Serum vitamin B.sub.12 assay and kit therefor
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsLillian Mansbach, Henry McCarter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a vitamin B.sub.12 assay, serum, containing vitamin B.sub.12 bound to endogenous binders therefor, is released from such endogenous binders by a releasing agent comprised of a water miscible organic liquid, such as, acetone, reducing agent and cyanide ions. Such release can be effected at room temperature, as compared to prior procedures which required heating to elevated temperatures.
Claims32
A process for the release of vitamin B.sub.12 from endogenous serum binders, comprising:
- contacting serum containing vitamin B.sub.12 bound to endogenous binders therefor with a vitamin B.sub.12 releasing agent comprising a water miscible organic liquid solvent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, a reducing agent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, and cyanide ions, said releasing agent being employed in an amount effective to release vitamin B.sub.12 from endogenous binders therefor to thereby eliminate the necessity for heating the serum to heat releasing temperatures.
In an assay for vitamin B.sub.12 wherein a serum sample is contacted with vitamin B.sub.12 tracer and vitamin B.sub.12 binder, the improvement comprising:
- initially releasing vitamin B.sub.12 from endogenous binders therefor by contacting the serum with a vitamin B.sub.12 releasing agent comprising a water miscible organic liquid solvent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, a reducing agent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, and cyanide ions, said releasing agent being employed in an amount effective to release vitamin B.sub.12 from endogenous binders therefor to thereby eliminate the necessity for heating the serum to heat releasing temperatures.
A kit for the assay of vitamin B.sub.12, comprising:
- vitamin B.sub.12 tracer, vitamin B.sub.12 binder and a vitamin B.sub.12 releasing agent comprising a water miscible organic liquid solvent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, a reducing agent which does not destroy vitamin B.sub.12, and cyanide ions, said releasing agent being employed in an amount effective to release vitamin B.sub.12 from endogenous binders therefor without the necessity for heating a serum sample to heat releasing temperatures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.