Patent ID: 6791674
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An analytical method of analyzing blood using near infrared spectroscopy, comprising the steps of:(a) applying light having a wavelength of 700 nm-1100 nm through a blood collection receptacle to a sample of the blood contained in the receptacle; (b) detecting at least one of diffusely reflected light, diffusely transmitted light and diffusely transmitted and reflected light from the blood sample in the blood collection receptacle by an optical sensor to measure a near infrared absorption spectrum of the blood sample; and (c) modifying the measured spectrum using a calibration equation which has been determined in advance from a spectrum measured using a receptacle with the same specifications as said blood collection receptacle and following the steps (a) and (b) relative to blood specimens with known object characteristics, thereby determining an object characteristic of the blood sample; wherein light having a wavelength of 700 nm-1100 nm is applied to a ceramic plate which is a reference material so as to obtain an intensity of the light transmitted through the ceramic plate as a reference value for measurements of said optical sensor involving said blood collection receptacle and said receptacle with the same specifications as said blood collection receptacle.