Patent ID: 7947467

Claim:
A method of identifying a pathological condition in a female subject which comprises: positioning a secretion-monitoring article to receive a biological fluid secreted from the subject, the secretion-monitoring article comprising a body that includes an absorbent material for absorbing the biological fluid and an indicator system having a hydrophobic chemical composition comprising at least one indicator agent and at least one ion-balance reagent which is a quaternary amine, wherein the indicator system provides an indication of physiological conditions associated with a pH or a buffer capacity of the biological fluid, which indication is stable and remains indicative for at least 48 hours; and viewing the article within the at least 48 hour period to identify the pathological condition based on the indication determined by the indicator system, wherein the at least one ion-balance reagent and the at least one indicator agent are present in amounts sufficient to provide a molar ratio that is within the range of 3:1 to 10:1.