Method and apparatus for immunoassays
US4727019A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 1985 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S436/824
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and process for conducting ligand receptor assays. The apparatus comprises a first member which is a membrane or a filter to which is bound a receptor for the ligand or which is capable of extracting cells carrying the ligand from a fluid sample. The apparatus further comprises a second member which is composed of absorbent material which acts when in contact with the first member to induce flow through the first member when a fluid sample is added to it. The apparatus is used to conduct assays by applying a sample to the upper surface of the first member to bind ligand in the sample by means of receptor fixed to the first member or, in certain cases, by extracting cellular material which has ligand associated with it. Addition of the sample is typically followed by addition of labeled antibody against the antigen being assayed followed by a washing step to remove unbound labeled receptor. The presence of labeled antibody on the first member after washing is indicative of the presence of the antigen in the sample being assayed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ligand is an antigen and the receptor is an antibody.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.