Biomaterial Database

Inconsistencies in the absorptive capacities of Schirmer tear test strips. 1986

E C Hawkins, and C J Murphy

The absorptive capacities of 4 commercially available tear test strips were determined and compared with 5-mm X 40-mm strips of #41 filter paper. Significant differences in the absorption of water over a given time interval were found in 3 of the groups tested. Major inconsistencies were found only within 1 lot of tear test strips from a single manufacturer. Tear test strips from this lot consisted of 2 distinct populations that were distinguishable by transillumination. Strips with widely spaced horizontal lines had the same absorptive capacity as the filter paper, whereas those with fine lines consistently absorbed less water. The clinical importance of this discrepancy was verified by comparing measurements of tear production in 6 normal dogs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007202	Indicators and Reagents	Substances used for the detection, identification, analysis, etc. of chemical, biological, or pathologic processes or conditions. Indicators are substances that change in physical appearance, e.g., color, at or approaching the endpoint of a chemical titration, e.g., on the passage between acidity and alkalinity. Reagents are substances used for the detection or determination of another substance by chemical or microscopical means, especially analysis. Types of reagents are precipitants, solvents, oxidizers, reducers, fluxes, and colorimetric reagents. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p301, p499)	Indicator,Reagent,Reagents,Indicators,Reagents and Indicators
D007637	Keratoconjunctivitis	Simultaneous inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.	Keratoconjunctivitides
D007638	Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca	Drying and inflammation of the conjunctiva as a result of insufficient lacrimal secretion. When found in association with XEROSTOMIA and polyarthritis, it is called SJOGREN'S SYNDROME.	Sicca, Keratoconjunctivitis
D011934	Reagent Strips	Narrow pieces of material impregnated or covered with a substance used to produce a chemical reaction. The strips are used in detecting, measuring, producing, etc., other substances. (From Dorland, 28th ed)	Reagent Strip,Strip, Reagent,Strips, Reagent
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D000042	Absorption	The physical or physiological processes by which substances, tissue, cells, etc. take up or take in other substances or energy.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013666	Tears	The fluid secreted by the lacrimal glands. This fluid moistens the CONJUNCTIVA and CORNEA.	Meibomian Lipids,Meibum,Lipid, Meibomian,Meibomian Lipid,Tear