Reichert 1310400A User guide

REICHERT TS METER Refractometer
Model 1310400A

Reichert TS-METER
Total Solids Refractometer
Model 1310400A

Instruction Manual

1. 0 Introduction.................................... 2

2.0 Operating Instructions ...................... 2

3.0 Zero Setting.....................................3

4.0 T emperature Compensation ............... 4

5.0 Dipping Refractometry ..................... 5

6. 0 Air Bubble ...................................... 5

7.0 Non-Aqueous Solutions ................... 5

8.0 Use of TS METER Refractometer

Conversion T ables............................ 5

9.0 Serum T ot al Solids and Water Measure-

ments: Serum and Urine ................... 6

10.0 Estimation of Protein by

Refractometry .................................. 6

11.0 Estimation of Specific Gravity and T otal

Solids of Urine by Refractometry....... 7

12.0 Estimation of Concentration of Other

Body Fluids and of Pure Solutions .... 7

13.0 Refraction Scale ............................... 7

14.0 Information Obtainable with the

REICHERT TS METER Refractometer .......

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Determinations are precise and rapid and
require only a drop of fluid sample. The value
on the appropriate scale seen through the eye­piece, is read where the sharp boundary
between dark and light fields crosses the scale.
The instruments are temperature compensated
for temperatures between 60°F (16°C) and
100°F (38°C). The reading does not need to be
adjusted for the sample or ambient temperature.

The accuracy of the determination of total
solids–or water–in plasma and urine from
measurement of refractive index, and for the
measurement of specific gravity of urine from
refractive index, has been well documented.

1,2,3, 20

The estimation of plasma or serum
protein concentration by refractometry has also
been advocated for many years.
accuracy of this determination is satisfactory
for clinical use although it is not as reliable as
the measurement of total solids and of specific
gravity.

4-9

The

2.0 OPERA TING INSTRUCTIONS

Hold the instrument in a horizontal position.
T o minimize evaporation place the cover plate
over the measuring prism, then place the
sample liquid on the exposed top or bottom
of the measuring prism. The liquid will be

8

drawn into the space between the prism and
the cover plate by capillary action. T ake care
to avoid lifting the cover plate before the
reading is made. A dropper may be used to
transfer the sample to the measuring prism.
The dropper should be plastic to minimize the
possibility of scratching the prism surface.

The REICHERT TS METER Model
1310400A T ot al Solids Refractometer has been
designed for simple, rapid microanalysis in
biomedical, chemistry and classroom laborato­ries. The determination of concentrations of
solutions is one of the oldest uses of
refractometry . The TS METER Refractometer
offers unprecedented simplicity of application,
lending itself to checks and controls of many
laboratory reagents, preparations, pharmaceuti­cals and specimens.

Scales are calibrated for protein concentration
of plasma or serum (grams/100mL) and
specific gravity of urine and refractive index

2

Alternately , the instrument may be loaded by
swinging the cover plate over the body of the
instrument to expose the prism and the cover
plate surfaces. A small sample is then placed
on the measuring prism. T o minimize evapo­ration, close the cover plate over the measuring
prism immediately .

T o hold the instrument for reading, place
your middle finger on nameplate and press
the plastic cover gently, but firmly . This
spreads the sample in a thin, even layer over
the prism. Point the instrument toward a
bright window or other source of illumina­tion, such as a lamp. It can also be placed on

a specially designed illuminated refractometer
table stand. T o obtain the optimum contrast
between light and dark boundary , the instru­ment must be properly tilted toward the
window or light source. Increased contrast and
sharpness of the boundary may be obtained by
using a vertical, gold color fluorescent lamp.

Focus the scale seen in the eyepiece by rotating
the eyepiece. This setting does not need to be
changed as long as the same individual
continues to use the instrument.

Read the appropriate scale at the point where
the dividing line between bright and dark fields
cross. Use the conversion tables in this manual,
(pages 9-14), if required.

Use a soft cloth or tissue moistened with water
to wipe the prism and dry thoroughly. If the
prism surface or cover plate is not cleaned
before the next sample is loaded, an erroneous
or fuzzy reading may result. Do not immerse
the eyepiece or the black focusing ring in water
and do not use hot water. Never use gritty
cleaning compounds to clean the prism.
WARNING: Never expose the instrument to
temperatures above 150°F (60°C).

3.0 ZERO SETTING

The zero setting of the TS METER Refracto­meter rarely needs adjustment. In order to
check adjustment make sure the temperature of
the instrument is between 70°F (21°C) and
85°F (29°C) and take a reading on distilled
water as explained previously. If a reading
departs from zero by more than .05% (1/2
division) gently pry through the cement prism
seal and turn the adjustment screw, with the
appropriate tool, clockwise to increase the
reading, counter-clockwise to decrease it. Make
sure that final motion is clockwise. Seal the

hole with caulking compound after correct
reading has been obtained.

