Patents Assigned to Quest Diagnostics
-
Patent number: 7297555Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that introduction of hydrophilic sulfoalkyl substituents and/or hydrophilic linkers derived from homocysteic acid, cysteic acid, glycine peptides, tetraethylene oxide, and the like, offset the hydrophobicity of the acridinium ring system to produce a more soluble label which can be attached to an antibody at higher loading before precipitation and aggregation problems are encountered. Additional compounds described herein contain linkers derived from short peptides and tetraethylene oxide which increase aqueous solubility due to hydrogen bonding with water molecules. The present invention also embraces reagents for multiple acridinium labeling for signal amplification composed of a peptide bearing several acridinium esters with sulfonate groups at regularly spaced intervals for increased solubility. The invention also embraces assays employing the above-described compounds.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Ramon Evangelista, Martha Garrity
-
Patent number: 7288378Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for use in the rapid and simultaneous screening of one or more samples for one or more polymorphisms in the TIGR gene. The methods and compositions of the present invention can be used to rapidly determine if polymorphisms in a gene encoding the TIGR protein are present in the genome of a subject. Identifying which polymorphisms are present in an individual can permit the diagnosis or prediction of the risk of glaucoma in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventor: Doug Hui Huang
-
Patent number: 7262292Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of HBV nucleic acids in a test sample. In particular, substantially purified oligonucleotide primers and probes are described that can be used for qualitatively and quantitatively detecting HBV nucleic acid in a test sample by amplification methods. The present invention also provides primers and probes for generating and detecting control nucleic acid sequences that provide a convenient method for assessing internal quality control of the HBV assay.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Vijaya Pasupuleti, Hasnah Hamdan, Michael Lewinski
-
Patent number: 7250506Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of HCV nucleic acids in a test sample. In particular, substantially purified oligonucleotide primers and probes are described that can be used for qualitatively and quantitatively detecting HCV nucleic acid in a test sample by amplification methods. The present invention also provides primers and probes for generating and detecting control nucleic acid sequences that provide a convenient method for assessing internal quality control of the HCV assay.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Russell Baumann, Hasnah Hamdan, Michael Lewinski
-
Patent number: 7196181Abstract: Disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel human thyroid peroxidase proteins and polypeptides capable of being secreted from cells, vectors comprising the sequences, and cells transformed with the vectors.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments, Inc.Inventor: Basil Rapoport
-
Patent number: 7108662Abstract: A collection device for a testing system includes a central volume and a trough, adjacent the central volume. The trough is configured with a pour spout such that, as fluid is poured from the collection device, a controlled volume remains in the trough. The trough is configured to receive a portion of a test kit and to apply the controlled volume of the sample to test strips within the test kit. The trough can also include apertures in the wall between the trough and the central volume which allow excess sample to flow back into the cup when the cup is placed upright after pouring and when the test kit is inserted into the trough.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Quest Diagnostics IncorporatedInventors: Rod Miller, Michael Hutchinson, Peter J. Sagona, Michael Bucholtz
-
Patent number: 7087395Abstract: The present invention features a kit and a method of using the kit for determining a concentration of a vitamin D component. The kit comprises a releasing composition and a detecting composition. The releasing composition comprises an aqueous base component. In one embodiment, the releasing composition is substantially free from an organic solvent.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Martha Garrity, Jacqueline Tran
-
Patent number: 6994980Abstract: A novel chemiluminescent compound is provided. In one embodiment, the novel compound is employed in an assay to detect analytes. The assay to detect analytes includes the steps of binding the novel compound to the analyte and detecting the novel compound.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments Inc.Inventors: Phillip P. Miller, Martha Garrity
-
Patent number: 6993175Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining the microvascular density of tumors. The methods generally comprise creating a digital image of a defined cross section of the tumor, determining the cross-sectional surface area of vascular tissue in the section of the tumor, determining the total cross sectional area of the section of the tumor, calculating the ratio of the cross sectional surface area of the tumor to the total cross sectional area of the section of the tumor, and thereby determining the microvascular density of the tumor. The digital image of the tumor may preferably be created using image processing software and the image may be displayed on a computer screen. The image may be digitally dissected by removing from the image all non-vascular tissue. This approach produces reproducible results that match the results generated by functional MRI assessments of blood perfusion of the tumors.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Samoszuk, Froilan Espinoza, Leonard Leonor
-
Patent number: 6977143Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the presence or amount of testosterone in a test sample, comprising ionizing all or a portion of the testosterone present in the sample to produce one or more testosterone ions that are detectable in a mass spectrometer. All or a portion of the testosterone present in the sample is ionized to produce one or more testosterone ions, which may be isolated and fragmented to produce precursor ions. A separately detectable internal testosterone standard can be provided in the sample. In a preferred embodiment, the reference is 2, 2, 4, 6, 6-d5 testosterone.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Michael P. Caulfield, Darren A. Carns, Richard E. Reitz
