Patent ID: 6030841
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: A61K,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of determining the liver function of a patient, comprising:processing a series of blood samples which have passed through the liver of the patient and which have been collected at timed intervals after introducing an effective amount of a colored or fluorescent bile acid derivative intravenously into the patient;assessing the color or fluorescence of bile acid derivative in each sample by:processing the blood sample to obtain blood plasma containing the bile acid derivative, andmeasuring the color or fluorescence of the bile acid derivative in the blood plasma; andfitting the measurements obtained in the measuring of the color or fluorescence of the bile acid derivative in the blood plasma to a plasma elimination curve and comparing the plasma elimination curve with plasma elimination curves obtained from individuals having known liver function, to arrive at a determination of liver function for the patient.