Abstract: Methods for determining the presence of a ligand in a sample suspected to contain the ligand are provided, along with apparatus suitable for performing the methods. The methods depend upon a color visualization indicating the ligand's presence or absence in the sample. Preferred methods comprise contacting the sample with colored particles which bear on their surface a receptor specific for the ligand, passing the sample/particle mixture through a filter, and then analyzing the color of the filtrate. The presence of ligand in the sample is established where the color of the filtrate is substantially different from the color of the receptor-bearing particles.

Abstract: A chemical sensor includes a patterned layer having discrete sections, a -dimensional detector array, and a two-dimensional lens array that focuses an optical signal from the patterned layer onto the two dimensional detector array. Typically, the two-dimensional detector array is a charge-coupled device array and the lens array is a graded index of refraction lens array. The chemical sensor maintains good resolution throughout its field of view.

Abstract: The invention concerns monoclonal antibodies which bind to the CK-MB isoenzyme but not to the B or M subunit of CK-MB or to the CK-MM and CK-BB isoenzmyes, as well as a method for the diagnostic detection of CK-MB in a homogeneous diagnostic test using these antibodies.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for detecting the presence of at least one methylxanthine chemical species such as caffeine or theophylline in a beverage comprises a first portion comprising an effective concentration of phosphodiesterase enzyme, a second portion comprising cyclic AMP, and means for indicating inhibition of degradation of the cyclic AMP by the phosphodiesterase due to the presence of the methylxanthine species. A method for determining the presence of at least one methylxanthine chemical species in a beverage comprises contacting at least one test portion of the beverage with effective concentrations of at least one phosphodiesterase enzyme and cyclic AMP, and further contacting the test portion with means for indicating the inhibition of the degradation of the cyclic AMP by the phosphodiesterase due to the presence of the methylxanthine species.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hybridoma cell line which produces a monoclonal antibody which cross reacts with both yeast and human fibrillarin. Diagnostic kits are also described. These are useful in diagnosing diseases such as scleroderma.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for the detection of creatinine in biological fluids using lateral flow methodologies. The invention is particularly useful in providing one step creatinine assays for correcting urinary steroid hormone assays.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the extent of sepsis and/or an infection in a human or animal patient by detecting the amount of an antigen indicative of such infection. The amount of the antigen is detected in a patient blood derived test sample containing blood cell fractions.

Abstract: A stabilized liquid standard solution for use in calibrating assays of thyroid function containing albumin and known amounts of at least two analytes selected from a group consisting of total thyroxine, free thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, and free triiodothyronine, and optionally, thyroid stimulating hormone.

Abstract: A test kit and method for the highly sensitive detection of specific analytes in a sample is provided. The presence of the analyte in the sample results in a decrease in the concentration of a growth inhibiting substance leading to proliferation of cells in the region of the analyte. The presence or absence of the analyte is determined by detecting the presence of increased numbers of cells. Assay sensitivity is accounted for by the exponential amplification of cell number that occurs during cell proliferation in the presence of analyte.

Abstract: The invention provides a fragment of C1q which is characterized in that a plurality of such fragments selectively binds immune complexes or aggregated immunoglobulins in the presence of monomeric immunoglobulin. The invention also provides a synthetic peptide comprising the sequence: ##STR1## or variants thereof capable of binding immunoglobulin. Like the C1q fragment, a plurality of the peptides can selectively bind immune complexes or aggregated immunoglobulins in the presence of monomeric immunoglobulin. As a result of this property, the fragments and peptides are well-adapted for removing immune complexes and aggregated immunoglobulins from fluids containing monomeric immunoglobulin, and for detecting or quantitating immune complexes in such fluids. The invention also provides a binding material for removing immune complexes or aggregated immunoglobulins from a fluid.

Abstract: The assay reagent and kit of the present invention suppress non-specific binding of a labeled substance onto a solid phase, and can assay one or more species of antibodies or one or more species of antigens by means of a single reagent in a simple manner. The assay method involves reacting immunological ligands in a test sample with the assay reagent which contains a combination of components (A) and (B), thereby forming complexes, which complexes are captured onto the independently and separately present Solid phases (C), to assay the label contained in the complexes.

