An improved process for the production of glucose isomerase involves the addition of a specific amount of glycine (aminoacetic acid) to the fermentation medium. This increases the amount of the enzyme, glucose isomerase, that is produced by the microorganism, which preferably is a strain of Streptomyces, most preferably, S. olivochromogenes ATCC 21,114. Even further improvement is obtained by also adding a small amount of ammonium nitrate to the culture medium.

A stable glucose reference control has been found in which the true value and the measured value of glucose in blood, colorimetrically obtained with glucose test strips, is approximately the same. The glucose reference control comprises an aqueous suspension of: (i) 40 to 500 mg/dL of glucose, and (ii) about 0.1 to 0.3.times.10.sup.12 /dL red blood cells fixed with a fixing agent to render the red blood cells incapable of metabolizing glucose.

Inclusion in a blood sample of an isomer of glucose which is capable of replacing glucose in blood cell metabolism ensures accuracy of glucose assay.

A method of sensing blood glucose levels in the steps of passing glucose from a peritoneal fluid through a semi-permeable membrane and into a closed chamber, metabolizing the passed glucose in the closed chamber with a yeast suspension to produce a level of carbon dioxide and detection of the level of carbon dioxide, and controlled insulin infusion into blood as a consequence of detected carbon dioxide level. Implantable apparatus is also provided for carrying out the method within a body of liv...

Hand-held shirt-pocket portable glucose medical monitoring system for checking measurement of blood glucose or other body qualities. The system includes a disposable diagnostic reagent-lancet unit which carries a chemcial reagent strip of blood reacting chemistry. The system includes a housing structure having a visual LCD readout, a microprocessor, and photosensing circuitry which measures the change of color of the blood reacting chemistry of the disposable unit. The housing also includes a sp...

A method for monitoring the glucose level in a body fluid uses an apparatus which includes a conjugate of glucose oxidase with a fluorescent dye coated onto an optical fiber in contact with the body fluid, a source of excitation light and a fluorescence emission detector. Glucose is oxidized by oxygen in the body fluid causing a decrease in oxygen concentration at the enzyme. The fluorescent dye is sensitive to oxygen quenching so that, when the oxygen concentration decreases, fluorescence emiss...

An arrangement for prolonging the useful life of an electrochemical refillable implantable glucose sensor employing an enzyme material such as glucose oxidase immobilized on bulk particulate matter suspended in a fluid for reaction with components of bodily fluids and which enzyme material when exhausted or degraded after reaction may be replaced by fresh enzyme-loaded particles.

A blood glucose monitoring system includes a generally planar disposable adhesive patch having a needle type glucose sensor and a second electrode mounted thereon, as well as first and second electrode connectors projecting from an upper surface of the patch and being in electrical connection with the respective electrodes. A microprocessor worn by the user has positive and negative leads for specified connection to the respective electrode connectors and continuously monitors current transmitte...

This invention relates to the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid or glucosaccharic acid. An aqueous solution of glucose containing an alkali (the carbonates or bicarbonates of sodium and potassium) is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in a trickle column reactor in the presence of a supported platinum group metal catalyst.

A glucose sensor in which a gel is in contact with a pH sensing element. The gel contains immobilized glucose oxidase and gluconolactonase (EC 3.1.1.17). Gluconolactonase is present in an amount effective to accelerate the hydrolysis of D-glucono-.delta.-lactone.