Patent ID: 6133036
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: A61B,B01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of preserving a liquid biological sample, comprising contacting said liquid biological sample with a preservative comprising sodium benzoate and citric acid, said sodium benzoate being in sufficient amount to provide a solution containing at least about 0.15% sodium benzoate (weight/volume) when said sodium benzoate is dissolved in said liquid biological sample, and said citric acid being in sufficient amount to render said solution at least about 0.025% citric acid (weight/volume) when dissolved together with said sodium benzoate in said liquid biological sample, said sodium benzoate and said citric acid amounts being sufficient to maintain said solution at about pH 4.0 or less when combined with said liquid biological sample, and said liquid biological sample being selected from the group consisting of saliva, tears, urine, blood, serum, plasma, sweat, vaginal fluids, semen, feces, mucous, breast milk, ascites, pleural effusion, lymph, synovial fluid, bone marrow, spino-cerebral fluid, and washings from bodily cavities.