Abstract: The present invention provides a specific binding partner for holoTC having a specificity for holoTC over apoTC of at least 40-fold and an assay method for assaying for holoTC in a sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with a specific binding partner for holoTC and detecting the resultant conjugates.

Abstract: An assay apparatus comprising: i) an assay cartridge (52, 53) comprising at least one well (57-62) and a pipette (50) positionable in at least one said well; ii) a holder arranged to receive said cartridge; iii) drive means operable to position said pipette in selected wells of said cartridge; iv) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said pipette whereby to cause liquid flow through said membrane; and v) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from a well of said cartridge or from said pipette.

Abstract: An assay method for determining transcobalamin saturation wherein a transcobalamin containing liquid sample is contacted with a porous substrate with immobilized thereon a transcobalamin immobilizing ligand and with a reporter-labelled transcobalamin binding partner and wherein signals from reporter labels which become immobilized on said substrate are detected, characterised in that one of said ligand or said binding partner comprises a first ligand or binding partner capable of specific binding to holo transcobalamin and a second ligand or binding partner capable of binding to apo transcobalamin or to holo and apo transcobalamin.

Abstract: An assay apparatus comprising: i) an assay cartridge (52,53) comprising at least one well (57-62) and a pipette (50) positionable in at least one said well; ii) a holder arranged to receive said cartridge; iii) drive means operable to position said pipette in selected wells of said cartridge; iv) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said pipette whereby to cause liquid flow through said membrane; and v) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from a well of said cartridge or from said pipette.

Abstract: The present invention provides a specific binding partner for holoTC having a specificity for holoTC over apoTC of at least 40-fold and an assay method for assaying for holoTC in a sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with a specific binding partner for holoTC and detecting the resultant conjugates.

Abstract: Compositions and assay methods for and relating to the detection of glycated hemoglobin are provided. In particular, the presence and level of glycated hemoglobin can be detected in a blood sample. The compositions comprise microparticles which have zinc coating for use in the improved binding of proteins exhibiting a zinc binding domain, in particular glycated hemoglobin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assay method for a cell-containing body sample, said method comprising treating said sample under conditions whereby to cause cell lysis, preferably by means of a detergent; and subjecting the thus-generated lysed sample to conditions causing the cleavage of nucleic acid molecules. The invention additionally provides the use of nucleic acid cleavage conditions in enhancing a membrane assay, a device for carrying out such an assay, and a kit for use in the assay.

Abstract: An assay method for determining transcobalamin saturation wherein a transcobalamin containing liquid sample is contacted with a porous substrate with immobilized thereon a transcobalamin immobilizing ligand and with a reporter-labelled transcobalamin binding partner and wherein signals from reporter labels which become immobilized on said substrate are detected, characterised in that one of same ligand or said binding partner comprises a first ligand or binding partner capable of specific binding to holo transcobalamin and a second ligand or binding partner capable of binding to apo transcobalamin or to holo and apo transcobalamin.

Abstract: The invention provides a cassette-based automated assay for homocysteine.

Abstract: The invention provides a kit for a glycated haemoglobin assay, said kit comprising: a porous membrane capable of retaining precipitated haemoglobin; a first reagent comprising zinc ions in aqueous basic solution or comprising a water soluble zinc compound; a second reagent comprising a chromophore-boronic acid conjugate; and optionally, an aqueous washing reagent; wherein at least one of the first and second reagents further comprises a surfactant capable of lysing erythrocytes, and wherein said second reagent if liquid is acidic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assay methods for the determination of cobalamin or vitamin B12 in a body fluid and in particular to assay methods for the metabolically active pool of cobalamin, comprising contacting a cell free sample of a body fluid with an immobilised or immobilizable specific binding ligand for TC II or holo TC II, separating a ligand bound fraction from a non-ligand bound fraction and measuring the holo-TC II or TC-II bound cobalamin content therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostic or prognostic assay method for Alzheimer's Disease by assaying a body fluid sample or a test sample derived therefrom for holo-trancobalamin II.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay method for the determination of transcobalamin II (TC II) bound cobalamin in a body sample, comprising contacting a cell free sample of a body fluid with an immobilised or immobilizable specific binding ligand for TC II or cobalamin bound TC II (holo TC II), separating a ligand bound fraction from a non-ligand bound fraction and measuring the holo-TC II or TC-II bound cobalamin content therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of assessing/quantifying the amount of homocysteine in a body fluid sample via an enzymatic assay. The assay includes steps of reducing background signal by treatment with one of the following: a reducing agent, a pyruvate deactivating agent, heat treatment, or by lyophilising or immobilizing the homocysteine converting enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assay method for assessing a transferrin variant or combination of transferrin variants for the diagnosis and monitoring of alcoholism, and to kits for performing the assay. In particular, the invention provides a method of producing an algorithm for determining the content of a transferrin variant or combination of transferrin variants, preferably a CDT variant or combination of CDT variants, in a sample of body fluid, said method comprising: (a) obtaining at least two solutions each having known contents of asialo- (A1, A2, A3, etc.) and disialo-transferrins (D1, D2, D3, etc.); (b) determining the content in each of said solutions of a transferrin variant or combination of transferrin variants fractions substantially free from tri- and higher sialylated transferring; (c) determining the total transferrin variant content (T1, T2, T2, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a specific binding partner for holoTC having a specificity for holoTC over apoTC of at least 40-fold and an assay method for assaying for holoTC in a sample, the method comprising contacting the sample with a specific binding partner for holoTC and detecting the resultant conjugates.

Abstract: A method for assaying for a protein having at least two isoforms having different glycosylation patterns, the method including contacting a sample containing the protein with a proteolytic enzyme, and detecting the content or relative content of at least one peptide fragment produced by proteolysis of the protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of assessing/quantifying the amount of homocysteine in a body fluid sample via an enzymatic assay which comprises reducing background signal by treatment with one of the following: a reducing agent, a pyruvate deactivating agent, heat treatment, or by lyophilising or immobilizing the homocysteine converting enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assay methods for the determination of cobalamin or vitamin B12 in a body fluid and in particular to assay methods for the metabolically active pool of cobalamin, comprising contacting a cell free sample of a body fluid with an immobilised or immobilizable specific binding ligand for TC II or holo TC II, separating a ligand bound fraction from a non-ligand bound fraction and measuring the holo-TC II or TC-II bound cobalamin content therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new dipstick assay for detecting and quantifying the content of an target analyte in a sample. The assay is particularly useful for example in the diagnosis and monitoring of alcoholism by the detection of asialo transferrin or carbohydrate free transferrin (CFT). Thus, provided is a dipstick for determining the content of a target analyte variant in a mixture of analyte variants in a sample, comprising: a) a sample application zone, b) a screening zone having an immobilised binding ligand having a binding affinity for a non-target analyte variant or varinats, c) a conjugate zone comprising a detector reagent, d) a reading zone for detection of said analyte.