Abstract: Disclosed are cellular hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) normal and abnormal (high) controls for use in detecting Hb A1c levels. The present invention also relates to methods for generating cellular Hb A1c controls using red blood cells and methods for using the cellular controls. The present invention encompasses several methods for the preparation of Hb A1c cellular controls including: (1) a boronate method where the glycation occurs non-specifically; (2) a stabilized diabetic blood method where the glycation occurs specifically on Hb A1c, and (3) the glycation of normal blood method that is achieved by controlling conditions such that glycation occurs predominantly on Hb A1c. These methods produce cellular Hb A1c controls with desirable stability and that can be detected on a variety of instruments.

Abstract: A reagent system is provided for substantially lysing red blood cells in a whole blood sample prior to leukocyte analysis, which system includes a first reagent for substantially lysing the red blood cells in the whole blood sample, and a second reagent for quenching the activity of the first reagent. The first reagent is formulated to include an autoclaved saponin compound and an acid selected from the group consisting of a halogenated carboxylic acid, a phosphoric acid and a combination thereof. The second reagent includes a base and has a pH value of about 8 to 12. Also provided is a method of lysing the red blood cells and stabilizing white blood cells present in a sample of whole blood.

Abstract: The invention discloses two newly-discovered Flt3 phosphorylation sites, tyrosine 589 (Tyr589) and tyrosine 591 (Tyr591) in the intracellular domain, and provides antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, that selectively bind to Flt3 when phosphorylated at these novel sites. Also provided are assays utilizing these reagents, including methods for determining the phosphorylation of Flt3 in a biological sample, selecting a patient suitable for Flt3 inhibitor therapy, profiling Flt3 activation in a test tissue, and identifying a compound that modulates phosphorylation of Flt3 in a test tissue, by using a detectable reagent, such as the disclosed antibodies, that binds to Flt3 when phosphorylated at Tyr589 or Tyr591. The sample or test tissue may be taken from a subject suspected of having cancer, such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Abstract: Disclosed are cellular hemoglobin Alc (Hb Alc ) normal and abnormal (high) controls for use in detecting Hb Alc levels. The present invention also relates to methods for generating cellular Hb Alc controls using red blood cells and methods for using the cellular controls. The present invention encompasses several methods for the preparation of Hb Alc cellular controls including: (1) a boronate method where the glycation occurs non-specifically; (2) a stabilized diabetic blood method where the glycation occurs specifically on Hb Alc, and (3) the glycation of normal blood method that is achieved by controlling conditions such that glycation occurs predominantly on Hb Alc. These methods produce cellular Hb Alc controls with desirable stability and that can be detected on a variety of instruments.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies that bind the estrogen receptor ? (ER ?) when phosphorylated at serine 118 (Ser118) in the N-terminal domain, but do not bind to ER ? when not phosphorylated at this site. Also provided are methods for determining the phosphorylation of ER ? in a biological sample, profiling ER ? activation in a test tissue, and identifying a compound that modulates phosphorylation of ER ? in a test tissue, by using the disclosed monoclonal antibodies. The sample or test tissue may be taken from a subject suspected of having cancer, such as breast cancer. Kits comprising the phospho-ER ? (Ser118) monoclonal antibodies of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method of emulating with a cyanide-free lyse solution, the measurement of hemoglobin in whole blood using a cyanide-containing lyse solution. Such an illustrative method includes: a) combining a predetermined amount of the whole blood sample with a predetermined amount of a cyanide-free lyse solution to form a mixture, b) developing the mixture to a molar absorbtivity (?) in the range of about 12.4 to 12.6 mM?1cm?1, and c) measuring a level of light absorbance of the mixture at a wavelength of about 540 nm. In one preferred illustrative embodiment, the cyanide-free lyse solution includes: a quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a hemoglobin binding agent selected from the group consisting of imidazole or hydroxylamine, and an aqueous medium. In one preferred embodiment, the molar absorbtivity is developed to a value of about 12.5 mM?1cm?1. That is to say to a level that is substantially identical to that of the prior art standard, cyanomethemoglobin.

