Immunoassay utilizing formazan-prelabeled reactants
AssigneeHuntington Medical Research Institute
InventorDonald E. Rounds
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An immunoassay procedure utilizing a formazan-labeled primary antibody to detect the presence of an antigen is disclosed. The formazan-labeled antibody is dissolved in a test fluid suspected to containing the antigen. A dipstick having a first section on which primary antibodies are bonded and a second section free of primary antibodies and antigens and blocked to prevent bonding of primary antibodies and antigens is immersed in the test fluid and removed after a select period of time. A difference in color between the first and second sections indicate the presence of the antigen.
Claims18
A method for detecting the presence of target proteins in a test fluid comprising:
- mixing a sample of the test fluid with a solution free of target proteins and containing a primary protein having a specific affinity for the target protein which has been prelabeled with formazan for a time sufficient to form a colored reaction product between the prelabeled primary proteins and any target proteins in the test fluid;
- separating any formed reaction product from unreacted prelabeled primary proteins;
- and
- visually detecting the presence of any formed reaction product.
A dipstick immunodot procedure for detecting the presence of a target protein in a test fluid comprising:
- mixing the test fluid with a solution containing primary proteins having a specific affinity for the target protein, said primary proteins being prelabeled with formazan;
- immersing into the mixture a dipstick on which is mounted a membrane having a first section on which said primary proteins not prelabeled with formazan are bonded and a second section free of said primary proteins and which is blocked to prevent bonding of said primary proteins;
- removing the dipstick from the mixture after a select period of time;
- and
- visually comparing the intensity of color on the first section of the dipstick membrane with the intensity of color on the second section of the dipstick membrane.
A prelabeled immunological reactant for use in detecting the presence of a select target protein in a test sample comprising a primary protein having a specific affinity for the select target protein and formazan bound to the primary protein.
A prelabeled immunological reactant for use in detecting the presence of a specific target protein in a test sample comprising a formazan-labeled primary protein wherein formazan is bound directly or indirectly to the primary protein prepared by mixing a solution of the primary protein and a water soluble tetrazolium salt and then reducing the tetrazolium salt in the presence of the primary protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.