Abstract: A method of assaying biologically active substances by the competitive method or by the sandwich technique, characterized in that fine particles having a diameter of 0.03 to 3 .mu.m are used in the labelling agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for diagnosing and differentiating cancer by qualitative and quantitative determination according to an immuno-serological assay of cancer-related antigens in a body fluid, particularly glycoprotein, glycolipid and glycoantigen produced by cancerization or dedifferentiation of normal cells.

Abstract: A bio-sensor is mounted in a container and comprised of a receptor for selectively reacting with a specific biochemical substance in a sample liquid held in the container to bind thereon the specific biochemical substance and a resonator integrated with the receptor for detecting the amount of the specific biochemical substance bound to the receptor in terms of a resonant frequency shift of the resonator. A measuring circuit is connected to the sensor for measuring the resonant frequency shift of the resonator within the container; a switching valve operates during the reaction of the receptor with the specific biochemical substance to charge a sample liquid into the container to contact the sample liquid with the receptor to thereby effect the reaction and operates during the measurement of the resonant frequency shift to replace the sample liquid by a buffer liquid in the container to immerse the sensor in the buffer liquid to thereby prevent a fluctuation of the resonant frequency shift.

Abstract: A patient's level of cell-mediated immunity is determined by obtaining a blood sample from the patient, incubating cells from the sample in a tissue culture medium containing Concanavalin A, and observing the number of polykaryons produced or the number of nuclei per polykaryon or both to thereby determine the level of cell-mediated immunity of the hose from which the blood sample was obtained.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an actual linear standard curve in a sandwich type of immunoassay where a first antibody bound to an insoluble support and a second unbound labelled antibody complex with the antigen contained in a test sample to form an insoluble antibody:antigen:labelled antibody complex which is then detected. Unbound unlabelled first antibody and/or unbound unlabelled second antibody are added to the reaction mixture to divert excess antigen away from the desired end-product complex, thus rendering the antigen of interest the rate-limiting factor in the overall immunoreaction. This results in a pseudo first-order reaction which produces an actual linear standard curve.

Abstract: A bacterial lectin isolatable from Neisseria gonorrhoeae is disclosed. This lectin binds to gonococcal carbohydrates such as gangliotetraosylceramide, has a relative molecular weight of about 22,400 daltons, and an isolectric pH value in the range of about 6.1 to about 6.4. The disclosed lectin is useful as a constituent of a vaccine against gonorrhea and as a diagnostic means for gonorrhea. A method for isolating this lectin is also disclosed, as well as means for producing it.

Abstract: An immunoassay in which a thermally induced phase separation is used to effect the separation of specifically bound reactants from free reactants is disclosed. A first reactant is conjugated to a temperature-sensitive polymer to form a polymer/reactant conjugate, and a second reactant is conjugated to a reporter to form a reporter/reactant conjugate. The polymer/reactant, reporter/reactant, and biological fluid samples suspected of containing the analyte are admixed in solution at a temperature other than that at which the polymer will precipitate. Specific binding is allowed to occur, thereby forming a ternary complex. The salt concentration of the adjusted solution is then adjusted to a concentration sufficient to cause the complex to precipitate from the solution, the amount of reporter activity in the precipitated complex or in the solution measured and the presence and/or concentration of the analyte therefrom determined.

Abstract: Conjugate monomers, polymers, and methods for the de novo synthesis of the polymers are provided. Conjugate organic monomers contain binding-pair members which upon polymerization become integrally associated with the resultant polymer. Specifically, antigens, antibodies, receptors, and ligands may be bound to organic monomers either directly by chemical reaction or indirectly by chemical spacer arms, and these conjugates may be polymerized or copolymerized with nonderivatized monomers to form polymers containing variable amounts of the binding-pair members. Such conjugate monomers and polymers find a wide variety of uses in binding to their binding-pair-member cognate which include selective removal of complementary binding-pair members from solution as well as in immunoassay procedures and in immunization regimes.

Abstract: Methods and compounds are disclosed for determining the presence, amount of, or association between substances of interest in samples suspected of containing same. The methods are based on the polymerization-induced separation of specifically-bound, reporter-labeled recognition reactants from free, reporter-labeled recognition reactants. The methods described are applicable to any substance for which suitable recognition reactants exist or can be made and are not limited by considerations such as chemical composition or molecular size.

Abstract: A method of identifying the presence or absence of an infected state in the living body by obtaining a biological fluid sample from a living body, adding to the sample a material known to bind with immune complex, adding to samples of the resulting material labelled reagents known to react specifically with antigen portions of different immune complexes, separating excess of the reagents and detecting the presence or absence of the label in the residual mixtures thereby to identify the nature of any reacted antigen portion of immune complex therein.

