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Description
The Urine Preservative with Combined Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties preserves urine analytes at ambient temperatures for extended periods of time. The product does not require refrigeration and does not alter urinary pH. It also eliminates or reduces the primary causes of analyte destruction in urine and bacterial contamination and oxidation. The new preservative exhibits antimicrobial and antioxidant properties by combining a known topical anti-infective agent with a known preservative chosen for its antioxidant properties. Only 0.4 mg/liter of the preservative is required to preserve one urine sample. The non-toxic and non-acidic preservative can also be used to preserve urea, ammonia, 3-methylhistidine, nitrogen, calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride for extended periods.
Benefits
Easy to Prepare and Use:
This solution is stable and easy to prepare. It is also easy for the average person to use and is capable of coating an aliquot tube.
Inexpensive:
This technology is inexpensive to produce. In addition, since samples may be stored at room temperature the costs which would normally be incurred for the refrigeration and freezing of samples is eliminated.
Refrigeration Not Required:
Urine analytes may be stored for prolonged periods of time at room temperature. In addition, since this technology does not require refrigeration, urine may be collected in remote settings where it was not previously feasible to do so.
Non-toxic and Maintains pH:
Since it is non-acidic, this preservative does not alter the pH of a sample. In addition, unlike thymol and thymerasol, this preservative is non-toxic.
Potential Application(s)
Hospitals, Doctor Offices and Laboratories:
This technology has potential applications for any sector of the medical industry that collects, tests and stores urine samples. Use of this preservative will eliminate the need for refrigerated storage of certain samples.
Insurance Companies:
Insurance companies collect and test urine samples for policy approval. These samples are often transmitted through the mail and stored for extended periods of time.
In Home Use:
This technology would allow patients the convenience of collecting urine samples in their home and then mailing the sample back to the physicians office or laboratory for testing.
Test Kits:
As part of a test kit, this technology would help to preserve a urine sample.
Remote Settings:
By eliminating the need to freeze or refrigerate samples, this preservative will allow urine samples to be collected in remote settings throughout the world, where dry ice is unavailable, not feasible or simply just too expensive.
Technology Commercialization Status
Development Status:
The ability of this technology to preserve 17 urine analytes over an extended period of time was verified for 12 months using two separate pooled samples.
Patent Status:
The invention, " Urine Preservative with Combined Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties," is protected under patent number 6,261,844, issued on July 17, 2001. The patent is owned by the United States of America and was developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Contact for Technical Information:
NASA Johnson Space Center
Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office
Mail Code HA
2101 NASA Rd. 1
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 483-1749
Fax: (281) 244-8452
E-mail: commercialization@jsc.nasa.gov
Related Technologies
Contact
If your company is interested in this technology please contact:
JSC Technology Transfer
Phone: (281) 483-3809
Public Release Date: 5/17/2000
Reference Number: TOP9-113
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