Patent ID: 6576106
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An assembly for separating and assaying lipoprotein to determine a degree of modification of a predetermined component of a lipoprotein in a specimen, using an electrophoretic pattern of a standard sample containing a lipoprotein having the predetermined component and an electrophoretic pattern of the specimen containing a lipoprotein having the predetermined component, or a modification thereof, comprising:an electrophoretic pattern preparation means for performing electrophoresis of the standard sample and the specimen to fractionate lipoprotein of each sample, then staining said predetermined component in each sample using a reagent for detecting said predetermined component, thereby preparing an electrophoretic pattern for each sample, in which said predetermined component is visualized; a waveform diagram preparation means for optically scanning said electrophoretic patterns, in which said predetermined component is visualized, and converting each electrophoretic pattern into an optical density waveform, thereby preparing waveform diagrams of said predetermined component; and a means for judging the degree of modification of the predetermined component in the specimen by mathematically processing said electrophoretic patterns; wherein the means for judging the degree of modification of the predetermined component comprises: a first means for determining a distance â€œaâ€  from an application point of the standard sample to a central position of a fraction corresponding to the predetermined component in the standard sample, from the waveform diagram of the predetermined component of the standard sample; a second means for determining a distance â€œbâ€  from an application point of the specimen to a central position of a fraction corresponding to the predetermined component in the specimen, from the waveform diagram of the predetermined component of the specimen; and a third means for comparing the distance â€œaâ€  with the distance â€œbâ€  to determine a relative mobility â€œz(=b/a)â€  of the specimen to the standard sample, wherein the degree of modification of the predetermined component in the specimen is judged on the basis of the relative mobility â€œzâ€ .