Abstract: A method and device for testing for the presence of substances such as drugs in body fluids while simultaneously positively identifying the test subject. The device comprises an absorbent pad and a membrane mounted to the absorbent pad containing a plurality of separated areas provided with different immobilized ligand having a specific receptor site for capture or rejection of specific antigens produced by different predetermined drugs.

Abstract: A glycolipid receptor that specifically binds pathogenic fungi has been identified. Various properties and utilities of the receptor have been described.

Abstract: A simultaneous dual analyte assay for determining the fertile period of the human menstrual cycle. The assay utilizes a capture reaction component consisting of P-3-G immobilized on a microporous membrane, a blocking reaction component consisting of anti E.sub.1 -3-G antibody, a labelled reaction component consisting of gold particle labelled anti E.sub.1 -3-G antibody, and an ambifunctional reaction component consisting of a hybrid immunoreactive substance having an anti P-3-G antibody binding site and a plurality of E.sub.1 -3-G determinant binding sites. An aqueous sample containing P-3-G and E.sub.1 -3-G is contacted with the components and the assay is calibrated to provide a positive assay result only when the concentration of P-3-G in the sample is less than a predetermined concentration and the concentration of E.sub.

Abstract: Detecting an immunoreactant in a liquid sample, by:mixing the liquid sample with an excess of a complementary immunoreactant capable of specifically binding to the immunoreactant to allow an immunoreaction to take place, in which the complementary immunoreactant is immobilized on insoluble carrier particles and labeled with an electrochemiluminescent substance that emits an electrochemiluminescent light by electrolytic oxidation in the presence of activated oxygen,applying an electric voltage to a pair of electrodes between which the mixture obtained above is placed, in the presence of activated oxygen to allow electrochemiluminescence to take place;measuring the emission of the electrochemiluminescent light; andcorrelating the presence of the immunoreactant with the amount of measured electrochemiluminescent light, is a highly accurate method, because the rate of change of the emission of luminescent light as a function of immunoreactant concentration in the sample is high.

Abstract: For optical determination of the catalytic enzyme activity of a sample by means of enzyme reactants which are split under the influence of the enzyme to be measured, the enzyme reactant is placed at the end of an optical fiber and brought into contact with the sample to be determined. The measurements are carried out by observing the rate of change in spectral characteristics of the enzyme reactant, or its reaction products, resulting from the enzyme reaction. The method permits measurements of undiluted blood and in-vivo determinations of enzyme activities.

Abstract: A laser magnetic immunoassay (LMIA) technique is presented which combines the high detection sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique with the simplicity of particle agglutination (PA) technique. The LMIA technique dispenses with the separation step of bound and free species (B/F separation), yet provides detectivity of the order of picogram of viral species per milliliter of analyte solution. The procedure includes of the steps of: preparing a superparamagnetic-labeled body of antigen or antibody; subjecting a specimen sample and the magnetic-labeled body to a specific immunoreaction to produce a reacted body; subjecting the reacted body containing both bound and free species to a spot magnetic field gradient; irradiating the spot with a laser beam; measuring the intensity of the outgoing light from the spot; and making a quantitative determination of the virus according to the time difference in the outgoing light signals generated by bound and free species.

Abstract: A laser magnetic immunoassay (LMIA) method which enables detection of less than picograms of target analyte in milliliter of analyte solution. The method involves the steps of: affixing an antibody or antigen on the surface of non-magnetic carrier particles; immunoreacting the affixed antibody or antigen to capture a target analyte contained in a specimen; preparing magnetic labeled microparticles treated so as to bind with the target analyte; reacting the labeled complex to sandwich the target analyte between the magnetic particles and the non-magnetic carrier particles; separating the free species from the bound species by centrifugation; dispersing the precipitated solid to make an analyte solution; applying a spot magnetic field gradient on the analyte solution and irradiating a selected spot with a laser beam; and analyzing the resulting interference patterns to quantitatively determine the quantity of target analyte.

Abstract: An in-situ laser magnetic immunoassay ("LMIA") method which eliminates the step of B/F separation generally required in the labeling method of immunoassays. The laser magnetic immunoassay permits a quantitative determination of a target immunological substance, for example, an antigen, an antibody, lymphocytes, viruses, tumorous cells and infections cells, in an analyte solution containing both bound and free species. A transitory increase in the magnetophoretic scattering of laser beam is observed when the analyte solution contains magnetic-labeled, bound target analyte, while no such increase is observed in a control test solution, containing only the relevant reagents. A magnetophoretic LMIA apparatus is provided which includes a magnetic gradient generating device which forms an integral part of the in-situ LMIA.

Abstract: A method for classifying and monitoring leukemias is disclosed. The method comprises mixing cells from a patient with a plurality of fluorescently labelled monoclonal antibodies, examining the cells by means of flow cytometry, scoring the percent of positive cells in each quadrant in a two-dimensional plot of log fluorescence and comparing the scores with a standard. Monitoring of the disease also may be achieved by comparing the scores before, during and after treatment.

