Ice nucleation immunoassay
AssigneeAdvanced Genetic Sciences, Inc.
InventorsGareth J. Warren, Paul K. Wolber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel method for carrying out immunoassays is described. The method involves use of a biological ice nucleating agent as a label. In particular, the method involves use of ice nucleating bacteria, or ice nucleating components derived therefrom, as a label.
Claims35
In a method for carrying out immunoassays involving immunological reactions of immunochemical counterparts wherein one of said immunochemical counterparts is linked to a label and wherein the immunoassay determination is related to measurement for the presence of label, the improvement which comprises using a biological ice nucleating agent as the label.
In a non-competitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample comprising
- (a) combining a fluid sample containing a ligand to be determined with a first receptor specific to the ligand and a conjugate comprising a second receptor specific to the ligand and a label, said label being coupled to said second receptor, and
- (b) determining the amount of label bound to ligand as a measure of ligand present in the sample, the improvement comprising using a biological ice nucleating agent as the label.
In a competitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample comprising
- (a) combining a fluid sample containing a ligand to be determined with a receptor specific to the ligand and with a conjugate comprising a second ligand to which the receptor is specific and a label coupled to said second ligand, and
- (b) determining the amount of receptor bound to the conjugate as a measure of ligand present in the sample, the improvement comprising using a biological ice nucleating agent as the label.
A noncompetitive immunoassay method to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample comprising the steps of
- (a) combining a fluid sample containing a ligand to be quantitated with
- (i) a first receptor specific for the ligand to be quantitated, and
- (ii) a conjugate comprising a second receptor specific for the ligand, and a biological ice nucleating agent coupled to said second receptor;
- and
- (b) determining the amount of ice nucleating agent bound to the ligand as a measure of the presence of a ligand in the fluid sample.
A competitive immunoassay method to determine the presence of a ligand in fluid sample comprising the steps of
- (a) mixing a fluid sample with
- (i) a receptor specific for the ligand to be determined, and
- (ii) a conjugate comprising a biological ice nucleating agent and a second ligand specific for said receptor, said second ligand coupled to said biological ice nucleating agent;
- and
- (b) determining the amount of ice nucleating agent bound to the receptor as a measure of the presence of ligand in the sample.
A reagent for use in an immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample, said reagent selected from the group consisting of
- (a) the ligand coupled to a biological ice nucleating agent, and
- (b) a receptor specific to the ligand said receptor coupled to a biological ice nucleating agent.
A reagent for use in a noncompetitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample, said reagent comprising a receptor specific to the ligand and a biological ice nucleating agent coupled to said receptor.
A reagent for use in a competitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample based upon reaction of the reagent with a receptor specific to the ligand, said reagent comprising a biological ice nucleating agent coupled to a ligand immunologically equivalent to the ligand to be determined.
A kit for use in a noncompetitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample, comprising a plurality of containers, one of which contains a first receptor bound to an insolubilized support and specific to the ligand and a second of which contains a conjugate comprising a second receptor specific to the ligand, said second receptor coupled to a biological ice nucleating agent.
A kit for use in a competitive immunoassay to determine the presence of a ligand in a fluid sample, comprising a plurality of containers, one of which contains a receptor bound to an insolubilized support and specific to the ligand and a second of which contains a conjugate comprising a biological ice nucleating agent coupled to a ligand immunologically equivalent to the ligand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.