NOTE: Caulking compound is supplied with
the instrument.

3

4.0 TEMPERA TURE COMPENSATION

The actual physical quantity measured by the
TS METER is refractive index. The TS
METER’s scales show this value as specific
gravity, protein concentration and refraction.
The relationship between refractive index and
the quantity used is derived from an analysis of
published and unpublished experimental data.
Since refractive index changes appreciably with
temperature, the conversion formulas are valid
at a standard temperature only .

The TS METER Refractometer is temperature
compensated to give correct readings directly
on aqueous solutions at all temperatures
ranging from 60°F (16°C) to 100°F (38°C).
The maximum error at the extremes of the
instrument and temperature ranges is 0.1%
but the actual error over the most useful

portion is much less, as shown in Figure 3. The
largest error occurs at the lowest scale readings,
and particularly with pure water at temperatures
of 65°F (18°C) and below. If water is used for
calibration, the temperature should be 70°F
(21°C) or above.

The TS METER Refractometer, provides temper­ature compensation and reads solid standards
correctly only at temperatures between 65°F
(18°C) and 70°F (21°C).

Figure 3 Temperature response of Model 1310400A TS METER

4

5.0 DIPPING REFRACTOMETRY

7.0 NON-AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

T o obtain a sharp shadow line and best possible
compensation, the refractometer prism must be
in temperature equilibrium with the sample to
be measured or a sharp shadow line will not be
produced. No special precautions are required
if the sample is small because it will equilibriate
to the instrument’s temperature immediately .
However, if the refractometer is used as a
dipping instrument, three to five minutes
should be allowed if the temperature of the
solution differs substantially from that of the
instrument.

WARNING: It is extremely important that the
hole of the zero setting screw be well caulked
so that fluids do not enter and damage the
instrument when immersed or when being
washed. Use caulking compound supplied with
the instrument.

6.0 AIR BUBBLE

T emperature compensation is produced with
optical action of a liquid filled cavity arranged
in the optical path. This cavity is hermetically
sealed and cannot leak.

Thermal expansion of the liquid is accommodated
with an air bubble which is kept out of the optical
path by a bubble trap placed at the end of the
cavity. In transit or under severe
vibration, the bubble may escape the trap and
appear in the visible portion of the refrac­tometer prism. If this occurs, the instrument
should be held vertically, eyepiece down, and
shaken lightly. This will allow the bubble to
pass into the trap where it will be held during
all normal operations.

The TS METER is temperature compensated
for aqueous solutions. The refractive index
temperature coefficient refractive index of oils,
hydrocarbons or other liquid products is
generally larger than that of water. Precautions
should thus be taken if materials other than
aqueous solutions are measured.

At temperatures between 65°F (18°C) and
70°F (21°C), the reading will generally be
correct for all products. Above and below this
range there will be an error in the same
direction as that produced with the conven­tional, uncompensated type of refractometers,
but of about half the magnitude. The tempera­ture correction necessary for specific non­aqueous solutions will be furnished upon
request.

8.0 USE OF TS METER REFRACTOMETER
CONVERSION TABLES

If using the direct reading scales in the instru­ment and the conversion tables in this manual,
(pages 9-14), remember that these measurements
are specific for two types: plasma/serum and
urine. The scales are NOT a valid measure of
other samples without conversion.

5

9.0 SERUM TOTAL SOLIDS AND WA TER
MEASUREMENTS: SERUM AND
URINE SOLUTE CONCENTRATIONS
BASED UPON WATER

The convenience of estimating serum total
solids with the TS METER Refractometer
makes it useful not merely as an absolute and
comparative measure of solids, but also as a
measure of serum water. The concentration of
water in serum (g/100 mL) and percent water in
serum (g/100 mL) are given in the conversion
table. Individual solute concentrations are
readily converted from a serum to a serum
water base; e.g., serum sodium, 146mEq/L of
serum; TS METER reading, 9.0%; water
concentration (from conversion table), 93.3 gm/
100 mL or .933 kg/mL; and 146/.933 = 156
mEq of sodium/kg of serum water. If desired,
the concentration of sodium in extra-cellular
fluid, corrected for Donnan ratio, can be found
from 156 x 0.95 = 148 mEq of sodium/kg of
water of extracellular fluid.

Similarly, the conversion t ables shown at the
end of this manual can help you determine
urinary water as a percent or as concentration;
e.g., urine reading on the specific gravity scale,

1.035; actual urine solids, 8.5%; urine water,

91.5 gm/100 gm or 94.5 gm/100 mL.

