNAUOM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- KRFJLUBVMFXRPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N cuprous oxide Chemical compound [O-2].[Cu+].[Cu+] KRFJLUBVMFXRPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 9
- 229940112669 cuprous oxide Drugs 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[Na+] HEMHJVSKTPXQMS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 27
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 26
- WQDUMFSSJAZKTM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sodium methoxide Chemical compound [Na+].[O-]C WQDUMFSSJAZKTM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 9
- 229910000365 copper sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L copper(II) sulfate Chemical compound [Cu+2].[O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-] ARUVKPQLZAKDPS-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 8
- 239000003153 chemical reaction reagent Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 7
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N Dextrotartaric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C(O)=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N 0.000 description 6
- WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N Glucose Natural products OC[C@H]1OC(O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H]1O WQZGKKKJIJFFOK-GASJEMHNSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 6
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 6
- 239000008103 glucose Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 6
- -1 citrate ions Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- HELHAJAZNSDZJO-OLXYHTOASA-L sodium L-tartrate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C([O-])=O HELHAJAZNSDZJO-OLXYHTOASA-L 0.000 description 5
- 239000001433 sodium tartrate Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229960002167 sodium tartrate Drugs 0.000 description 5
- 235000011004 sodium tartrates Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 229940095064 tartrate Drugs 0.000 description 5
- 239000012085 test solution Substances 0.000 description 5
- KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N citric acid group Chemical class C(CC(O)(C(=O)O)CC(=O)O)(=O)O KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 206010012601 diabetes mellitus Diseases 0.000 description 4
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 150000008044 alkali metal hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000004090 dissolution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000001509 sodium citrate Substances 0.000 description 3
- NLJMYIDDQXHKNR-UHFFFAOYSA-K sodium citrate Chemical compound O.O.[Na+].[Na+].[Na+].[O-]C(=O)CC(O)(CC([O-])=O)C([O-])=O NLJMYIDDQXHKNR-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 3
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000012670 alkaline solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000015165 citric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- NOESYZHRGYRDHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N insulin Chemical compound N1C(=O)C(NC(=O)C(CCC(N)=O)NC(=O)C(CCC(O)=O)NC(=O)C(C(C)C)NC(=O)C(NC(=O)CN)C(C)CC)CSSCC(C(NC(CO)C(=O)NC(CC(C)C)C(=O)NC(CC=2C=CC(O)=CC=2)C(=O)NC(CCC(N)=O)C(=O)NC(CC(C)C)C(=O)NC(CCC(O)=O)C(=O)NC(CC(N)=O)C(=O)NC(CC=2C=CC(O)=CC=2)C(=O)NC(CSSCC(NC(=O)C(C(C)C)NC(=O)C(CC(C)C)NC(=O)C(CC=2C=CC(O)=CC=2)NC(=O)C(CC(C)C)NC(=O)C(C)NC(=O)C(CCC(O)=O)NC(=O)C(C(C)C)NC(=O)C(CC(C)C)NC(=O)C(CC=2NC=NC=2)NC(=O)C(CO)NC(=O)CNC2=O)C(=O)NCC(=O)NC(CCC(O)=O)C(=O)NC(CCCNC(N)=N)C(=O)NCC(=O)NC(CC=3C=CC=CC=3)C(=O)NC(CC=3C=CC=CC=3)C(=O)NC(CC=3C=CC(O)=CC=3)C(=O)NC(C(C)O)C(=O)N3C(CCC3)C(=O)NC(CCCCN)C(=O)NC(C)C(O)=O)C(=O)NC(CC(N)=O)C(O)=O)=O)NC(=O)C(C(C)CC)NC(=O)C(CO)NC(=O)C(C(C)O)NC(=O)C1CSSCC2NC(=O)C(CC(C)C)NC(=O)C(NC(=O)C(CCC(N)=O)NC(=O)C(CC(N)=O)NC(=O)C(NC(=O)C(N)CC=1C=CC=CC=1)C(C)C)CC1=CN=CN1 NOESYZHRGYRDHS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000002906 tartaric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 102000009027 Albumins Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108010088751 Albumins Proteins 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 102000004877 Insulin Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090001061 Insulin Proteins 0.000 description 1
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 240000007817 Olea europaea Species 0.000 description 1
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tartaric acid Natural products [H+].[H+].[O-]C(=O)C(O)C(O)C([O-])=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000010009 beating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000337 buffer salt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001720 carbohydrates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000014633 carbohydrates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008199 coating composition Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000005911 diet Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000378 dietary effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000002791 glucosyl group Chemical group C1([C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O1)CO)* 0.000 description 1
- 229940125396 insulin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 235000011083 sodium citrates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- QDRKDTQENPPHOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium ethoxide Chemical compound [Na+].CC[O-] QDRKDTQENPPHOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IUEMQUIQAPPJDL-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;2,3-dihydroxypropanoate Chemical compound [Na+].OCC(O)C([O-])=O IUEMQUIQAPPJDL-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000011975 tartaric acid Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/66—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T436/00—Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing
- Y10T436/14—Heterocyclic carbon compound [i.e., O, S, N, Se, Te, as only ring hetero atom]
- Y10T436/142222—Hetero-O [e.g., ascorbic acid, etc.]
