Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostic test procedure for detecting the active status of interstitial cystitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the bladder. Determination of chemotactic activity present in fluid that has been exposed to urinary tract tissue is performed by measuring cell migration across a membrane in response to neutrophil chemotactic factors in the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for determining or detecting by immuno adherence a biological substance present in a sample, which consists in introducing the sample into a receptacle on whose walls there is a component which has a specific immunological affinity for the substance to be tested for, in adding magnetic particles on which there is a substance which has a specific immunological affinity for the substance to be tested for, in subjecting them to several successive magnetic actions in order to accelerate the deposition of the said particles onto the walls and to displace those which have not formed specific bonds with the substance to be tested for which adheres to the walls via the component with affinity which is fixed thereto, and in observing the particles deposited.

Abstract: There is provided an assay method for a Chlamydia trachomatis antibody with almost no cross reaction with a C. pneumoniae antibody or a C. psittaci antibody associated using an antigen containing at least two polypeptides which constitute C. trachomatis outer membranes.

Abstract: A method for detecting a glycoprotein using a solid support is disclosed where the glycoprotein is oxidized by periodate, polyacrylic polyhydrazide which is a copolymer having repeating units possessing a hydrazide group and repeating units possessing hydroxyl groups is coupled to the oxidized glycoprotein and a glycoenzyme or radioactive compound containing aldehyde groups or activated ketone groups is coupled to the polyacrylic polyhydrazide which allows for detection of the glycoprotein. The glycoprotein may be directly attached to the solid support or may be bound to an antigen which is immobilized on the solid support.

Abstract: A substance having binding sites for at least two molecules may be detected within a sample. A molecule which can be recognized by the substance is labelled such that when at least two of the labelled molecules are bound the binding sites on the substance, the labels on the molecules electronically interact with each other and vary the wavelength dependance of their spectra. This variation in the spectra of the label can be detected. If the sample is suspected of containing the unlabelled form of a molecule, such as biotin or cocaine, a known amount of the above substance, along with a known amount of the corresponding labelled biotin or cocaine is added to the sample. In this instance, the amount of the suspect molecule in the sample is then determined by the extent to which the variation in the spectra of the label has been reduced. Alternatively, the present invention can be used to determine the binding characteristics of the substance within the sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods that have been found useful in reducing non-specific binding in immunochemical assays, via methods that can be implemented much faster than those used by Ishikawa. The techniques include the use of a lipophilic bridge, such as a liposome, or the elution of the antigen-antibody complex from the solid phase by the use of an anti-idiotypic antibody or an antibody, or the use of a heterologous reversible bridge.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the diagnosis of autosomal muscular dystrophy through the analysis of muscle tissue using antibodies reactive with components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. An experimental muscle tissue sample, treated if necessary to render components of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex available for antibody binding, is contacted with an antibody which binds to a dystrophin-associated protein. The extent of antibody binding is determined, and compared to the extent of antibody binding to normal control tissue. A substantial reduction in the extent of binding to experimental tissue, as compared with normal control tissue, being diagnostic of autosomal muscular dystrophy. Among the autosomal muscular dystrophies which are detectable by the methods described herein are Fukuyama muscular dystrophy and severe childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) E2/NS1 antigen. Also provided are hybridoma cell lines which secrete these monoclonal antibodies, methods for using these monoclonal antibodies, and assay kits for assays which contain these monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A method for assaying body fluid samples containing heparin and a diagnostic kit are described. Since the reactions go to completion, timing of the assay is not required. The sample is mixed with a heparin-dependent protease inhibitor and either a heparin-independent irreversible inhibitor or a protease substrate. The coagulation enzyme (protease) is then added in a limiting quantity and it either distributes between the heparin-dependent inhibitor and the heparin-indepedent irreversible inhibitor, or the heparin-dependent inhibitor and the protease substrate. The distribution pattern of complex formation of the protease with the two inhibitors or the level of product of the protease-catalyzed hydrolysis of the substrate are used as measures of the heparin activity. The irreversible inhibitor is a peptidyl chloromethyl ketone and the substrate is a synthetic chromogenic or fluorogenic compound that produces a readily measured signal.

Abstract: Methods for purifying and detecting IgM antibodies employ binding substances which are Borellia burgdorferi cells, or cellular or extracellular components obtained or derived therefrom and which bind to this class of antibodies. The binding substances may be attached to a solid substrate and then the substrate contacted with a solution containing IgM antibodies under conditions such that the antibodies bind to the binding substance on the substrate. The substrate is then contacted with a solution that releases the IgM antibodies from the substrate and the antibodies are recovered or detected. Applications of these methods include, for example, assays for diagnosing diseases which elicit primary and/or secondary IgM antibody-mediated immunity.