-
Patent number: 6946245Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for determining the presence and/or amount of HCV nucleic acids in a test sample. In particular, substantially purified oligonucleotide primers and probes are described that can be used for qualitatively and quantitatively detecting HCV nucleic acid in a test sample by amplification methods. The present invention also provides primers and probes for generating and detecting control nucleic acid sequences that provide a convenient method for assessing internal quality control of the HCV assay.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Russell Baumann, Hasnah Hamdan, Michael Lewinski
-
Patent number: 6924154Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that introduction of hydrophilic sulfoalkyl substituents and/or hydrophilic linkers derived from homocysteic acid, cysteic acid, glycine peptides, tetraethylene oxide, and the like, offset the hydrophobicity of the acridinium ring system to produce a more soluble label which can be attached to an antibody at higher loading before precipitation and aggregation problems are encountered. Additional compounds described herein contain linkers derived from short peptides and tetraethylene oxide which increase aqueous solubility due to hydrogen bonding with water molecules. The present invention also embraces reagents for multiple acridinium labeling for signal amplification composed of a peptide bearing several acridinium esters with sulfonate groups at regularly spaced intervals for increased solubility. The invention also embraces assays employing the above-described compounds.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Ramon Evangelista, Martha Garrity
-
Patent number: 6905886Abstract: This invention relates to preservative solutions for peptides, for example, parathyroid hormone, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the peptides preserved by the solutions are non-reconstituted. In one embodiment, the preservative solutions comprise a polyvinyl alcohol, EDTA component and molybdic component.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Lata Sundaram, Ann Hoang, Stan Shimizu, Elizabeth R. Umelo-Njaka, Darcy A. Thomas
-
Publication number: 20050048663Abstract: It is discovered that a composition comprising at least one amine and at least one stabilizer may be useful in detecting the presence of an adulterant in a urine sample. Such adulterant includes an oxidizing agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2004Publication date: March 3, 2005Applicant: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: John Novinski, Barry Sample, Richard Hilderbrand, Susan Mills, Victoria Johnson
-
Patent number: 6861262Abstract: It is discovered that a composition comprising at least one amine and at least one stabilizer may be useful in detecting the presence of an adulterant in a urine sample. Such adulterant includes an oxidizing agent.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2001Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: John Novinski, Barry Sample, Richard L. Hilderbrand, Susan Mills, Victoria Johnson
-
Publication number: 20040248172Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting and analyzing clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement using temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE), which employs a gradual and uniform increase in the temperature of a constant denaturing gel to resolve different DNA molecules based on base pair composition. The present invention also provides methods and compositions for providing appropriate DNA migration markers for TTGE analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Michael Samoszuk, Dan Zhu
-
Publication number: 20040214217Abstract: A novel chemiluminescent compound is provided. In one embodiment, the novel compound is employed in an assay to detect analytes. The assay to detect analytes includes the steps of binding the novel compound to the analyte and detecting the novel compound.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Phillip Miller, Martha Garrity
-
Publication number: 20040209259Abstract: The present invention provides methods of determining the genotype at a duplicated region of a genome. The methods involve (a) amplifying the DNA, preferably using four amplification primers The exemplary methods produce a first amplicon corresponding to a first distinct region or gene by utilizing a first primer and a second primer which are selected to produce the first amplicon in the presence of the first distinct region or gene, but not in absence of the first distinct region or gene. A second amplicon corresponding to a second distinct region or gene is also produced by utilizing a third primer and a fourth primer which are selected to produce the second amplicon in the presence of the second distinct region or gene, but not in the absence of the second distinct region or gene. A third and/or fourth amplicon corresponding to a hybrid gene or genes is/are also produced if a hybrid gene is present.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Jennifer Dianne Keen-Kim, Raymond George Fenwick
-
Publication number: 20040142360Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the genotype of a selected gene present in at least two alleles in a sample. The methods involve amplifying DNA from the sample with a first pair of flanking primers that hybridize to nucleic acid sequences flanking a variant-specific gene sequence, the presence of which indicates the presence of a first gene variant, and the absence of which indicates the presence of a second gene variant. The DNA is also amplified with a third primer that specifically binds to the variant-specific sequence and together with one of the flanking primers forms a second pair of primers. Detection of one or more nucleic acid products of the amplification reaction is indicative of the genotype present in the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: Quest Diagnostics Investments IncorporatedInventors: Kevin Z. Qu, Anthony Sferruzza
-
Patent number: 6747139Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding human thyrotropin receptor and related methods are disclosed. The nucleic acids may have nucleotides deleted and/or replaced to modify the amino acid sequence of human thyrotropin receptor.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Quest Diagnostics Investments, Inc.Inventors: Basil Rapoport, Sandra McLachlan