- Y10T436/143333—Saccharide [e.g., DNA, etc.]
- Y10T436/144444—Glucose
Definitions
- This invention relates to urine sugar testing, and more particularly to the type of testing which by virtual necessity is carried out daily by diabetic patients themselves.
- Tablets are available commercially today, which upon being dissolved in a urine specimen, provide a color indication corresponding to the glucose content of the specimen. While heating of the test specimen is required with laboratory solutions like Freundings and Benedicts, the commercial tablets contain a large excess of sodium hydroxide for providing the required heating by means of the heat of solution of the sodium hydroxide in water. While this type of tablet has obvious advantages from the standpoint of convenience, it does have a number of defects and limitations, which heretofore have not been satisfactorily overcome.
- Sodium hydroxide is an exceedingly hygroscopic substance, requiring the tablets to be packaged in a completely dry atmosphere, and to be protected from contact with atmospheric moisture until they are used. This problem is paricularly acute because in order to supply the necessary heat for the test reaction, it is usually necessary to have over 50% for the tablet composed of sodium hydroxide. 7
- sodium hydroxide as an ingredient of the test composition, is that the composition must be distributed in the form of tablets, rather than as powder which would be more easily dissolved in the specimen. This is true because it is almost impossible to maintain sodium hydroxide in the form of a free-flowing powder.
- the use of sodium hydroxide in tablets is not a complete answer, because the tablets tend to react on their surfaces with protein substances in the urine specimen, such as albumin and mucin, thereby forming coatings on the tablets which interfere with the dissolution ofthe tablet ingredients.
- the inclusion of effervescent reagents in the tablet has been proposed for the purpose of overcoming thiscoating problem, but such reagents increase the overall cost of the tablets.
- Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a disposable sugar testing vessel constructed in accordance with one part of my invention
- Fig. 2 a plan view of an envelope containing a test mixture in powder form which has been formulated in accordance with another part of my invention.
- this invention is generally concerned with a test for reducing sugar in aqueous solution of the type in which a measured quantity of the test solution is mixed with a measured quantity of an alkaline solution of a cupric salt,'and then the mixture is heated to reduce the cupric salt to cuprous oxide in proportion to the reducing sugar content.
- the reducing sugar is glucose
- alkaline solutions of copper sulfate are usually employed for making the analysis.
- this invention is particularly concerned with the improvement wherein a solid alkali metal alcoholate is introduced into the speci-L men during testing, and the amount thus introduced is regulated to generate sufficient heat by reaction with the Water in the specimen to form the cuprous oxide.
- Any alkali metal alcoholate can be used, since this class of compounds reacts violently with water, although sodium methylate is preferred.
- sodium ethylate or sodium glycerate can be substitutedfor sodium methylate.
- the lithium alcoholates depending on their commercial availability, .are quite desirable because of their very low hygroscopicity.
- the water-soluble cupric salt is preferably copper sulfate, and the test solution should be at an alkaline pH. Since alkali metal alcoholates react with water to form alcohols and alkali metal hydroxides, it is not essential that another reagent be used to provide the required alkilinity for the reaction. Thus, a mixture of ingredients for the test need not contain any sodium hydroxide or other alkali metal hydroxide.
- the test solution should also preferably contain a buffer salt which does not interfere with the test reaction. Best results are obtained with water-soluble compounds providing either tartrate or .citrate ions, and this would include not only salts like sodium citrate and sodium tartrate, but also their corresponding namely, tartaric and citric acids, since the acids would be neutralized to form the salts by the alkali metal More specifically, this invention in its method aspect is concerned with the testing for sugar content of urine,
- aqueous test specimen wherein there is introduced into the aqueous test specimen a predetermined quantity of a mixture of solid reagents including a water-soluble cupric salt, an alkali metal alcoholate, and a water-soluble compound providing either tartrate or citrate ions.