Abstract: A process for the detection and assay of a biological substance by erythroadsorption by immobilizing a substance having a binding affinity for the biological substance to be assayed; incubating the immobilized substance with a liquid medium containing the biological substance to be assayed, forming a fixed substance; incubating the fixed substance with a coupling product comprising a specific ligand and a second ligand which binds with erythrocytes; adding erythrocytes; and determining the amount of erythrocytes bound to the coupling product. The determination of the amount of bound erythrocytes can be made visually with the naked eye or determined by lysis of the erythrocytes bound to the coupling product and quantitatively measuring the released hemoglobin. The specific ligand can be an antibody or an antigen and the second ligand capable of coupling erythrocytes can, for example, be red blood cell antibodies.

Abstract: A method for identifying and enumerating cells of a subclass of blood cells in relation to cells of another subclass of blood cells is provided. In the method a first subclass of blood cells is selectively tagged by incubating an aliquot of a blood sample with a first tagging agent. A second subclass of blood cells is selectively tagged by incubating the aliquot with a second tagging agent. The aliquot is then passed, without lysing of any subclasses of blood cells which are not of interest, substantially a cell at a time through an area of optical stimulation for the tagging agents. Light emitted by the tagging agents is detected, the detection being limited by gating to a threshold value related to a predetermined intensity of light by one of the tagging agents. Cells of the subclass are differentiated based on occurrence of emitted light from the tagging agents.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for making a plurality of determinations of the local (site-specific) redox state of a liquid system, by employing a photoresponsive element, which can be independently irradiated at different sites to provide independently detectable signals.

Abstract: An assay utilizing receptor or antibody sensitized liposome particles which have ATP encapsulated therein. The ATP is released by lysing the liposomes, and detected by means of luciferin-luciferase reagent and a luminometer. The assay provides a very sensitive process for detecting the presence of analytes such as antigens and DNA probes.

Abstract: A chemically active membrane having a large surface area is provided in which a hydrophilic, microporous, skinless, polyamide membrane is chemically bound to a residue of an activating agent which is capable of reacting with a biologically active material.The chemically active membrane, formed by reacting a hydrophilic, microporous, skinless, polyamide membrane with an activating agent may be used to prepare a biologically active membrane having a large surface area which comprises an acceptor molecule such as a monoclonal antibody, a polyclonal antibody, an antigenic substance, a glycoprotein, Protein A, a lectin, a carbohydrate, an enzyme substrate, a cofactor, an inhibitor, a hormone, an IgG class of immunoglobulin, a carrier protein, a receptor, heparin, a coagulation factor, or a histone covalently bound to the hydrophilic, microporous, skinless, polyamide membrane by reacting the chemically activate membrane with the acceptor molecule.

Abstract: This invention relates to the detection of biological substances and is particularly though not exclusively applicable to labelling techniques employing antibodies or other specific binding agents. Thus the invention consists in a method for the detection of a biological substance of interest (optionally in an environment of biological cells) in which a marker substance is linked specifically, directly or indirectly, to the substance of interest, the marker substance being selected to act as a catalyst in a subsequent process of reduction of silver using a developing solution.

Abstract: A method for detecting a minute quantity of an inorganic or organic target molecule by combining it with a composition of a detecting agent for the target molecule which carries, by direct or indirect means, a visualization polymer. The visualization polymer is composed of multiple units of a visualization monomer which are covalently linked together directly or indirectly covalently linked together by coupling agents which bond to chemical groups of the monomer. The monomer may be an enzyme, a tagged polypeptide, a tagged polyol, a tagged polyolefin or a tagged carbohydrate. The detecting agent may be an antibody, an enzyme, a lectin, strand of a DNA receptor protein, avidin, streptavidin and the like. The visualization polymer produces a high degree of amplification for the detection of the target molecule.

Abstract: The subject of the application is a process and a reagent for the differentiated determination of the bone and liver isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase in a sample, whereby this is mixed with a lectin which is able to bind N-acetylglucosamine residues and is incubated. Thereafter, there is carried out a separation of the lectin-bound from the free isoenzyme portions and the alkaline phosphatase activity is determined in one or in both of the separated media.

Abstract: A method for identification of a microorganism includes combining in a suitable fluid the microorganism and a latex containing a particle coated with about 1 to 150 .mu.g per ml of latex of a lectin specific for the microorganism. Binding of the microorganism and lectin causes agglutination which is detected. The microorganism is identified by the agglutination as that organism which is specific for the lectin. The invention includes a reagent which may be included with other materials in a kit of materials useful for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the diagnosis of diseases having an arthritic component such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis which comprises determining the deficiency of galactose in a sample of the patient's blood serum or plasma, or synovial fluid, or an Ig component or fragment thereof in comparison with the corresponding normal values of galactose.

