Methods and Reagents for Toxoplasma Infection Diagnosis
OwnerRima McLeod, Denis Limonne +6inventors
InventorsRima McLeod, Denis Limonne, Francois Peyron, Kamal El-Bissati, Joe Lykins, Martine Wallon, Jorge Gomez-Marin, Ying Zhou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Point-of-care (POC) testing for T. gondii infection can potentially address cost concerns and lead to better clinical outcomes through improved access to screening. This disclosure provides methods and compositions for whole blood POC testing to identify T. gondii infection with high sensitivity and specificity, obviating the need for venipuncture and sample processing infrastructure, making it an efficient, low-cost POC test.
Claims20
A method for diagnosing and treating a Toxoplasma infection in a subject at risk of a Toxoplasma infection, comprising:
- (a) adding about 20 to 30 μL of a whole blood sample from the subject to a sample well of a lateral flow immunochromatography cassette comprising:
- (i) a nitrocellulose strip comprising a Toxoplasma antigen immobilized on a test band;
- (ii) and a fiberglass conjugate pad in fluid communication with the nitrocellulose strip;
- wherein the conjugate pad is impregnated with black test latex particles coupled with the Toxoplasma antigen, and wherein the sample well is in fluid communication with the conjugate pad;
- wherein adding the whole blood sample to the sample well promotes binding of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in the whole blood sample to the Toxoplasma antigen coupled to the black test latex particles in the conjugate pad to form complexes comprising anti-Toxoplasma antibodies bound to the Toxoplasma antigen coupled to the black test latex particles;
- (b) dispensing an eluting solution to the sample well and allowing migration of the complexes comprising anti-Toxoplasma antibodies bound to the Toxoplasma antigen coupled to the black test latex particles for about 20-30 minutes to promote binding of the complexes to the Toxoplasma antigen immobilized on the test band;
- (c) detecting a black line at the test band thus indicating the subject has a Toxoplasma infection, therefore identifying the subject as diagnosed with a Toxoplasma infection;
- and
- (d) administering an effective treatment to the subject for treating the Toxoplasma infection when the black line is detected at the test band.
A kit comprising a lateral flow immunochromatography device for diagnosing a Toxoplasma infection in a subject wherein the kit comprises:
- (a) the lateral flow immunochromatography device, wherein the device comprises a cassette comprising:
- (i) a nitrocellulose strip on which are immobilized a Toxoplasma antigen in a test band and a control antigen in a control band;
- (ii) a conjugate pad in fluid communication with the nitrocellulose strip impregnated with test latex particles coupled with a Toxoplasma antigen and control latex particles coupled with a control antigen;
- and
- (iii) a sample well in fluid communication with the conjugate pad;
- (b) eluting buffer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.