Abstract: A reagent for the detection of rheumatoid factor in tests in tubes or microplates. The reagent contains a complex formed from red blood cells and from antibodies soluble with respect to these red blood cells, and immunologically fixed to the latter, said reagent being both stable and capable in given dilution intervals to give rise to hemagglutination only subject to contacting it with detectable concentrations of rheumatoid factor. The invention also relates to a process for making said reagent which comprises subjecting red cells and the antibodies to be fixed thereon to successive treatments with distinct aldehydes or tanning agents, as well as with proteinic substances, such as albumin, having dispersive properties.

Abstract: Urinary particulates in a human subject which have been coated with THP is determined to be from the region of the nephron which is above the Henle loop in the nephron where THP is produced. The identification of those particles in the urine sample which had been coated with THP is performed by subjecting the sample to THP antibodies to form THP antibody-antigen complexes. These complexes can be identified by a number of ways, such as visual, fluorescent, etc. By determining the percentage of the total particulates which have the coating of THP, a diagnostic tool for determining renal disorders is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the determination of antigens or antibodies in a fluid by incubation of particles, which have antigens on the surface, and antibodies, whereby either the antigens or the antibodies are of known specificity is described. This method comprises introducing the antigen/antibody complex into a container having a conical-shaped or keel-shaped bottom recess, whereby at least the recess of the container is coated with an immunoglobulin-building component which is directed against the antibodies. After centrifugation the amount of the sediment is determined, which indicates whether the antigen or antibody to be determined is present or not.

Abstract: A sensitive method for identifying red blood cell antigens or antibodies thereto is provided. A fluorescent bead is conjugated to a receptor specific for a red blood cell antigen (ligand) or alternatively with an antigen for determination of antibodies. The conjugate is mixed with a red blood cell containing composition. A change in fluorescence compared with a control reveals the presence or absence of the antigen or antibody.

Abstract: An antiserum for immunohematologic agglutination reactions involving IgG antibodies wherein reduced IgG antibodies are suspended in a low ionic strength medium.

Abstract: A hemagglutinate lectin derived from the slug, Limax flavus, having a high degree of hemagglutinative inhibitory specificity and selectivity for sialic acid or sialoproteins and diagnostic and separatory methods and compositions based upon the inhibitory effect of sialoproteins or sialic acid on the hemagglutinating properties of the slug-derived lectin.

Abstract: A novel analyte-cytolysin conjugate and its use in a lipid vesicle mediated measurement process is described for a wide variety of analytes present at very low concentration. The method involves forming a reaction system consisting of analyte, analyte specific binding agent, analyte-cytolysin conjugate, and vesicles containing detectable marker material in such proportions that uncombined conjugate alters the permeability of the vesicles resulting in the release and quantitative detection of marker material which can be correlated with the amount of analyte initially present.

Abstract: Mouse monoclonal antibody AbR.sub.24 (Dippold et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 77:6114-6118, 1980) has a high degree of specificity for human melanoma cells when tested on viable cultured cells using the PA-MHA serological assay. The antigen detected by this antibody has been isolated from melanoma cells and shown to be G.sub.D3 ganglioside by compositional and partial structural analysis and by comparison with authentic G.sub.D3 by thin layer chromatography (TLC). AbR.sub.24 reacts with authentic G.sub.D3, but not with any other ganglioside tested. Using TLC and reactivity with AbR.sub.24, a wide range of cells and tissues was examined for the presence of G.sub.D3. A new serological assay, termed glycolipid-mediated immune adherence (GMIA), was devised for assaying the reactivity of AbR.sub.24 with gangliosides. Melanomas (cultured cells or tumor tissue) were shown to have T.sub.D3 and G.sub.M3 as major gangliosides. Other cells and tissues examined also contained G.sub.D3, but usually only in low amounts.

Abstract: Microcapsules are sensitized with antibody to antigen of lymphocyte. Using such microcapsules, B cells and/or T cells can be selectively measured separately or simultaneously, in a simple manner, based on cell-mediated immunity which comprises applying the microcapsules sensitized with antibody to antigen of lymphocyte and sheep red cells or another kind of antibody-sensitized microcapsules that are optically distinguishable from the first antibody-sensitized microcapsules, to lymphocyte at the same time and thereafter independently measuring respective cells that are optically distinguishable from each other.The operation for the measurement is extremely simple and neither skill nor special equipment is required.

Abstract: There are provided a crystalline and single rod products derivable from the Pili of Type 1 and Type 2 Neisseria gonorrhoeae organisms. There are provided methods of growing said organisms to produce the maximum yield of Pili and procedures for purifying said Pili to produce said crystalline material. There are further provided methods of utilizing said Pili to determine the presence, in a system infectable by N. gonorrhoeae organisms, of antibodies to the Pili of said organisms, and methods of serotyping said Pili. There is also provided a mode of utilizing said crystalline material to provide a substantial degree of immunization to infection by N. gonorrhoeae in mammalian systems susceptible to such infection.

Abstract: A hemagglutinate lectin derived from the slug, Limax flavus, having a high degree of hemagglutinative inhibitory specificity and selectivity for sialic acid or sialoproteins and diagnostic and separatory methods and compositions based upon the inhibitory effect of sialoproteins or sialic acid on the hemagglutinating properties of the slug-derived lectin.

