Patent ID: 6762035
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: C12Q,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A solid test strip designed for use in monitoring weight loss programs and capable of enabling a person to self-monitor weight loss on a daily basis in a sample of urine, saliva or other bodily fluid that is noninvasively obtainable, which provides a color signal, indicative of the &bgr;-hydroxybutyrate content of the sample upon being dipped in the sample, removed, allowed to rest briefly and read, which solid test strip comprises1) an inert support layer and 2) a dried reagent layer comprising a porous material impregnated with a) &bgr;-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase enzyme (â€œ&bgr;-HBD), which is either (I) obtained from Alcaligenes or another source such that it is uninhibited by chloride ions or (ii) is obtained from a source that is inhibited by chloride ions and is present in a concentration at least 10 to 20 times that used when the &bgr;-HBD is obtained from a source such that it is uninhibited by chloride ions, b) nicotinamide dinucleotide (â€œNADâ€ ), c) a tetrazolium dye precursor d) an electron mediator capable of transferring an electron to said dye precursor to effect a color change, and e) a sufficient amount of a buffer having a pH in excess of 8.5 to maintain the reaction pH above 8.5 when the strip is saturated with urine or other bodily fluid.