- This mixture is then dissolved in the aqueous solution and at the same time the solution is heated by the reaction of the alkali metal alcoholatewith the water of the solution. It will be understood that a sufficient quantity of the alkali metal alcoholate should be employed to heat the water to a temperaturesufficiently high to convert the cupric salt to cuprous oxide.
- test compositions formulated in accordance with the present invention can be distributed either in the form of tablets or as a free-flowing powder.
- the composition should of course be in a solid, dry form.
- powdered or finelydivided measured quantities of copper sulfate, sodium methylate, and a suitable buffer, such as sodium tartrate, sodium citrate, tartaric acid, citric acid and other buffers of comparable properties can be mixed together to form a free-flowing powder, which can then be packaged as illustrated in Fig. 2, where designates an aluminum foil packet consisting of two sheets of aluminum foil crimped together around the edges. As shown in Fig.
- the packet 10 is broken away to disclose the powdered composition 11 therein, which by tearing a corner of the packet can be intrduced into a test specimen.
- such compositions can be compressed to form tablets of smaller size than has heretofore been necessary for a similar purpose. It will be understood that other specific ingredients can be substituted, as has already been discussed.
- this invention is concerned with a disposable vessel adapted for use in testing the sugar content of urine, such a vessel being illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing.
- the test vessel consists of a cup 12 formed of a flexible water-retaining sheet material having a water-soluble coating 13 on the lower part of its inside surface.
- cup 12 is formed of water-retaining paper and has a conical shape, as shown.
- Coating 13 can contain various ingredients, but it should include a water-soluble cupric salt as one of the essential ingredients, and it preferably also includes a water-soluble compound providing either tartrate or citrate ions in aqueous solution.
- coating 13 can be composed of a mixture of copper sulfate and sodium tartrate. It can beapplied to the interior of cup 12 by any suitable procedure, such as adding a small amount of water to a mixture of the coating ingredients to form a paste, and then spreading the paste over the interior surfaces of the cup. The coating can then be air-dried, or dried by heating. In this way a predetermined. quantity ofthe test reagents can be included within the disposable vessel, while being readily available for carrying out the test.
- the disposable test essel with a horizontally-extending indicia 14, as illustrated in Fig. l, for indicating the desired liquid level, and thereby making it unnecessary to measure the test specimen prior to its introduction into cup 12.
- the upper portion of the inner walls of the cup can have colored panels impressed thereon, such as panels 15, the various panels showing respectively the colors core 4 responding to a particular sugar content, say, from O to 2%, as illustrated.
- Example I A free-flowing powder for use in urine sugar testing can be prepared by mixing together powdered copper sulfate, sodium methylate, and sodium tartrate in the proportions indicated below:
- the above compostion can be either packaged in 2 /2 grain portions in powdered form, or can first be compressed into 2 /2 grain tablets. In either case, the 2 /2 grain portion of the composition would be used for a single test by introducing this amount of the composition into from 10 to. 15 drops of liquid, which can consist of 5 drops of urine mixed with 10 drops of water. The test can also be carried out in the way described by using only 5 drops of urine and omitting the water because of the small quantity of the composition employed. The color of the resulting solution will be proportional to the glucose content of the urine, ranging from dark blue for no glucose content to orange or brown for a high glucose content, with intermediate shades of green, olive green, and tan.
- Example II A coating composition can be prepared by mixing 1 part by weight of powdered copper sulfate with 10 parts by weight of sodium citrate, and then adding sufficient Water to form a paste. This paste is then applied to the interior of a series of paper cups to form coatings thereon of the type illustrated in Fig. 1. For example, about 1.5 grains on a dry basis of the mixture can be applied as a coating on each container. In using such containers for testing, 15 drops of the specimen could be added, consisting of 10 drops of water and 5 drops of urine. Then from 1 to 2 grains of sodium methylate would be added to heat the test solution whilebringing about the dissolution of the coating material, and thereby completing the test. As a final step, the color comparison would be made as described in Example 1.
