Method for visually detecting the presence of a virus in a clinical specimen
AssigneeSymex, Inc.
InventorsAvraham Liav, James F. Maher, Craig D. Shimasaki, C. Worth Clinkscales, Michael D. Roark
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Abstract
A rapid and direct assay for detecting of a virus having a characteristic enzyme in clinical samples in which (1) the clinical sample is contacted in solution with a substrate for the enzyme which includes a chromogen that is cleaved from the substrate by the enzyme and a precipitating agent that reacts with the liberated chromogen to form a precipitate (2) filtering the solution to concentrate the precipitate and (3) visually observing the concentrated precipitate for the characteristic color of the chromogen.
Claims13
In a method for detecting the presence of a virus that comprises a characteristic enzyme in a clinical sample suspected of containing the virus comprising
- incubating the clinical sample with a solution of a chromogenic substrate for the enzyme and a precipitating agent, the chromogenic group of the substrate exhibiting a characteristic color when liberated from the substrate, said incubation being carried out under conditions that permit the enzyme to react with the substrate to liberate the chromogen and the liberated chromogen to be precipitated by the precipitating agent;
- the improvement comprising concentrating the precipitated chromogen sufficiently to provide a distinct colored spot when the virus is present and
- visually observing the concentrate for the presence of said colored spot.
In a method for detecting the presence of a virus, wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of influenza A, influenza B, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, that comprises a characteristic enzyme in a clinical sample suspected of containing the virus comprising
- incubating the clinical sample with a solution of a chromogenic substrate for the enzyme and a precipitating agent, the chromogenic group of the substrate exhibiting a characteristic color when liberated from the substrate, said incubation being carried out under conditions that permit the enzyme to react with the substrate to liberate the chromogen and the liberated chromogen to be precipitated by the precipitating agent;
- the improvement comprising concentrating the precipitated chromogen sufficiently to provide a distinct colored spot when the virus is present and
- visually observing the concentrate for the presence of said colored spot.
In a method for detecting the presence of influenza virus that comprises a characteristic enzyme in a clinical sample suspected of containing the virus comprising
- incubating the clinical sample with a solution of a chromogenic substrate for the enzyme and a precipitating agent, the chromogenic group of the substrate exhibiting a characteristic color when liberated from the substrate, said incubation being carried out under conditions that permit influenza neuraminidase to react with the substrate to liberate the chromogen and the liberated chromogen to be precipitated by the precipitating agent;
- the improvement comprising concentrating the precipitated chromogen sufficiently to provide a distinct colored spot when the virus is present and
- visually observing the concentrate for the presence of said colored spot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.