Estimation of protein contamination in latex.Latex contains a significant amount of water soluble soluble /sol·u·ble/ (sol´u-b'l) susceptible of being dissolved. sol·u·ble adj. Capable of being dissolved, especially easily dissolved. proteins. Latex products such as gloves, condoms and surgical blooms come into contact with humans, and contaminating con·tam·i·nate tr.v. con·tam·i·nated, con·tam·i·nat·ing, con·tam·i·nates 1. To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture. 2. To expose to or permeate with radioactivity. adj. proteins pose health risks. Latex protein is easily absorbed through skin and can trigger allergic al·ler·gic adj. 1. Of, caused, or characterized by an allergy. 2. Having an allergy or exhibiting an allergic reaction to a substance. allergic pertaining to or caused by allergy. responses. Fortunately, most of the soluble protein in latex can be easily removed by simply washing the latex products in water. Because of the health risk associated with latex protein, latex-based products that are likely to come into contact with humans require removal of the protein and careful monitoring of the protein content in the finished products. Estimation estimation In mathematics, use of a function or formula to derive a solution or make a prediction. Unlike approximation, it has precise connotations. In statistics, for example, it connotes the careful selection and testing of a function called an estimator. of protein concentration in latex has been complicated, time consuming and has required specialized spe·cial·ize v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·es v.intr. 1. To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study. 2. skills and instruments. Most protein assays are based on colorimetric col·or·im·e·ter n. 1. Any of various instruments used to determine or specify colors, as by comparison with spectroscopic or visual standards. 2. methods. Colorimetric assays require a large sample volume, running of known standards, use of colorimeters, plotting of standard curves and so forth. The most widely used method for estimation of protein in latex is based on the method of Lowry et al. (ref. 1). The Lowry method is complicated to perform and has low sensitivity. A simple and reliable method for estimation of protein content in latex called the Latex dotMetric protein assay has been developed. Protein estimation can be performed anywhere and with a minimum of skill and instrumentation. The test takes 10-15 minutes to perform after protein has been extracted from the test samples. The test detects protein in latex in amounts as small as 5 [mu]g/ml latex protein. A proprietary test strip and reagent reagent /re·a·gent/ (re-a´jent) a substance used to produce a chemical reaction so as to detect, measure, produce, etc., other substances. re·a·gent n. solutions have been developed such that when a 1 [mu]l protein solution is applied onto the test strip, it produces compact and symmetrical symmetrical equally on both sides. symmetrical multifocal encephalopathy inherited disease in two forms: Limousin form appears at about a month old with blindness, forelimb hypermetria, hyperesthesia, nystagmus, aggression, weight protein spots (figure 1). The diameters of the protein spots are proportional to protein concentration (figure 2). Thus, by measuring the diameter of protein spots with the dotMetric card (supplied with each kit), protein concentration can be reliably determined. Figure 2 shows the linear relationship of protein concentration (bovine serum albumin Bovine serum albumin, Bovine Albumin, BSA: A serum albumin protein that can be used as a diluent or a blocking agent in numerous applications including ELISAs (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), blots and immunohistochemistry. , BSA 1. BSA - Business Software Alliance. 2. BSA - Bidouilleurs Sans Argent. ) with the diameters of protein spots. A protein spot measuring scale, the dotMetric card, has been prepared using these plots (figure 2) for measurement of protein concentration in test samples. The protein assay kit consists of a protein extraction solution, test strips, reagent solutions for developing protein spot on the test strips, a card for estimating protein concentration by measuring the protein spot diameter and a simple-to-follow protocol. Protein estimation protocol The protein estimation protocol involves a simple step for extracting soluble protein from latex. Simply take a piece of latex and weigh it, shake it Shake It may refer to:
Discussion Our study has shown the dotMetric protein assay to be highly reproducible and simple to perform. The reliability of this assay has been compared with the standard Lowry method generally used for estimation of protein in latex products. In our findings, the dotMetric protein assay has been more sensitive than the Lowry method and has detected as little as 5 [mu]g/ml of protein. The dotMetric assay does not require use of any instrument or specialized skills, making it a particularly useful tool for rapid estimation of the range of protein concentration in an industrial production setting. The test can be performed on the factory floor. Reference [1.] Lowry, O.H., Rosebrough, N.J, Farr, A.L. and Randal, R.J. (1951) J. Biol. Chem., 100, 201-220. |
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