10.0 ESTIMATION OF PROTEIN
BY REFRACTOMETRY

Although it is practical for many purposes to es­timate total serum protein by refractometric meth­ods, certain points should be kept in mind.

Measurement of serum protein depends on the
high correlation between refraction and total
solids. In the computation of the table, the two
non-protein solids fractions are considered:
ultrafiltrates proportional to water concentra­tion, and lipids (and other high molecular
weight compounds proportional to the protein
concentration). T otal non-protein solids is the
sum of these two fractions. While the accuracy
of estimate of total solids is approximately +.1
gm%, that of protein may be somewhat less
This follows from the variability of concentra­tion of such serum solutes as glucose, urea,
salts and lipids, especially in certain disease

8

states.
The TS METER Refractometer reticle and

conversion tables (pages 9—14) are scaled
primarily for the measurement of serum or
plasma protein and must not be applied
indiscriminately to other protein-containing
solutions. Pure water set and read at scale zero
is sufficient to check the TS METER since the
instrument is itself standardized optically . If
further testing is desired, it is advisable to use
an aqueous solution whose refractive index is
well known from concentrative conversion

15,16

tables.

7

The numerical relationship between refraction
and total serum protein depends upon the factor
used to convert human serum protein nitrogen
to protein. The recommended factor, 6.54,
provides values from protein concentration
essentially consistent with serum total solids
and nonprotein solids.

14,17

T otal protein in urine and certain other fluids
can be measured refractometrically from the
determination of total solids in the fluid before
and after protein has been removed by heat.

9,18

6

11.0 ESTIMATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY
AND TOTAL SOLIDS OF URINE BY
REFRACTOMETRY

12.0 ESTIMATION OF CONCENTRTION
OF OTHER BODY FLUIDS AND OF
PURE SOLUTIONS

In part because the TS METER Refractometer
measures total solids in urine to an accuracy of

+

.lgm %, and since it requires a change of ca.
.25gm % in total solids to change specific
gravity by ca. .001 units, optical urinometry is
excellent for clinical measurement of specific
gravity. The reticle of the TS METER Refracto­meter, and conversion tables (pages 9–14) are
scaled for human urine. Few normal human
urines exceed 1.035; much higher values
suggest the presence of unusual solutes in the
specimen which have high specific gravity
increments per osmol (e.g., glucose, sucrose,
protein, radiopaque iodine compounds, sodium
sulfate, etc.). Because refraction correlates
relatively poorly with specific gravity, in
contrast to total solids in solutions of variable
composition, especially at high concentrations,
refractometric readings will not provide reliable
extrapolation of urine specific gravity to values
in excess of 1.035. Such extrapolation is
particularly not advised in animals which may
produce exceedingly hypergravic and
hypersteric urines. Urinary total solids or the
refractive index difference as a measure of
absolute and relative concentration is a
preferred method.

Fluids such as pancreatic juice, saliva and
prostatic fluid may also be analyzed refracto­metrically. However , interpretation of such
refractions should not be made without
reference to suitable standardization; it may be
inappropriate to use the TS METER scale of
serum directly for this purpose.

20

13.0 REFRACTION SCALE

The refraction or refractive index difference
scale (0-320) allows a check of a single solute
concentration to be made in seconds.

Extensive data is given in the Manual “T ables of
Properties of Aqueous Solutions Related to In­dex of Refraction,”16 (Cat. No. 10403), that tabu­lates the refraction of particular aqueous solu­tions against osmotic pressure, specific
gravity, molarity , solute concentration and water
concentration.

In addition, graphs for other solutions can be
prepared by plotting points for several known
concentrations against refraction.

If human urine being analyzed is hypogravic (spe­cific gravity less than 1.017) under concentration
test, estimation of specific gravity by refracto­metric means is exceptionally accurate, regard­less of variation in relative composition (e.g., salt,
urea). As a clinical measure of such renal dys­function, therefore, optical urinometry is an ex­cellent diagnostic tool. With progressive renal
failure, diverse measures of urinary concentra­tion such as osmolality, tot al solids, specific grav­ity, and refraction converge to narrow ranges
which are similarly pathognomonic.19 The fact
that these measures diverge in the maximally con­centrated urine of normal individuals has no bear­ing on pathologic or diagnostic significance.

7

14.0 INFORMATION OBTAINABLE

WITH THE REICHERT TS METER

PLASMA OR SERUM, 68°F (20°C).

1. T otal Solids % Composition by W eight,
(TS%). Read instrument scale of protein and
use Conversion T able.

2. Water % Composition by Weight, (Water
%). Subtract total solids % composition above
from 100%.

3. Tot al Solids Concentration, grams 100mL.,
68°F (20°C), (CTS,g/100mL). Read instrument
scale and use Conversion T able.

