Reagent for measurement of leukocytes and hemoglobin concentration in blood

Abstract

A reagent for measurement of leukocytes and hemoglobin concentration in the blood includes a cationic surfactant in an amount sufficient to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin, at least one of the following hemoglobin stabilizers: (a) sulfosalicylic acid, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, (b) 0.2 to 10.0 g/L of a water-soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, and (c) piperazine, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, and a buffer for maintaining pH at 4 to 6.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A reagent for measurement of leukocytes and hemoglobin concentration in blood, said reagent consisting essentially of: 
       (1) a cationic surfactant in an amount sufficient to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin,  
       (2) at least one hemoglobin stabilizer selected from the group consisting of the following (a), (b) and (c):  
       (a) sulfosalicylic acid, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin,  
       (b) 0.2 to 10.0 g/L of a water-soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, and  
       (c) piperazine, or its salt, in an amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, and  
       (3) a buffer for maintaining pH at 4 to 6.  
     
     
       2. The reagent as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble chelating agent is a salt of EDTA. 
     
     
       3. The reagent as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the amount effective for promoting the conversion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin is 0.2 to 10.0 g/L for sulfosalicylic acid or its salt, and 0.2 to 10.0 g/L for piperazine or its salt. 
     
     
       4. A reagent for measurement of blood leukocyte counts and hemoglobin concentrations by conversion to methemoglobin, said reagent containing: 
       (1) a cationic surfactant in an amount effective to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin,  
       (2) at least one or more hemoglobin stabilizers present in a total amount sufficient to convert the hemoglobin to methemoglobin, said at least one or more stabilizers being selected from the group consisting of the following (a), (b) and (c):  
       (a) sulfosalicylic acid or its salt,  
       (b) 0.2 to 10.0 g/L of a water-soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, and  
       (c) piperazine or its salt, and  
       (3) a buffer for maintaining pH at 4 to 6.  
     
     
       5. A reagent for measurement of blood leukocyte counts and hemoglobin concentration in blood, said reagent consisting essentially of: 
       (   1   )  one or more cationic surfactants in an amount effective to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin,    
       (   2   )    0 . 2  to  10 . 0  g/L of a water soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, and    
       (   3   )  a buffer for maintaining pH at  4  to  6 .   
     
     
       6. A reagent for measurement of blood leukocyte counts and hemoglobin concentrations by conversion to methemoglobin, said reagent comprising: 
       (   1   )  one or more cationic surfactants in an amount effective to lyse erythrocytes and denature hemoglobin,    
       (   2   )    0 . 2  to  10 . 0  g/L of a water soluble chelating agent having a nitrogen atom and a carboxyl group, said chelating agent being present in a total amount sufficient to convert the hemoglobin to methemoglobin, and    
       (   3   )  a buffer for maintaining pH at  4  to  6 .