Abstract: Assays and reagents are provided for the measurement of components that are involved in either an enzyme-catalyzed degradation of a protein substrate, or an enzyme-catalyzed polymerization of a substrate. The method involves using a fluorescent-labeled protein substrate in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction, and measurement of the component's effects on the fluorescence emission of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction such as quenching or dequenching, as a measure of the component's activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for carrying out immunochemical reactions and to regenerable solid phases which can be used for this purpose. When use is made of precious metals, preferably gold, as the solid phase, and also of certain reducing agents or oxidizing agents, such as, for example, sodium borohydride and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, with or without the addition of detergents, the solid phase can be employed repeatedly, following regeneration.

Abstract: A device for detecting the presence of substances, particularly biological materials, contained in a liquid sample is formed of a series of layers of film materials. A first film has a cut-out which forms an upper reservoir for receiving the liquid sample. A first reagent is provided in the upper reservoir capable of reacting with a substance possibly contained in the liquid sample. A first membrane is situated at the base of the upper reservoir and is made of a material which is temporarily impermeable so that the liquid sample is temporarily retained in the upper reservoir in contact with the first reagent, but after awhile the membrane becomes permeable and allows the liquid to pass. A second film has a cut-out which forms a median reservoir positioned for receiving the liquid passing through the first membrane. A second reagent is provided in the median reservoir capable of reacting with a predetermined substance.

Abstract: Method for detecting casts in urine by measuring Tamm-Horsfall protein by solid and liquid phase reagents including a method for manufacturing a enzyme specific for Tamm-Horsfall protein which produces a detectable response in the presence of casts in urine.

Abstract: Modified apo-peroxidases have been found useful in analytical methods to remove the bias caused by the presence of hemoglobin in the test specimens. While apo-peroxidases are known to remove serum interferents, they fail to overcome the hemoglobin bias, particularly when dry coated analytical elements are used in the assays. Blocking the nitrogen atoms of the imidzolyl groups of the histidine amino acids of the apo-peroxidase prevents catalytic activity of the protein in the presence of hemoglobin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for immunoassays utilizes an improved collection technique of fluorescence induced emissions at the solid phase/liquid phase interface from surface plasmon resonance sensing devices. In a preferred embodiment, a solid phase substrate is coated with a thin film of a conducting material on which a first specific binding partner is directly or indirectly immobilized. The coated solid phase substrate is incubated with a liquid component comprised of a biological sample containing a specific ligand or analyte and a fluorescent labeled second specific binding partner in the case of immunometric assays, or a fluorescent labeled ligand or analog thereof in the case of competitive assays.

Abstract: A method of flow cytometric analysis of leukocyte subpopulations using a fluorescence trigger and gating on light scatter vs. fluorescence. The methods are useful where light scatter parameters are unsatisfactory for identification of leukocyte subpopulations, for example when analyzing lysed blood samples without removal of lysing reagent or unbound label prior to analysis.

Abstract: A lateral flow assay device for detecting the presence of Chlamydia antigen in patient's samples comprises a flow matrix including a labelling zone and a capture zone. Labelling complex comprising antibodies specific for an epitope on the lipopolysaccharide antigen of Chlamydia is present within the labelling zone. Immobilized antibody specific for the same or another epitope of the lipopolysaccharide antigen of Chlamydia is located in the capture zone. The sample containing the Chlamydia antigen will flow first through the labelling zone, where it complexes with the labelling complex, and then to the capture zone, where it is captured by the immobilized antibody. Chlamydia antigen may be extracted from a patient sample, such as a endocervical swab, by first extracting the antigen in a strong base followed by neutralization with a zwitterionic detergent and a blocking protein present in a zwitterionic buffer.

Abstract: A synthetic strategy for the creation of large scale chemical diversity. Solid-phase chemistry, photolabile protecting groups, and photolithography are used to achieve light-directed spatially-addressable parallel chemical synthesis. In one particular embodiment, an array of rotated cyclic polymers is formed. In another embodiment, an array of polymers is formed based on a target polymer. The array includes systematically substituted versions of the target molecule. In another embodiment, rotated and systematically substituted cyclic polymers are formed on a substrate.