Abstract: Heme-containing proteins, such as cytochrome c, are useful in admixture with enzyme-labeled immunoreactants, such as peroxidase-labeled antibodies or fragments thereof. The heme-containing proteins and enzyme-labeled immunoreactants can be supplied in a buffered composition as part of a test kit. The buffered composition comprising the heme-containing protein and peroxidase-labeled immunoreactant excludes 4'-hydroxyacetanilide, which is a phenolic electron transfer agent. The composition can be used in immunoassays for detecting various immunologically reactive species, such as hCG, and chlamydial or gonococcal antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex comprising nerve growth factor (NGF) and trk-proto-oncogene protein. The present invention also relates to methods for detecting the presence of NGF and trk-proto-oncogene receptor. The present invention further relates to methods that may be used in diagnostics and therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's by detecting NGF-trk receptor pairs.

Abstract: N-substituted azetidinones are a class of inhibitors of human leukocytes elastase which are known to be useful in the treatment of a wide variety of antiinflammatory and antidegenerative diseases. In inhibiting elastase, the therapeutic agents are shown to form a characteristic stable complex with the enzyme. In the assay disclosed herein, the inhibitor-enzyme complex is advantageously hydrolyzed and specific product(s) of the hydrolysis are measured. The assays are useful in a clinical setting, for determining appropriate dosage and assessing the effectiveness of treatment.

Abstract: A mass biosensor method provides enhanced quantification of analyte concentrations in a sample. In a direct approach, an analyte is derivatized to form an analyte chelate and then specifically bound to a sensor. In an indirect approach, a complement of the analyte is derivatized to form a complement chelate which is then bound to a sensor. In a direct/indirect hybrid approach, an analog of the analyte is derivatized to form an analog chelate that is bound to a sensor in competition with the sample analyte. In all three approaches, mass measurements taken as the ligand chelate attaches to the sensor permit the concentration of the analyte in the sample to be calculated. Once measurement is completed, a dissociation treatment is applied to dissociate the derivatized species from the sensor so that the sensor can be reused. The effects of the dissociation treatment can be monitored using phosphorescence detection.

Abstract: A method for performing a diagnostic immunoassay by a solid phase separation. To a reaction mixture of a test sample and labeled antibody, which forms a complex of any analyte present in the test sample, is added a solid phase material having a compound capable of binding any excess labeled antibody. The solid phase material is chosen to rapidly settle whereby a solid and liquid phase is formed. The liquid phase can then be extracted to measure the amount of analyte-labeled antibody present therein.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit for detecting the presence of microorganisms, comprising an insoluble substrate; and a carbohydrate receptor immobilized on the insoluble substrate, the carbohydrate receptor being capable of adsorbing microorganisms; and a labelled reagent useful for detecting the presence of microorganisms bound to the carbohydrate receptors and a method for detecting the presence of specified microorganisms in a sample, which comprises contacting a sample to be tested with carbohydrate receptors immobilized on an insoluble substrate; and determining the extent of binding of microorganisms in the sample to the carbohydrate receptors by use of a labelled reagent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the screening of pathological condition in the intestinal tract of an animal or a human being, e.g., intestinal ischemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease and bowel graft rejection. The method assays elevated levels of lipid binding protein, more particularly intestinal fatty acid binding protein, in a biological sample obtained from the animal or human being. Serum or urine are preferred biological samples. Preferred methods employ an immunological assay such as a radioimmunoassay or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of intestinal fatty acid binding proteins in the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use for the diagnosis of demyelinating neuropathies, in particular multiple sclerosis or MS, of endogenous lectins having an affinity for glycans rich in mannose or their protein subunits, these lectins or their subunits being immunologically related to the cerebellar soluble lectins (CSL or their protein subunits, respectively).

Abstract: A process for manipulation of liquid microdroplets is disclosed. The process involves formation of microdroplets such that physical forces based on particular interactions of the microdroplets with a surrounding non-aqueous fluid results can be used to alter the position of the microdroplets.

Abstract: This invention provides a process and an apparatus for the detection of toxicity in surface waters, by which the fluorescence of a water sample is measured in that the correlation, especially the ratio, between the prompt fluorescence and retarded fluorescence of the water sample is determined, which contains a toxicity-sensitive bioorganism. The apparatus comprises a combination of a first fluorescence measuring means for measuring prompt fluorescence and a second fluorescence measuring means for measuring retarded fluorescence as well as a signal correlation means for correlating the output signals of two fluorescence measuring means with each other to form an output quantity indicating the toxicity of the water sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of an antibody by incubation with three different reagents R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, of which R.sub. and R.sub.3 are present in liquid phase and are bindable with the antibody, R.sub.2 is present bound to a solid phase and is bindable with R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 carries a label, separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase and measurement of the label in the solid phase, wherein as R.sub.1 there is used a conjugate of a substance specifically recognized by the antibody to be determined and a reaction component of a specific binding system, as R.sub.3 there is used a conjugate of a substance specifically recognized by the antibody to be determined and a label and as R.sub.2 there used the other binding component of the specific binding system. The present invention also provides a composition for the determination of an antibody, wherein it contains two different soluble reagents R.sub.1 and R.sub.