Blood test container and blood tes method

Abstract

A blood test container and a blood test method are provided which facilitate the procedures starting from blood collection and ending with measurement of various components present in the blood while eliminating a risk for a tester to come into contact with the blood. A blood test container 1 having a closed-bottom tubular container 2 , a closed-bottom second tubular container having a diameter smaller than that of the tubular container 2 for accommodation therein, and a blood test reagent 3 secured onto at least one of an inner face of the tubular container and an outer face of the second tubular container. A blood test method comprising, in sequence, introducing blood into any one of the aforementioned blood test containers 1 and allowing the blood or its component to contact the blood test reagent 3.

1 . (Deleted)  
     
     
         2 . (Amended) A blood test container characterized as including a closed-bottom tubular container and a blood test reagent secured within the tubular container, and 
 further including a contact control structure effective to normally prevent the contact of blood introduced in said tubular container with said test reagent and, when centrifuged, allow a component of the blood to contact the test reagent.    
     
     
         3 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contact control strucutre includes an inner container portion extending along an inner face toward a bottom of said tubular container and apertured to have a hole at its bottom, and a solid member accommodated in said inner container portion for closing the hole and configured to fall through the hole when centrifuged, and 
 wherein said blood test reagent is provided onto either the inner face of the tubular container or on an outer face of the inner container portion.    
     
     
         4 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contact control strucutre includes an open-ended tubular member accommodated in the tubular container, and an annular member radially extending between the outer face of the tubular member and the inner face of the tubular container to contact therewith and positioned to initially locate below said test reagent, and 
 wherein the blood test reagent is provided on at least one of the inner face of the tubular container and the outer face of the tubular member.    
     
     
         5 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contact control strucutre includes an open-ended tubular member accommodated in the tubular container and having a bottom end brought into contact with an interior bottom face of the tabular container, and a pressing means for pressing the tubular member against the interior bottom face of the tubular container so that the blood introduced into the tubular member is prevented from leaking therefrom and, when centrifuged, a component of the blood is allowed to leak therefrom, and 
 wherein said blood test reagent is provided on at least one of the inner face of the tubular container and the outer face of the tubular member.    
     
     
         6 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said contact control structure includes an open-ended tubular member secured onto the inner face of the tubular container, and a solid member secured adjacent a bottom end of the tabular member for closing a bottom opening of the tubular member and designed to fall down therethrough when centrifuged, and wherein said test reagent is secured to locate at a position above said solid member.  
     
     
         7 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 4 , wherein inner and outer peripheral surfaces of said annular member are secured to the outer face of the tubular member and the inner face of the tubular container, respectively, with the aid of paraffin of the formula C n H 2n+2  (where n is 18-22).  
     
     
         8 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , characterized that said contact control structure includes an open-ended tubular member having a smaller diameter than the tubular container for arrangement within the tubular container, 
 that said blood test reagent is secured onto at least one of the inner face of the tubular container and the outer face of the tubular member, and    that a space defined between the tubular container and the tubular member, inclusive of a region where the blood test reagent is secured, is sealed by a sealing member comprised of thixotropic material having a viscosity of 5,000-500,000 centipoise at 25° C.    
     
     
         9 . (Amended) The blood test container characterized that the blood test container includes a closed-bottom, tubular container and a blood test reagent secured within the tubular container, 
 that said contact control structure includes: 
 a flexible inner resin tube accommodated in the tubular container and having a peripheral surface portion brought into close contact with an inner face of the tubular container and an end portion dimensioned to have an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular container so that its peripheral surface is spaced from the inner face of the tubular container to provide a space therebetween, and  
 a communicating member disposed within said space so as to be moveable; and  
   that said blood test reagent is located within the space and secured onto either the inner face of the tubular container or the outer face of the inner tube.    
     
     
         10 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said inner tube is opened at its top and bottom ends and an outer diameter of said top end is made smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular container.  
     
     
         11 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said inner tube has a closed bottom and an outer diameter of its portion adjacent the bottom is made smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular container.  
     
     
         12 . (Amended) The blood test container characterized that the blood test container includes a closed-bottom tubular container and a blood test reagent secured within the tubular container, and 
 further includes a bottom-closed second tubular container having a smaller diameter than said tubular container and accommodated within the tubular container, and    that said blood test reagent is provided on at least one of the inner face of the tubular container and the outer face of the second tubular container.    
     
     
         13 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said second tubular container is provided at its bottom with a plurality of through-holes having diameters of 0.1-10 μm.  
     