Abstract: A process for the detection of antibodies in a test sample is described. This process involves:(a) preparing an essentially isotonic and low ionic strength suspension comprising said sample and erythrocytes in net negatively-charged form;(b) maintaining said suspension for at least 30 seconds;(c) combining said suspension with an amount of a solution of polymer effective for agglutination of said erythrocytes;(d) separating the resultant agglutinates of polymer and erythrocytes from supernatant of said suspension;(e) dispersing said agglutinates in a hypertonic salt solution having an essentially neutral pH; and(f) monitoring the dispersed agglutinates for dissociation of erythrocytes.This process permits rapid detection of antibodies with great ease. Their presence is indicated by persistence of the agglutinates in the dispersion. The antigen which reacts with antibody may be native to the erythrocytes, or may be unrelated to erythrocytes but artificially coupled to those cells.

Abstract: Reagents and methods are described for an immunoassay test of increased sensitivity and decreased complexity employing an immunoglobulin specific for an antigen naturally or artificially placed upon the surface of an indicator particle coupled through the use of a hetero-bifunctional coupling reagent to a second antibody of differing specificity and specific for the antigen to be detected. In a preferred embodiment, a hetero-bifunctional coupling agent couples via a sulfhydryl group, a univalent immunoglobulin specific for the surface antigens on erythrocytes to a second multivalent immunoglobulin through an amide linkage with the latter immunoglobulin wherein said second immunoglobulin is specific for hepatitis-B surface antigen.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of .sup.125 I-labelled Protein A (.sup.125 I PA) of high specific and functional activity. .sup.125 I PA has been used in combination with purified rabbit IgG (immunoglobulin G) bound to a solid support to develop a competitive binding assay capable of detecting Protein A or human, rabbit and guinea pig IgG at the nanogram level. Additionally, .sup.125 I PA may be used to detect methotrexate, leucovorin and similar substances..sup.125 I PA has also been used to detect IgG anti-Forssman antibody bound to sheep erythrocytes and to line-1 and line-10 tumor cells and as an indirect assay for tumor associated antigen in the ascitic fluid of tumor-bearing guinea pigs.Additionally, an improved method of preparation of iodination of Protein A is utilized. This procedure used the Bolton-Hunter (1973) reagent of radioactive iodine in benzene which carrier is evaporated.

Abstract: Method for detecting circulating immune complexes containing endogenously bound Clq. Capillary tubes are filled with a mixture of Clq coated GPO reagent cells, rabbit anti-Clq antibodies, and precipitate from the biological fluid sample containing immune complexes. The mixture is allowed to react and the tubes read for the presence or absence of agglutination indicative of the absence or presence of said immune complexes respectively.

Abstract: A reagent kit for eluting antibodies present on the surface of red blood cells comprises sorbitan trioleate or other variants within the sorbitan family and a red blood cell diluent as well as methods for use.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: Kit for detecting circulating immune complexes containing endogenously bound Clq. Capillary tubes are filled with a mixture of Clq coated GPO reagent cells, rabbit anti-Clq antibodies, and precipitate from the biological fluid sample containing immune complexes. The mixture is allowed to react and the tubes read for the presence or absence of agglutination indicative of the absence or presence of said immune complexes respectively.

Abstract: In the course of a reaction in which one of the reactants is on the surface of carrier particles in a solution and another of the reactants is tagged with a fluorescent substance, some of the fluorescently tagged reactant attaches to, or is displaced from the carrier particle. The present invention relates to a method and device for determining the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle or which is free in solution, without physically separating the carrier particles from the solution. In a particular application of the invention (immunoassay) the reaction is between antibodies and antigens, and from the amount of fluorescently-tagged reactant which is attached to the carrier particle one can determine the unknown amount of antigen in a sample.

Abstract: A method for detecting weakly expressed cell membrane antigens or antibodies thereto which involves contacting cells to be tested with a lipoprotein substance substantially free of heteroagglutins and isoagglutins, containing cholesterol and phospholipid. The lipoprotein substance is obtained from animal plasma.

Abstract: Erythrocytes are coated with specific hemagglutinating virus antigen and then treated to produce a stabilized, antigen coated erythrocyte preparation which is used in the determination of antibody in biological fluids.

Abstract: The sensitivity of hemagglutination inhibition tests is improved by introducing a determined amount of lyophilized antigen or antibody into serological tubes in the absence of the indicator component. The test fluid to be analyzed is incubated solely in the presence of its binding partner in a liquid phase. After completion of the binding reaction (about 5 hours but extendable to 18 hours), the sensitized indicator solid phase, usually consisting of sensitized red blood cells, is added. By this process a 10 to 20 fold increase in sensitivity of the hemagglutination inhibition test is routinely achieved.

Abstract: A method for measuring the antistreptolysin concentration in a human blood sample by adding a solution of oxidized O-streptolysin to the blood sample (diluted), incubating, reacting with a reducing solution, incubating and relating the resulting hemolysis to the antistreptolysin concentration.