4. Water Concentration, grams/100mL, 68°F
(20°C), (Cw, g/100mL). Read instrument scale
and use Conversion T able.

5. Specific Gravity , 68°F (20°C), (D
Read instrument scale and use Conversion T able.

6. Protein Concentration, grams/100mL,
68°F (20°C), (CPR, g/100mL). Direct scale
reading with TS Meter .

7. Concentration T otal Solids relative to
water (CTS ÷ Cw, x 102 = grams/100g water).

REFRACTIVE INDEX, 20°C. (REFRACTIVE
INDEX AND REFRACTION)

20/20

sp. g).

URINE, 68°F (20°C).

1. Specific Gravity, 68°F (20°C), (D

20/20 sp.

g). Direct scale reading, TS Meter.

2. Total Solids % Composition by
Weight, (TS%). Read instrument scale and
use Conversion T able.

3. Water % Composition by Weight,
(Water %). Subtract total solids % composition
above from 100%.

4. Total Solids Concentration, grams/
100mL, 68°F (20°C), (CTS, g/100mL). Read in­strument scale and use Conversion Table.

5. Water Concentration, grams/100mL, 68°F
(20°C), (Cw, g/100ml.). Read instrument scale
and use Conversion T able.

6. Concentration Total Solids relative to
water (CTS = Cw X 102 = grams/100g
water).

1. Refractive Index, (n), of aqueous or other
solutions, 68°F (20°C). With the TS Meter
read the instrument scale and use the Conver­sion T able.

2. Refractive Index Difference x 104,
between aqueous solutions and water, 68°F
(20°C), also called Refraction, r = (n -

1.3330) 104. Direct scale reading with TS
Meter.

3. Concentrative Properties of aqueous,
such as % composition, Concentration, Specific
Gravity, Freezing Point Depression, V iscosity
and Electrical Conductivity may be obtained with
special Concentrative, Conversion T ables Based
upon refractive index and refraction. Direct scale
reading of refraction with TS METER.

891011121314

REFERENCES

1. Adolph, E. F., 1943, Physiological
Regulations, Lancaster, p. 219.

2. Blohm, G. J., 1918, Upsala lakf. forf. 23,

283.

3. Rubini, M. E. and A. V. Wolf, 1957, J. Biol.
Chem. 225 (2) 869.

4. Gettler, A. O. and W. Baker, 1916, J. Biol.
Chem. 25, 11.

5. Sunderman, F. W ., 1944, J.Biol. Chem. 153
(1) 139.

6. Sunderman, F. W. and F. Boerner , 1950,
Normal Values in Clinical Medicine, Saunders,
Philadelphia.

7. Barry, K. G., A. W. McLaurin, and B. L.
Parnell, 1960, J. Lab and Clin. Med. 55, 803.

8. Drickman, A., and F.A. McKeon, Jr., 1962.
Am. J. Clin. Path. 38, 392.

9. Wolf, A. V., J. B. Fuller , E. J. Goldman, and
T. D. Mahony, 1962. Clin. Chem. 8, 158.

10. Wolf A. V., 1955-1964. Personal
Communications to American Optical Co.

11. Holmes, J. H., P. James, and H. Bivens, Use
of the TS-METER Meter in the clinical
laboratory with special reference to the serum
protein determination. Unpublished report to
American Optical Co.

12. Holmes, J. H., P. James, and H. Bivens, Use
of Refractometric methods for determining urine
specific gravity in the clinical laboratory.
Unpublished report to American Optical Co.

13. Remp, D. G., and V. Schelling. 1960. Clin.
Chem. 6, 400.

14. Chiaraviglio, E. C., A. V. Wolf, and P. G.
Prentiss, 1963. Am. J. Clin. Path. 39, 42.

15. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 52nd
ed., Chemical Rubber Publishing Co., 1971.

16. Tables of Properties of Aqueous Solutions
Related to Index of Refraction, American Optical
Co. 1964, 1974. Cat. No. 10403.

17. Sunderman, F. W. Jr ., F . W . Sunderman, E.
A. Falvo, and C. J. Kallic, 1958. Am. J. Clin.
Path. 30, 112.

18. Wolf, A. V ., 1962. T echnique Manual,
Workshop on Urinalysis and Renal Function
Studies, Council on Clin. Chem. of Am. Soc.
Clin. Path., p. 39.

19. Wolf A. V., 1962. Am. J. Med. 32, 329.

20. Wolf, A. V., 1966. Aqueous Solutions and
Body Fluids, Harper and Row, New York.

15

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