- the method of testing for the sugar content of urine comprising introducing into an aqueous solution a predetermined quantity of a mixture of solid reagents including a water-soluble cupric salt and an alkali metal alcoholate, said solution containing a predetermined quantity of the urine to be tested, dissolving said cupric salt in the aqueous solution, and at the same time beating said solution by reacting said alkali metal alcoholate with the water 5; said solution, said solution being heated by said reaction to a temperature sufiiciently high to convert said cupric salt to cuprous oxide in proportion to the reducing sugar content of said solution.
- cupric salt is copper sulfate
- said alkali metal alcoholate is sodium methylate
- said mixture also includes a water-soluble compound providing ions selected from the group consisting of tartrate and citrate ions.
- the method of testing the sugar content of urine comprising introducing a urine specimen into a disposable vessel having a water-soluble coating on at least the lower part of its inside surface, said coating including a water-soluble cupric salt as one of the essential ingredients thereof, and also introducing into said vessel a solid alkali metal alcoholate in an amount suflicient to violently agitate said specimen, thereby dissolving a substantial portion of said water-soluble coating in said specimen, and at the same time generating sufiicient heat by reaction with the water in said specimen to form cuprous oxide.
- a sugar test composition in solid, dry form comprising a mixture of one part by weight of a water soluble cupric salt and substantially five parts by weight of an alkali metal alcoholate.
Description
1958 w. M. FOWLER URINE SUGAR TESTING Filed Jan. 15, 1955 INVENTOR:
AM FOWLER i 3 i ATT'Ys WILLI BY I Patented Dec. 23, 1958 URINE SUGAR TESTING William M. Fowler, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Chicago Dietetic Supply House, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application January 13, 1955, Serial No. 481,587
7 Claims. 01. 23-230 This invention relates to urine sugar testing, and more particularly to the type of testing which by virtual necessity is carried out daily by diabetic patients themselves.
For many years the use of alkaline copper solutions have been a standard test toindicate the presence of reducing carbohydrates in aqueous solution, the color changes involved permitting both qualitative and quantitative indications. From a medical standpoint, perhaps the most important application of such a test procedure is in the determination of glucose in urine, and this is of particular importance for diabetic patients who must gauge their daily dosage of insulin according to urine sugar content. The need for such daily tests by diabetic patients has provided a strong stimulus for the development of more simplified test procedures, which are adapted for use by the patient in his own home.
Tablets are available commercially today, which upon being dissolved in a urine specimen, provide a color indication corresponding to the glucose content of the specimen. While heating of the test specimen is required with laboratory solutions like Fehlings and Benedicts, the commercial tablets contain a large excess of sodium hydroxide for providing the required heating by means of the heat of solution of the sodium hydroxide in water. While this type of tablet has obvious advantages from the standpoint of convenience, it does have a number of defects and limitations, which heretofore have not been satisfactorily overcome.
Sodium hydroxide is an exceedingly hygroscopic substance, requiring the tablets to be packaged in a completely dry atmosphere, and to be protected from contact with atmospheric moisture until they are used. This problem is paricularly acute because in order to supply the necessary heat for the test reaction, it is usually necessary to have over 50% for the tablet composed of sodium hydroxide. 7
Another limitation on the use of sodium hydroxide as an ingredient of the test composition, is that the composition must be distributed in the form of tablets, rather than as powder which would be more easily dissolved in the specimen. This is true because it is almost impossible to maintain sodium hydroxide in the form of a free-flowing powder. On the other hand, the use of sodium hydroxide in tablets is not a complete answer, because the tablets tend to react on their surfaces with protein substances in the urine specimen, such as albumin and mucin, thereby forming coatings on the tablets which interfere with the dissolution ofthe tablet ingredients. The inclusion of effervescent reagents in the tablet has been proposed for the purpose of overcoming thiscoating problem, but such reagents increase the overall cost of the tablets.
Certain other difliculties and inconveniences are associated with the present procedure for home urine testing. Glass test tubes are employed for the specimens, which must be thoroughly cleaned before reuse. Also, it is necessary to compare the color of the test solution on completion of the reaction with a separate color chart, which is easily misplaced.
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an improved method and improved means for the determination of the sugar content of urine by diabetic patients themselves. More specifically, it is an object to provide a method and means of the character described which avoids the use of sodium hydroxide or comparable alkali metal hydroxide, while at the same time providing a composition that supplies its own heat for the test reaction when dissolved in water. Still another object is to provide a sugar test composition which can be commercially distributed in the form of a powder, as well as in the form of tablets, and which in either form requires a lesser amount for the test than has heretofore been required. Still another object is to provide an improved disposable vessel adapted for use in testing the sugar content of urine, which eliminates the need for reusable glass test tubes and a separate color comparison chart. Further objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.
