Reagents and methods and systems using them

Abstract

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to a reagent that includes an effective amount of an adsorber to remove interfering species present during heavy metal level measurement in a fluid sample. In some examples, the reagent can include an effective amount of an adsorber to remove a suitable amount of glutathione from the fluid sample such that the glutathione does not interfere with measurements of lead levels in the fluid sample.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of measuring a level of a heavy metal in a mammalian fluid sample, the method comprising:
 adding the mammalian fluid sample to a container comprising an effective amount of a lysing agent to lyse cells in the mammalian fluid sample and an effective amount of an adsorber to adsorb sulfhydryl species present in the lysed fluid sample; and   detecting the level of the heavy metal present in the lysed fluid sample.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the lysing agent to lyse the cells and not remove substantial amounts of heavy metal from the mammalian fluid sample. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the lysing agent to be an acid. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising detecting lead in the lysed fluid sample using a gold colloid sensor. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the adsorber to be effective to adsorb glutathione in the mammalian fluid sample. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the adsorber as a powder that comprises an average particle size of less than or equal to 100 microns. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the adsorber as a powder that comprises a surface area of at least 1000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the adsorber as a powdered activated carbon. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising configuring the adsorber with a non-activated carbon. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the mammalian fluid sample as fresh blood. 
     
     
         51 . A method of facilitating measurement of a heavy metal in a mammalian fluid sample, the method comprising providing an effective amount of an adsorber to be added to a treatment reagent selected to lyse cells in the mammalian fluid sample. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising providing a sensor configured to bind to the heavy metal in the lysed, mammalian fluid sample. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising providing a device configured to read the sensor with bound heavy metal. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising providing a container comprising heparin and configured to receive the mammalian fluid sample. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising configuring the treatment reagent as an effective amount of an acid to lyse the cells. 
     
     
         56 . A method of facilitating measurement of lead in a mammalian blood sample, the method comprising providing an effective amount of an adsorber to be added to a treatment reagent selected to lyse cells in the mammalian blood sample. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising providing a sensor configured to bind to the lead in the lysed, mammalian blood sample. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising providing a device configured to read the sensor with bound lead. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising providing a container comprising heparin and configured to receive the mammalian blood sample. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising configuring the treatment reagent as an effective amount of hydrochloric acid to lyse the cells.