Patent ID: 6114174
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An in-vitro method for detecting a reaction in blood caused by substances, comprising the steps of:establishing a first potential across a first predetermined spatial volume;passing a first portion of said blood through said first predetermined spatial volume;substantially continuously measuring said first potential over a first predetermined period of time;comparing said measured first potential with a first baseline;calculating the total volume of solids in said first portion of said blood as a first function of a total absolute deviation of said measured first potential from said first baseline;exposing a second portion of said blood to a substance;establishing a second potential across a second predetermined spatial volume;passing said second portion of said blood through said second predetermined spatial volume;substantially continuously measuring said second potential over a second period of time;comparing said measured second potential with a second baseline;calculating the total volume of solids in said second portion of said blood as a second function of a total absolute deviation of said measured second potential from said second baseline; andcomparing said total volume of solids in said second portion of said blood with said total volume of solids in said first portion of blood, whereby a positive reaction is established when said total volume of solids in said second portion of blood differs from said total volume of solids in said first portion of blood by more than a predetermined error factor.