Some of the aspects of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a disposable sugar testing vessel constructed in accordance with one part of my invention; and Fig. 2, a plan view of an envelope containing a test mixture in powder form which has been formulated in accordance with another part of my invention.
As already indicated, this invention is generally concerned with a test for reducing sugar in aqueous solution of the type in which a measured quantity of the test solution is mixed with a measured quantity of an alkaline solution of a cupric salt,'and then the mixture is heated to reduce the cupric salt to cuprous oxide in proportion to the reducing sugar content. In the case of urine specimens, the reducing sugar is glucose, While alkaline solutions of copper sulfate are usually employed for making the analysis. In one of its aspects, this invention is particularly concerned with the improvement wherein a solid alkali metal alcoholate is introduced into the speci-L men during testing, and the amount thus introduced is regulated to generate sufficient heat by reaction with the Water in the specimen to form the cuprous oxide.
Any alkali metal alcoholate can be used, since this class of compounds reacts violently with water, although sodium methylate is preferred. For example, sodium ethylate or sodium glycerate can be substitutedfor sodium methylate. The lithium alcoholates, depending on their commercial availability, .are quite desirable because of their very low hygroscopicity.
The other reagents employed for the test would in general be the same as taught by the prior art, that is, the water-soluble cupric salt is preferably copper sulfate, and the test solution should be at an alkaline pH. Since alkali metal alcoholates react with water to form alcohols and alkali metal hydroxides, it is not essential that another reagent be used to provide the required alkilinity for the reaction. Thus, a mixture of ingredients for the test need not contain any sodium hydroxide or other alkali metal hydroxide.
The test solution should also preferably contain a buffer salt which does not interfere with the test reaction. Best results are obtained with water-soluble compounds providing either tartrate or .citrate ions, and this would include not only salts like sodium citrate and sodium tartrate, but also their corresponding namely, tartaric and citric acids, since the acids would be neutralized to form the salts by the alkali metal More specifically, this invention in its method aspect is concerned with the testing for sugar content of urine,
acids, 1
wherein there is introduced into the aqueous test specimen a predetermined quantity of a mixture of solid reagents including a water-soluble cupric salt, an alkali metal alcoholate, and a water-soluble compound providing either tartrate or citrate ions. This mixture is then dissolved in the aqueous solution and at the same time the solution is heated by the reaction of the alkali metal alcoholatewith the water of the solution. It will be understood that a sufficient quantity of the alkali metal alcoholate should be employed to heat the water to a temperaturesufficiently high to convert the cupric salt to cuprous oxide.
One of the important advantages of test compositions formulated in accordance with the present invention is that such compositions can be distributed either in the form of tablets or as a free-flowing powder. In either case, the composition should of course be in a solid, dry form. For example, powdered or finelydivided measured quantities of copper sulfate, sodium methylate, and a suitable buffer, such as sodium tartrate, sodium citrate, tartaric acid, citric acid and other buffers of comparable properties, can be mixed together to form a free-flowing powder, which can then be packaged as illustrated in Fig. 2, where designates an aluminum foil packet consisting of two sheets of aluminum foil crimped together around the edges. As shown in Fig. 2, the packet 10 is broken away to disclose the powdered composition 11 therein, which by tearing a corner of the packet can be intrduced into a test specimen. Alternatively, such compositions can be compressed to form tablets of smaller size than has heretofore been necessary for a similar purpose. It will be understood that other specific ingredients can be substituted, as has already been discussed.
In another of its aspects, this invention is concerned with a disposable vessel adapted for use in testing the sugar content of urine, such a vessel being illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing. In the illustration given, the test vessel consists of a cup 12 formed of a flexible water-retaining sheet material having a water-soluble coating 13 on the lower part of its inside surface. Preferably, cup 12 is formed of water-retaining paper and has a conical shape, as shown.
It is also preferred to provide the disposable test essel with a horizontally-extending indicia 14, as illustrated in Fig. l, for indicating the desired liquid level, and thereby making it unnecessary to measure the test specimen prior to its introduction into cup 12. Also, the upper portion of the inner walls of the cup can have colored panels impressed thereon, such as panels 15, the various panels showing respectively the colors core 4 responding to a particular sugar content, say, from O to 2%, as illustrated.
