Patent · US Expired

System for rate immunonephelometric analysis

US4157871A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 1977
Grant dateJun 12, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S436/805
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for the detection of precipitate-forming antigens by means of the reaction with their corresponding antibodies is disclosed. The reaction of precipitate-forming antigens with their respective antibodies produces a precipitate in proportion to either the antibody concentration or the antigen concentration, depending on which is present in excess. The method does not require formation of actual precipitate, but measures the formation of "scattering centers" -- i.e., molecular aggregates of sufficient size to produce measurable scatter of light. The quantity of scattering centers formed is measured by nephelometric means and the measuring system performs an immunonephelometric analysis. In particular, the rate of change of the nephelometric signal with respect to time is measured and the peak rate and time to the peak rate established. From these simultaneous measurements both the antigen/antibody concentration and the condition of antibody or antigen excess are determined.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.