US 6,472,206 B1Granted

In situ growth, freezing and testing of cultured cells

AssigneesInterthyr Corporation, Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc.

InventorsDavid R. Scholl, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato, James L. Brown, Leonard D. Kohn, Joseph A. Jollick, Jr.

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Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the in situ growth, freezing and testing of cultured cells. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for the long-term preservation of cells in ready-to-use formats for testing. In addition, the present invention provides rapid and easy to use means to diagnose viral and other infections. Furthermore, the present invention provides easy to use means to grow and store cells in situ for testing methods. Indeed, the present invention makes viral, chlamydial and other diagnostic methods accessible to small laboratories, including those without cell culture capabilities.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for the detection of at least one intracellular parasite in a sample, comprising the steps of:

a) providing:
i) a cell culture comprising cells, wherein said cell culture has been frozen and thawed in situ on a substrate, wherein the in situ frozen and thawed cells detect at least one intracellular parasite, and
ii) a sample suspected of containing at least one intracellular parasite;
b) adding said sample to said cell culture, to produce an inoculated culture;
c) incubating said inoculated culture under conditions such that said intracellular parasite infects said cells of said cell culture to produce an infected culture;
and
d) observing said infected culture for the presence of said intracellular parasite within the cells of said cell culture.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.