This invention is further illustrated by the following specific examples:
Example I A free-flowing powder for use in urine sugar testing can be prepared by mixing together powdered copper sulfate, sodium methylate, and sodium tartrate in the proportions indicated below:
Ingredients: Parts by weight Copper sulfate 1 Sodium methylate 5 Sodium tartrate 7 The above compostion can be either packaged in 2 /2 grain portions in powdered form, or can first be compressed into 2 /2 grain tablets. In either case, the 2 /2 grain portion of the composition would be used for a single test by introducing this amount of the composition into from 10 to. 15 drops of liquid, which can consist of 5 drops of urine mixed with 10 drops of water. The test can also be carried out in the way described by using only 5 drops of urine and omitting the water because of the small quantity of the composition employed. The color of the resulting solution will be proportional to the glucose content of the urine, ranging from dark blue for no glucose content to orange or brown for a high glucose content, with intermediate shades of green, olive green, and tan.
Example II A coating composition can be prepared by mixing 1 part by weight of powdered copper sulfate with 10 parts by weight of sodium citrate, and then adding sufficient Water to form a paste. This paste is then applied to the interior of a series of paper cups to form coatings thereon of the type illustrated in Fig. 1. For example, about 1.5 grains on a dry basis of the mixture can be applied as a coating on each container. In using such containers for testing, 15 drops of the specimen could be added, consisting of 10 drops of water and 5 drops of urine. Then from 1 to 2 grains of sodium methylate would be added to heat the test solution whilebringing about the dissolution of the coating material, and thereby completing the test. As a final step, the color comparison would be made as described in Example 1.
While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain specific embodiments thereof and a number of details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various aspects of this invention are susceptible to other embodiments, and that many of the details set forth herein can be varied without departing from the basic principles of the invention.
I claim:
1. In the testing. of an aqueous specimen for sugar content wherein the Specimen is heated in the presence of a water-soluble cupric salt at an alkaline pH to form cuprous oxide in proportion to the reducing sugar content, the improvement comprising introducing into said specimen during said testing a solid alkali metal alcoholate, and regulating the amount of said alcoholate thus introduced to generate sufficient heat by reaction with the water in said specimen to form said cuprous oxide.
2. The improvement of claim 1 in which said alkali metal alcoholate is sodium methylate.
3. The method of testing for the sugar content of urine, comprising introducing into an aqueous solution a predetermined quantity of a mixture of solid reagents including a water-soluble cupric salt and an alkali metal alcoholate, said solution containing a predetermined quantity of the urine to be tested, dissolving said cupric salt in the aqueous solution, and at the same time beating said solution by reacting said alkali metal alcoholate with the water 5; said solution, said solution being heated by said reaction to a temperature sufiiciently high to convert said cupric salt to cuprous oxide in proportion to the reducing sugar content of said solution.
4. The method of claim 3 in which said cupric salt is copper sulfate, said alkali metal alcoholate is sodium methylate, and in which said mixture also includes a water-soluble compound providing ions selected from the group consisting of tartrate and citrate ions.
5. The method of testing the sugar content of urine, comprising introducing a urine specimen into a disposable vessel having a water-soluble coating on at least the lower part of its inside surface, said coating including a water-soluble cupric salt as one of the essential ingredients thereof, and also introducing into said vessel a solid alkali metal alcoholate in an amount suflicient to violently agitate said specimen, thereby dissolving a substantial portion of said water-soluble coating in said specimen, and at the same time generating sufiicient heat by reaction with the water in said specimen to form cuprous oxide.
6. A sugar test composition in solid, dry form, comprising a mixture of one part by weight of a water soluble cupric salt and substantially five parts by weight of an alkali metal alcoholate.