Abstract: An integrin-activating antibody is disclosed that immunoreacts with an integrin and when immunoreacted increases the binding affinity of the integrin for binding to ligands specific for the integrin. The antibody also immunoreacts with a ligand-induced binding site (LIBS) on the integrin when the integrin is specifically bound to its ligand. Further disclosed are therapeutic compositions and methods for promoting cell adhesion using the disclosed integrin-activating antibodies.

Abstract: An enhanced chemiluminescent assay, in which a dihydrophthalazinedione such as luminol, a peroxidase such as HRP and an oxidant such as H.sub.2 O.sub.2 are co-reacted in the presence of an enhancer such as p-iodophenol, is modified. The enhancer is generated by enzyme-catalysed reaction of a pro-enhancer, e.g. p-iodophenol phosphate is cleaved by alkaline phosphatase, enabling this enzyme to be assayed instead of peroxidase. Alternatively, the enhancer is added, an anti-enhancer such as p-nitrophenol is generated by enzymatic reaction of a pro-anti-enhancer such as p-nitrophenol phosphate and the reduction in luminescent emission is measured.

Abstract: The invention teaches a method for determining an analyte in a liquid sample via a heterogeneous assay. The sample is contacted to a carrier material which contains, in addition to one of a labelled analyte analogous substance or a labelled analyte specific substance, a detectable component which does not influence immunological reactions occurring during the course of the assay. A solid phase bound component, which is either an insufficient amount of analyte specific substance or an excess of analyte relative to analyte in the sample is contacted to the sample so as to accomplish formation of solid phase bound complexes. After separation of liquid and solid phase, label is measured in one of these, and the detectable substance is measured in the liquid. Correlation of the values obtained leads to determination of the analyte. Also described is a reagent used in the described method.

Abstract: This invention uses the evanescent wave detection of particles to distinguish bound from free in an analyte-binding assay. Illumination below the critical angle is employed, and a beveled window is used to eliminate bulk fluorescence from the emitted evanescent wave liquid. The sample is held in a non-rigid film cuvette.

Abstract: Ligand reagents are disclosed which consist essentially of recombinant hyperglycosylated cytokines, expressed in yeast, which are purified and conjugated to various functional moieties, for example, biotin groups, via oligosaccharide residues. Methods of using such ligand reagents are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the detection of an analyte in a sample liquid by an enzyme-immunoassay in which an enzyme-labelled compound is partitioned between a solid and a liquid phase and the amount of enzyme label in the liquid phase outside the solid phase is determined as a measure of the concentration of the analyte. The measurement is carried out in a non-porous molding having the liquid phase contained therein in contact with the solid phase. The method is particularly suitable for carrying out in a cuvette which can be filled via the porous matrix or on a test strip having a space in contact with the solid phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit for the specific assay of Angiotension II, comprising:the anti-Ang II antibody,a solution of labelled Ang II,solutions containing the Ang II standards at known and increasing concentrations,the requisite washing solution(s),a solution of anti-Ang III antibody, the said antibody exhibiting a cross-reaction with Ang II of less than 10% and preferably less than 5%,and, optionally, a solution of anti-Ang I antibody and/or a solution of anti-pentapeptide antibody and/or a solution of anti-hexapeptide antibody, the said antibodies exhibiting a cross-reaction with Ang II of less than 10% and preferably less than 5%.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting an analyte in a blood sample or a derived fraction thereof. In this method one uses the binding affinity between the analyte and its specific binding agent. Moreover, a reaction component containing a peroxidase label is added to the sample and specific binding agent to form a reaction mixture. The incubation of the reaction mixture, containing the analyte and its specific binding agent, with the peroxidase-labeled reaction component has to be carried out in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt or ionic surfactant.

Abstract: Mouse monoclonal antibodies which will specifically recognize the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were produced by fusion of spleen cells from an animal immunized with live L. monocytogenes to an NS-1 myeloma partner, and three hybridomas were identified upon subsequent subcloning, Mab 20-10-2, Mab 36-6-12 and Mab 56-9-16 which were preferentially reactive with L. monocytogenes in a direct binding ELISA assay. An indirect "sandwich" assay was developed and used to further confirm the reactivity of these hybridomas using four serotypes of L. monocytogenes and other common cross reacting bacteria.

Abstract: A method and assay for determination of functionality of steroid receptors present in breast or other tumors. The method is useful for determination of cancer responsiveness to hormonal therapy by establishing a correlation between functioning estrogen receptors and those which are dysfunctional or nonfunctional. The assay is useful for determination whether the cancer, particularly the breast cancer, will respond to anti-estrogen hormonal therapy.