Abstract: A method and serological reagent for determining antigens or antibodies with enhanced sensitivity and specificity techniques acts in an interdependent manner in one diagnostic unit of two separately acting components. This action can be simultaneous or consecutive and the combined effect inhibits "lectin-like" factors or "unspecific antibodies" and detects specific antibodies or antigens.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the de novo synthesis of antibody-containing polymers and the preparation of a class of polymerizable compounds used in the synthesis of such antibody-containing polymers. Antibody-containing polymers formed from monomer/antibody conjugates and nonderivatized polymerizable compounds can be varied in formation of the polymer to provide control of (a) molecular spacing, steric accessibility and the number of antibody molecules that are integrally incorporated into the polymer backbone, and (b) the chemical and physical structure of the polymer itself, thus enabling specific tailoring of antibody-containing polymers for particular end-use application. Also disclosed is a method for the selective removal of a compound from a solution or suspension thereof using monomer/receptor conjugates where the compound has the capacity to bind to the receptor in the conjugate.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for performing an assay on whole blood samples. The method is for a determination of an analyte which is a member of a specific binding pair (sbp) consisting of ligand and homologous receptor. The method involves a binding agent for the red blood cells in such sample, a solid bibulous element to which is bound at least one sbp member, and a signal-producing system. The method comprises combining the whole blood sample, the binding agent, and none or, where appropriate, one or more members of the signal producing system. The medium is next contacted with a portion of a solid bibulous element to which is bound one of the members of the specific binding pair to allow the medium to traverse such element (immunochromatography). The solid bibulous element is contacted with any remaining members of the signal producing system. Signal resulting from the signal producing system is detected and is related to the amount of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: Microorganisms and unicellular organisms in a sample are identified or determined by exposing the sample to an adsorbent having a specific binding power for the entity to be determined to bind the entity to the adsorbent, separating unbound sample, exposing the adsorbent containing the entity to a nutrient medium to initiate metabolism with resulting change in the physical or chemical characteristics of the substrate and observing these changes.

Abstract: Photoresponsive devices, including a photoresponsive electrode, are provided and methods for their use to measure changes in environment at a site at or about the surface of the photoresponsive device. By employing a source of light for irradiating a site on the surface and means for biasing the photoresponsive electrode in relation to a counterelectrode, a variation in electrical signal can be related to a change in a medium in photoresponsive modulation relationship to the photoresponsive electrode surface.

Abstract: An immunoassay method for detection of antigen is disclosed. The method employs complement mediated lysis of vesicles loaded with In-111 or other gamma-emitting cation, and quantitative detection of the lysis by gamma-ray perturbed angular correlation (PAC) spectroscopy. The vesicles are labeled with a substance competitive to the antigen to be measured, and the concentration of the antigen in the sample measured by assessing the diminution in lysis due to the presence of the competing antigen.The method may also be used to assess the immunologic competence of a subject by injecting suitably sensitized vesicles and monitoring the in vivo lysis pattern by (PAC).

Abstract: Determination of tumor-associated glycolinkage (TAG) by:(1) competitively reacting body fluid TAG to be measured and a definite quantity of insolubilized TAG or TAG-like material with a definite quantity of lectin labelled with a labelling agent, separating the insolubilized TAG or insolubilized TAG-like material bound to the labelled lectin and unbound labelled lectin from each other, and measuring the labelling agent activity of either of them;(2) competitively reacting the material to be measured and a definite quantity of TAG or TAG-like material labelled with a labelling agent with a definite quantity of lectin or insolubilized lectin, separating the labelled TAG or labelled TAG-like material bound to lectin or insolubilized lectin and unbound labelled TAG or TAG-like material from each other, and measuring the labelling agent activity of either or them; or(3) reacting the material to be measured with the insolubilized lectin to form a TAG-insolubilized lectin complex, reacting this complex with a defini

Abstract: The disclosed methods improve conventional agglutination processes for assaying immunoreactive and like substances, primarily by improving the measurement of the agglutination itself. Suspensions containing agglutinated particles are automatically inspected, preferably intermittently during the agglutinating reaction, and the resulting data are processed to identify individual particle aggregates of a selected limited class, which may, for example, comprise aggregates having sizes within a limited size interval. The numbers of such aggregates are compared with corresponding reference values obtained with standard solutions and suitable controls to evaluate the concentration of one of the reactive substances, or other information. The aggregate size intervals and other parameters which are used to define aggregate classes are preferably selected with attention to the detailed behavior of each test system.

