Method for automated evaluation of incubated immunoblot strips

US10914737B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Meyer · Campbell, US
• Thomas Scheper · Berkenthin, DE
• Robert Kaffka · Dassow, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 4, 2014
• Grant date: Feb 9, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/543
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for automated evaluation of incubated immunoblot strips (5). What is essential for such immunoblot strips (5) is that these have regions coated with antigens, which regions discolour under the formation of so-called bands (6) as soon as a binding occurs, in particular between the antigen and an antibody present in a patient sample. Within the scope of the described technical solution, a camera (2) is initially used to make recordings of the surface of an incubated immunoblot strip (5) and these recordings are transmitted in digitized form to an evaluation unit (1). Finally, the discolourings, which occurred in the form of bands (6), are detected and at least partly quantified in the evaluation unit (1), such that a diagnosis suggestion is generated taking into account the number of bands (6) and the colour strength thereof. The described technical solution is distinguished by virtue of the camera (2) being used in each case to make at least two recordings at different times and/or under different recording conditions.