     
         14 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said second tubular container is provided at its bottom with a plurality of through-holes having diameters of 10-400 μm, and a porous region including said plurality of through-holes is located at a position below said test reagent.  
     
     
         15 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that a space defined between the tubular container and the second tubular container, inclusive of a region where the blood test reagent is secured, is sealed by a sealing member comprised of water-soluble material.  
     
     
         16 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that a space defined between the tubular container and the second tubular container, inclusive of a region where the blood test reagent is secured, is sealed by a sealing member comprised of material having a melting point of not below 40° C.  
     
     
         17 . The blood tests container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized as further including a stopper having: 
 a first stopper portion extending upwardly from a distal end of the stopper and having a relatively small diameter dimensioned to be press fitted into a top opening of the second tubular container;    a second stopper portion neighboring the first stopper portion and sized to be press fitted into a top opening of the tubular container;    said first stopper portion having on its outer face a groove extending upwardly from its bottom end to points which are located above its out face region that is to be press fitted in the second tubular portion; and    said second tubular container having on its inner face a groove extending downwardly from its top end to points which are located below its inner face region that receives the first stopper portion.    
     
     
         18 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said hole provided in the bottom of the second tubular container is sealed by a polymer or metal film having a thickness up to 100 μm.  
     
     
         19 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said hole provided in the bottom of the second tubular container is sealed by a film formed of material having a melting point of not below 40° C.  
     
     
         20 . The blood test container as recited in any one of claims  12 - 19 , characterized as further including a serum or plasma separating medium accommodated in said second tubular container.  
     
     
         21 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said second tubular container has at its bottom a downwardly-projecting trap portion for trapping erythrocyte and is provided adjacent thee trap portion with a hemocyte separating portion having a plurality of through-holes 0.1-20 μm in diameter.  
     
     
         22 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized that said second tubular container has at its bottom a plurality of through-holes and that a layer comprised of 0.1-200 μm hyrophilic fine particles is disposed to overlie said through-holes.  
     
     
         23 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 22 , characterized that said second tubular container includes a tubular member opened at its both ends and a bottom member secured onto the bottom end of the tubular member and having said plurality of through-holes.  
     
     
         24 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized as further including a water-soluble cover member secured to the bottom of the second tubular container for closing said hole provided in the bottom of the second tubular container.  
     
     
         25 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 12 , characterized as further including a cover member formed of a metal or magnet and secured to the bottom of said second tubular container for closing said hole provided in the bottom of the second tubular container.  
     
     
         26 . (Amended) The blood test container as recited in any one of claims  2 - 25 , wherein a part of said blood test reagent is exposed and the remaining part thereof is covered with a protective layer so that its contact with blood or the like is prevented.  
     
     
         27 . (Amended) The blood test container as recited in  claim 2 , characterized that the blood test container further includes a sliding switch arranged to slidably grip a side wall of the tubular container for vertical movement along the side wall, and 
 that said blood test reagent is secured to a portion of the sliding switch that locates within the tubular container.    
     
     
         28 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 27 , further including a tube having a smaller diameter than said tubular container and accommodated in the tubular container, 
 said tube having a bottom end located at a position below the lowest position that the sliding switch can assume.    
     
     
         29 . The blood test container as recited in  claim 27  or  28 , characterized that the blood test container further includes: 
 a closed-bottom second tubular container arranged to accommodate said tubular container carrying the sliding switch, and  
 a stopper provided to simultaneously close respective top openings of said two tubular containers; and  
 that the two tubular containers are both reduced in interior pressure.  
 
     
     
         30 . (Amended) The blood test container as recited in any one of claims  2 - 28 , wherein an interior of the blood test container is reduced in pressure.  
     
     
         31 . (Amended) A blood test method characterized as comprising, in sequence, introducing blood into the blood test container as recited in any one of claims  2 - 30  and is allowing the blood or its component to contact said blood test reagent.  
     
     
         32 . (Amended) A blood test method characterized as comprising, in sequence, introducing blood into the blood container as recited in any one of claims  2 - 31  and, subsequent to centrifugation thereof, allowing a component of the blood to contact said blood test reagent.  
     
     
         33 . (Added) A blood test container characterized as including a closed-bottom tubular container and a test reagent for immunochromatography fixed within said tubular container.  
     
     
         34 . (Added) A blood test container as recited in  claim 33 , wherein a portion of said test reagent for immunochromatography is exposed and the remaining portion thereof is covered with a protective layer so that the contact of the test reagent for immunochromatography with blood or the like is prevented at the remaining portion.