Total protein measurement using whole blood refractometry

摘要

Optical systems and methods for quantifying total protein in whole blood or other multiphase liquids and colloidal suspensions use refractometry without any preliminary steps such as cell separation or centrifugation. The refractometer is integrated with the flow cell so that it can measure the refractive index of a flowing sample based on the substantially cell-free boundary layer of the sample that is present under a particular flow situation. The dimensions of the flow cell are selected to create a cell-free layer in the flow of whole blood, the cell-free layer being thick enough to reduce scattering of light from the refractometer light source. Numerical methods are used to compensate for scattering artifacts. The numerical compensation method is based on the slope and width of the peak in the derivative curve of the angular spectral image of the flowing sample, generated by refractive index measurement.