Device for quantitative endpoint determination in immunofluorescence using microfluorophotometry

US4777133A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Grace L. Picciolo · Fort Washington, US
• David S. Kaplan · Fairfax, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 1985
• Grant date: Oct 11, 1988
• Expiry date: Nov 26, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T436/112499
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device and a process for quantitation of Toxoplasma gondii and Treponema pallidum antibody titer in a biological sample by immunofluorescent photometric microscopy. The process comprises: PA0 (a) reacting a specimen of said sample with an immunofluorescent reagent in a mounting medium containing a protective agent in an amount sufficient to reduce fading of a fluorescent reaction product less than 25% of initial fluorescent intensity; PA0 (b) localizing the specimen under transmitted, visible light; PA0 (c) reducing the effect of counterstain intensity by filters in emission light path; PA0 (d) measuring the sample using a fast shutter; PA0 (e) calibrating the photometer used in said microscopy by a stable fluorophore; PA0 (f) recording intensity of fluorescence of said specimen compared to standard negative and positive controls; PA0 (g) reducing effect of polar staining by substracting the corrected intensity of corresponding dilution of the negative control from the sample reading; PA0 and (h) assigning a numerical endpoint for serum antibody levels against Toxoplasma gondii or Treponema pallidum.