Formulations comprising mercury-containing reagents for detecting disease

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a formulation for detecting a species indicative of a disease in a patient. The formulation comprises a mercury-containing reagent which, when contacted with a fluid sample from the patient, colourimetrically indicates whether the fluid sample contains the species. The mercury-containing reagent is contained within a non-flowing carrier which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, causes rapid mixing of substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent and the fluid sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A formulation for detecting a species indicative of a disease in a patient, the formulation comprising:
 a mercury-containing reagent which, when contacted with a fluid sample from the patient, colourimetrically indicates whether the fluid sample contains the species,   
       wherein the mercury-containing reagent is contained within a non-flowing carrier which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, causes rapid mixing of substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent and the fluid sample. 
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-flowing carrier is a gel carrier which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, rapidly disintegrates to release substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the gel carrier disintegrates to release substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent within less than about 1 minute after being exposed to the fluid sample. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the gel carrier has a viscosity of between about 50,000 and about 1,000,000 cps. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the gel carrier is a hydrogel. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the gel carrier is formed from any one of the following: polyacrylamides, carboxy methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(acrylamide-co-maleic acid), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), alginates, carbomers, polyoximers, natural and synthetic gums, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the formulation comprises between about 20 and 80 vol % of the gel carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the non-flowing carrier is an absorbent material which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, rapidly absorbs the fluid sample. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material absorbs the fluid sample within less than about 1 minute after being exposed to the fluid sample. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material is a fibrous material. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material is formed from any one or more of the following: paper pulp, cotton wool, cellulosic fibres, synthetic fibres, super absorbent polymers and polyvinyl alcohol fibres. 
     
     
         12 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the formulation comprises between about 10 and 30 vol % of the total volume of the absorbent material. 
     
     
         13 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the mercury-containing reagent comprises mercury dissolved in an acid solution. 
     
     
         14 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the mercury-containing reagent comprises a source of Hg +  ions and a source of Hg 2+  ions in an acid solution. 
     
     
         15 . The formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the mercury-containing reagent further comprises one or more of the following: a source of Ni 2+  ions, a source of Cd 2+  ions, 1-nitroso-2-naphthol, a diazonium compound and an Azo compound. 
     
     
         16 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises one or more of the following agents contained within the non-flowing carrier: dispersing agents, solubilising agents, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the formulation is provided in a unit form. 
     
     
         18 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid sample is a urine sample from the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the species indicative of a disease in a patient is tyrosine. 
     
     
         20 . The formulation of  claim 19 , wherein the disease is a cancer. 
     
     
         21 . A formulation for detecting a species indicative of a disease in a patient, the formulation comprising:
 a mercury-containing reagent which, when contacted with a fluid sample from the patient, colourimetrically indicates whether the fluid sample contains the species; and   a gel carrier in which the mercury-containing reagent is contained but which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, rapidly disintegrates to release substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent.   
     
     
         22 . An absorbent pad for detecting a species indicative of a disease in a patient, the pad comprising:
 an absorbent material adapted to rapidly absorb a fluid sample from the patient;   a mercury-containing reagent contained within the absorbent material, the mercury-containing reagent being capable of colourimetrically indicating whether the fluid sample from the patient contains the species upon contact with the fluid sample,   
       whereby, upon exposure of the pad to the fluid sample, the absorbent material rapidly absorbs the fluid sample thereby causing rapid mixing of substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent and the fluid sample. 
     
     
         23 . A kit for detecting a species indicative of a disease in a patient, the kit comprising:
 a mercury-containing reagent which, when contacted with a fluid sample from the patient, colourimetrically indicates whether the fluid sample contains the species;   a non-flowing carrier in which the mercury-containing reagent is contained but which, upon exposure to the fluid sample, causes rapid mixing of substantially all of the mercury-containing reagent and the fluid sample; and   a container in which the non-flowing carrier and the mercury-containing reagent is contained.