Abstract: A reagent system for substantially lysing red blood cells in a whole blood sample prior to leukocyte analysis, the reagent system includes: a first reagent for substantially lysing the red blood cells in the whole blood sample, and a second reagent for quenching the activity of the first reagent, wherein the second reagent includes a base and has a pH value of about 8 to 12. A final acidic media, ranging from about pH 4 to about 6, is used to stabilize the white blood cells and continuously remove red blood cell fragments. The first reagent is formulated to include: a saponin compound; an acid selected from the group consisting of halogenated carboxylic acids, phosphoric acid or combinations thereof and optionally a surfactant.

Abstract: The invention discloses newly-discovered phosphorylation sites in human IRS-1 and IRS-2, serine 1101 (Ser1101) and serine 1149 (Ser1149) respectively, and provides antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, that selectively bind to IRS-1 and/or IRS-2 when phosphorylated at these respective sites, but do not bind to IRS-1 and/or IRS-2 when not phosphorylated at these respective sites. The sites are relevant to insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetes. Also provided are methods for determining the phosphorylation of IRS-1/2 or activity of PKC theta in a biological sample, by using a detectable reagent, such as the disclosed antibodies, that binds to IRS-1/2 only when phosphorylated at Ser1101/Ser1149. Kits comprising the phosphor-IRS-1/2 (Ser1101/1149) antibodies of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method of emulating with a cyanide-free lyse solution, the measurement of hemoglobin in whole blood using a cyanide-containing lyse solution. Such an illustrative method includes: a) combining a predetermined amount of the whole blood sample with a predetermined amount of a cyanide-free lyse solution to form a mixture, b) developing the mixture to a molar absorbtivity (&egr;) in the range of about 12.4 to 12.6 mM−1cm−1, and c) measuring a level of light absorbance of the mixture at a wavelength of about 540 nm. In one preferred illustrative embodiment, the cyanide-free lyse solution includes: a quaternary ammonium salt surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a hemoglobin binding agent selected from the group consisting of imidazole or hydroxylamine, and an aqueous medium. In one preferred embodiment, the molar absorbtivity is developed to a value of about 12.5 mM−1cm−1. That is to say to a level that is substantially identical to that of the prior art standard, cyanomethemoglobin.

Abstract: The invention discloses two newly-discovered Flt3 phosphorylation sites, tyrosine 589 (Tyr589) and tyrosine 591 (Tyr591) in the intracellular domain, and provides antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, that selectively bind to Flt3 when phosphorylated at these novel sites. Also provided are assays utilizing these reagents, including methods for determining the phosphorylation of Flt3 in a biological sample, selecting a patient suitable for Flt3 inhibitor therapy, profiling Flt3 activation in a test tissue, and identifying a compound that modulates phosphorylation of Flt3 in a test tissue, by using a detectable reagent, such as the disclosed antibodies, that binds to Flt3 when phosphorylated at Tyr589 or Tyr591. The sample or test tissue may be taken from a subject suspected of having cancer, such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies that bind the estrogen receptor &agr; (ER &agr;) when phosphorylated at serine 118 (Ser118) in the N-terminal domain, but do not bind to ER &agr; when not phosphorylated at this site. Also provided are methods for determining the phosphorylation of ER &agr; in a biological sample, profiling ER &agr; activation in a test tissue, and identifying a compound that modulates phosphorylation of ER &agr; in a test tissue, by using the disclosed monoclonal antibodies. The sample or test tissue may be taken from a subject suspected of having cancer, such as breast cancer. Kits comprising the phospho-ER &agr; (Ser118) monoclonal antibodies of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A search query is applied to documents in a document repository wherein the documents are organized into a hierarchy. A search engine searches the hierarchy to return documents which match a query term either directly or indirectly. A specific embodiment of the search engine organizes the query term into individual subterms and matches the subterms against documents, returning only those documents which indirectly match the entire search query term and directly match at least one of the query subterms.

Abstract: A search query is applied to documents in a document repository wherein the documents are organized into a hierarchy. A search engine searches the hierarchy to return documents which match a query term either directly or indirectly. A specific embodiment of the search engine organizes the query term into individual subterms and matches the subterms against documents, returning only those documents which indirectly match the entire search query term and directly match at least one of the query subterms.