Abstract: The claimed invention is a method for determining whether a mammal is infected with Haemobartonella felis or for inducing an immune response against Haemobartonella felis using a polypeptide expressed by Mycoplasma. Preferably, the polypeptide is expressed by Mycoplasma gallisepticum. In a preferred embodiment the polypeptide is the pMGA protein expressed by the strain of Mycoplasma gallisepticum having ATCC deposit number 19610.

Abstract: A saliva enhancement reagent for use in an ELISA wherein a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme conjugate system is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically removing well-strips from well-strip holders. The apparatus includes a frame and a base plate for receiving a plurality of well-strip holders, each holder having a plurality of well-receiving areas and corresponding apertures with the individual wells of the well-strips positioned in the areas so as to overlie the apertures. A pneumatically-operated movable drive member is attached to the frame so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction toward and away from the base plate and well-strip holders. The movable member has a plurality of well-strip engaging portions secured to the underside thereof, each portion including a plurality of pegs that pass into the open end of the apertures formed in the well-strip holders to contact the well-strips and remove same from the holders.

Abstract: This invention provides (a) novel hybridoma cell lines which produce a monoclonal idiotypic antibody designated 1030.2.3.1 that binds an antigenic determinant present on FIPV but absent on FeCV; and (b) monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies designated 2814.6 and 2848.6 that mimic epitopes of this FIPV specific determinant.Assay procedures and kits for use in such procedures to distinguish between FIPV and FeCV are described.

Abstract: Immunoreagents for the release, non-specific capture and detection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that may be diagnostic for microorganisms causative for, among other things, Chlamydia trachomatis or Chlamydia psittaci are described.

Abstract: Methods and composition are provided for diagnostic assays, where a sample traverses a bibulous matrix in a first plane and the flow path redirected into a second plane at a binding site, where a signal is created in relation to the presence of analyte. Various protocols may be employed where components of a signal producing system may be combined with the sample, the matrix, or added at the binding site.

Abstract: An immunoassay method and apparatus for diagnosing FeLV-induced, persistent viremia is provided comprising combining a feline saliva sample conveniently obtained with a specially designed probe, with anti-p27 antibodies and detecting complex formation as indicative of the viremia. Preferably, the antibodies are bound to the probe for complex formation.

Abstract: An accelerated method for making culturable cells which express bi-specific immunoglobulin employs a three cell fusion procedure which simultaneously fuses a myeloma cell with two B lymphocytes, each of which expresses antibody having a different antigenic specificity.

Abstract: An immunoassay incubation device is employed for detecting the presence of specific analytes in solid and semisolid compositions using solid phase immunoassay methods. Analysis of such compositions by solid phase immunoassay first requires that soluble or particulate analytes be extracted from the sample composition. A representative example of such composition is fecal material. The immunoassay incubation device includes a vessel for homogenizing the sample composition. The device also includes a solid phase assay member immunologically sensitized for detecting particular analytes. After the sample composition is homogenized, the assay member is incubated in an incubation chamber which is immersed into the homogenate within the homogenization vessel. The incubation chamber includes a screen which screens out unextracted components from the homogenate while passing extracted components.

Abstract: The saliva test for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) employs a probe having an immunochemically sensitive member for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a cat and employs ELISA reagents for the incubation of the probe and the development of color reactions to indicate the presence or absence of FeLV within the saliva sample collected onto the probe.

Abstract: Competitive immunoassays, which employ idiotypic and antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody reagents, are described. These competitive immunoassays are particularly useful for the detection of low concentrations of analyte for which labeled reference analyte is difficult to obtain in quantity. Antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody reagents serves as a substitute for the labeled reference analyte. The antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody reagent exhibits a congruency of structure with one or more epitopes of the analyte or antigen. The antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody is prepared against an idiotypic monoclonal antibody, which, in turn, was prepared against the antigen or analyte. During the immunoassay, the antiidiotypic monoclonal antibody is allowed to compete with the antigen, whose concentration is being determined, for a limited number of antibody binding sites present on an idiotypic antibody, which was also prepared against the antigen or analyte.

Abstract: A serum antibody assay for assaying a serum sample is described which has diagnostic value for determining the presence of a specific serum antibody which may be indicative of an infection by a specific microorganism. The serum antibody assay has an enhanced diagnostic value because it can eliminate interference by selected cross-reactive antibodies which are directed against one or more other microorganisms to which the assay is not directed and which may be present in the serum sample with a clinically significant frequency. The serum antibody assay uses an immunologically purified fraction of antigenic material derived from the specific microorganism to which assay is directed. The immunologically purified fraction of antigenic material includes immunologically distinguishable components of the antigenic material.

Abstract: The performance of immunoassays for the analysis of serum analytes can be significantly improved by the pretreatment of the sample. Analyte in serum samples is often complexed with serum antibody. Such analyte-antibody complexes can mask the analyte and interfere with analyte specific binding steps of many immunoassays. The serum pretreatment method employs pH dependent chaotropes to dissociate the analyte-antibody complexes in the serum. At low pH, the complexes become dissociated and the antibody becomes denatured. After the dissociation and denaturation of the serum antibody, the serum sample and the chaotrope, contained therein, are then neutralized. Since the serum antibody has been denatured, it does not re-associate with the analyte upon neutralization. After the neutralization step, serum sample can then be analyzed by an immunoassay, without interference from serum antibody. A serum pretreatment kit is essential to the employment of the serum pretreatment method.