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: The present invention relates to a conjugate of a specific ligand and a lectin, by covalent bonding.The product of the invention may, for example, be the conjugate of Concanavalin A and an antigen, a hapten, an antibody, a hormone or its receptor, an enzyme or its inhibitor or a lectin. Coupling being effected by means of glutaraldehyde or p-benzoquinone.

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: A method is disclosed for the de novo synthesis of polypeptide-containing polymers. This disclosure also includes a description of, and a method for the preparation of, a class of polymerizable compounds used in the synthesis of polypeptide-containing polymers. These polymerizable compounds are chemical conjugates prepared by covalent linkage of polymerizable organic monomers with specific polypeptides. Soluble monomer/polypeptide conjugates can be polymerized in solution with additional nonderivatized organic monomers to form desired polypeptide-containing polymers. The amount and composition of monomer and monomer/polypeptide conjugates can be varied in order to provide control of (a) molecular spacing, steric accessibility, and number of polypeptide molecules that are integrally incorporated into the polymer backbone, and (b) the chemical and physical structure of the polymer itself. This enables the specific tailoring of polypeptide-containing polymers for particular end-use applications.

Abstract: Method and kit for pregnancy detection adapted for self-performance. Urine to be tested is contacted with a lectin substrate being lectin bound to a solid support and capable of binding HCG. After separation of the lectin substrate from the urine the substrate is contacted with a liquid color reagent comprising a colored carrier material and anti-HCG antibodies bound thereto. If after separation of the colored reagent from the substrate the latter remains colored, the subject is pregnant, while lack of color indicates non-pregnancy. A preferred color reagent comprises killed and stained Staphylococci bacteria. There is also provided a kit for self-performance of the method comprising at least one column packed with a lectin substrate and adapted for the controlled passage of liquid therethrough, and a color reagent.

Abstract: A lectin is covalently bonded to an immunological conjugate such as an antibody-antigen or its equivalent. Then, the lectin-conjugate is isolated from the reaction product mixture by one of a number of alternative techniques involving one or more of the following types of reaction; (1) reversible reaction of the lectin with an insolubilized sugar to isolate lectin from the remainder of the mixture, (2) reaction of one immunological component (e.g., antibody) bonded to the lectin with an insolubilized corresponding component (e.g., antigen) to separate the antibody components from the remainder of the reaction mixture, and (3) filtration of the reaction components to separate on the basis of product molecular weight, size and/or shape of the components.

Abstract: An improvement in assaying methods involving biospecific affinity reactions, in which there are used from 2 to 4 reactants, one of which, reactant (I), is labelled with at least one analytically indicatable atom or group and is soluble in the aqueous liquid in which the biospecific affinity reaction is carried out, the reactants forming, by means of biospecific reactions, a conjugate in which labelled reactant (I) is incorporated; and in which assaying methods the analytically indicatable atom or group is assayed in the conjugate and/or in labelled reactant (I), which is not bound to the conjugate. The conjugate that has been formed or labelled reactant (I) not bound to the conjugate is bound covalently to an insoluble carrier or to an insolubilizable carrier, which latter carrier is made insoluble after the covalent binding has been carried out, whereafter the assay of the analytically indicatable atom or group is carried out.

Abstract: A method, sensor and semiconductor device for determining the concentration of an analyte in a medium. The device features an element constructed of semiconductive organic polymer associated with a binding substance having specific affinity for the analyte.

Abstract: A method for the continuous, in vivo measurement of glucose concentration in animal body fluids such as blood, comprises implanting in the body, in registry with the system for the body fluid, a glucose monitor adapted to measure the concentration of glucose as a function of changes in such electrical charge. The glucose monitor includes an electrode with an electrical charge-transfer medium comprising a reversible complex of a binding macromolecular component and a charge-bearing carbohydrate component. The electrode includes a selectively permeable membrane permitting the ingress and egress of the body fluid. In operation, glucose present in the body fluid displaces the charge-bearing carbohydrate, which then participates in the electrical activity of the electrode so that a measurable change in electrical activity can be observed when the electrode is connected to an appropriate current-responsive meter.

Abstract: A lectin is covalently bonded to an immunological conjugate such as an antibody-antigen or its equivalent. Then, the lectin-conjugate is isolated from the reaction product mixture by one of a number of alternative techniques involving one or more of the following types of reaction; (1) reversible reaction of the lectin with an insolubilized sugar to isolate lectin from the remainder of the mixture, (2) reaction of one immunological component (e.g., antibody) bonded to the lectin with an insolubilized corresponding component (e.g., antigen) to separate the antibody components from the remainder of the reaction mixture, and (3) filtration of the reaction components to separate on the basis of product molecular weight, size and/or shape of the components.