7. A sugar test composition in solid, dry form, com prising a mixture of one part by weight of a water soluble cupric salt, substantially five parts by weight of an alkali metal alcoholate, and approximately seven parts by weight of a water soluble compound providing ions selected from the group consisting of tartrate and citrate ions.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,543,961 Zoeren June 30, 1925 2,370,683 Palma Mar. 6, 1945 2,452,385 Merckel Oct. 26, 1948 2,633,410 Beckley Mar. 31, 1953
Claims (1)
1. IN THE TESTING OF AN AQUEOUS SPECIMEN FOR SUGAR CONTENT WHEREIN THE SPECIMEN IS HEATED IN THE PRESENCE OF A WATER-SOLUBLE CUPRIC SALT AT AN ALKALINE PH TO FORM CUPROUS OXIDE IN PROPORTION TO THE REDUCEING SUGAR CONTENT, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING INTRODUCING INTO SAID SPECIMEN DURING SAID TESTING A SOLID ALKALI METAL ALCOHOLATE, AND REGULATING THE AMOUNT OF SAID ALCOHOLATE THUS INTRODUCED TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT HEAT BY REACTION WITH THE WATER IN SAID SPECIMEN TO FORM SAID CUPROUS OXIDE.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US481587A US2865718A (en) | 1955-01-13 | 1955-01-13 | Urine sugar testing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US481587A US2865718A (en) | 1955-01-13 | 1955-01-13 | Urine sugar testing |
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US2865718A true US2865718A (en) | 1958-12-23 |
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Family Applications (1)
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US481587A Expired - Lifetime US2865718A (en) | 1955-01-13 | 1955-01-13 | Urine sugar testing |
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Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4314030A (en) * | 1979-02-27 | 1982-02-02 | C. A. Greiner & Sohne GmbH | Test tube for the examination of urine samples |
US4806487A (en) * | 1987-05-29 | 1989-02-21 | Analytical Innovations, Inc. | Basic drug detection method |
US4816415A (en) * | 1987-05-29 | 1989-03-28 | Analytical Innovations, Inc. | Cannabinoid detection method |
US4962025A (en) * | 1986-01-02 | 1990-10-09 | Moldowan Mervin J | Reagent alcohol test strip device |
GB2469496A (en) * | 2009-04-16 | 2010-10-20 | Aim Straight Ltd | Urinary directional aid for men incorporating cleansing means and health testing means |
WO2018149525A1 (en) | 2017-02-16 | 2018-08-23 | Umicore Ag & Co. Kg | Process for the production of metal carbonyls |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1543961A (en) * | 1923-05-07 | 1925-06-30 | Gerrit John Van Zoeren | Reagent |
US2370683A (en) * | 1940-06-17 | 1945-03-06 | Anthony V Palma | Analytical apparatus |
US2452385A (en) * | 1943-12-30 | 1948-10-26 | Frederick G Merckel | Color comparison apparatus |
US2633410A (en) * | 1949-04-13 | 1953-03-31 | Denver Chemical Mfg Company | Method and means of detecting albumin and globulin in urine and other body liquids |
-
1955
- 1955-01-13 US US481587A patent/US2865718A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1543961A (en) * | 1923-05-07 | 1925-06-30 | Gerrit John Van Zoeren | Reagent |
US2370683A (en) * | 1940-06-17 | 1945-03-06 | Anthony V Palma | Analytical apparatus |
US2452385A (en) * | 1943-12-30 | 1948-10-26 | Frederick G Merckel | Color comparison apparatus |
US2633410A (en) * | 1949-04-13 | 1953-03-31 | Denver Chemical Mfg Company | Method and means of detecting albumin and globulin in urine and other body liquids |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4314030A (en) * | 1979-02-27 | 1982-02-02 | C. A. Greiner & Sohne GmbH | Test tube for the examination of urine samples |
US4962025A (en) * | 1986-01-02 | 1990-10-09 | Moldowan Mervin J | Reagent alcohol test strip device |
US4806487A (en) * | 1987-05-29 | 1989-02-21 | Analytical Innovations, Inc. | Basic drug detection method |
US4816415A (en) * | 1987-05-29 | 1989-03-28 | Analytical Innovations, Inc. | Cannabinoid detection method |
GB2469496A (en) * | 2009-04-16 | 2010-10-20 | Aim Straight Ltd | Urinary directional aid for men incorporating cleansing means and health testing means |
US20100263113A1 (en) * | 2009-04-16 | 2010-10-21 | Michael Shelton | Urinary device |
GB2469496B (en) * | 2009-04-16 | 2013-07-17 | Aim Straight Ltd | Urinary device |
US9301870B2 (en) | 2009-04-16 | 2016-04-05 | Aim-Straight Ltd. | Urinary device having antiseptic and health testing properties |
WO2018149525A1 (en) | 2017-02-16 | 2018-08-23 | Umicore Ag & Co. Kg | Process for the production of metal carbonyls |
US11623874B2 (en) | 2017-02-16 | 2023-04-11 | Umicore Ag & Co. Kg | Process for the production of metal carbonyls |
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