Abstract: The complexing of an antibody-antigen binding pair is determined by observing the change in fluorescence of a pH-sensitive fluorochrome attached to one of the members of the binding pair. When the binding is conducted in a solution having a pH other than the isoelectric point of the antibody, there will be a change in the pH of the microenviromnent surrounding the fluorochrome. This change will correspond to a change in the observed fluorescent intensity. Either member of the binding pair can be labeled, and combined with that member whose presence is suspect, in an immunoassay.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and products for the detection of the C peptide of relaxin in the body fluids of animals, as a positive indication of pregnancy. The invention may employ monoclonal antibodies generated to various epitopes on the C peptide.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the enhancement of the chemiluminescence of enzyme-triggered 1,2-dioxetanes detectable within a sample. The process comprises first providing a solid support having sample disposed thereon and suitably treated with a solution including enzyme-triggered 1,2-dioxetanes. The solid support is next dried and optionally heated either simultaneously with drying or thereafter. The steps of drying and/or heating are conducted either prior to or simultaneously with detection.

Abstract: A buffered composition containing a nonionic or anionic surfactant, and a certain amount of a hydroxamic acid (or salt thereof) or an acyl hydrazine can be used as a wash composition in specific binding assays. Such assays include the use of a peroxidase labeled specific binding reactant to form a detectable peroxidase-labeled specific binding complex. The buffered composition and labeled reactant can be supplied in a diagnostic test kit. The hydroxamic acid or acyl hydrazine can be represented by the structure(I):R--CO--NH--R'wherein R is aryl or 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the aromatic nucleus, alkyl of 1 to 7 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 10 carbon atoms in the ring, or heterocyclyl of 5 to 10 atoms in the ring, at least one of which is an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, and R' is hydroxy or amino.

Abstract: An aqueous wash composition has been found useful in methods for determination of specific binding ligands. The composition is buffered to a pH of less than or equal to 6 or greater than or equal to 9. It also includes as its essential component at least about 0.1 weight percent of an anionic surfactant which is represented by the formula:[A-SO.sub.3+y ].sup.-(1+y) [X.sup.+m ].sub.nwherein A is a hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of at least about 180, X.sup.+m is hydrogen or a monovalent or divalent cation, m is 1 or 2, y is 0 or 1, and n is 1 or 2 provided that m and n are not both 2. Optionally and preferably, the wash composition also includes a nonimmunoreactive protein. This wash composition is particularly useful in methods for determination of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases. Such methods can be of a variety of formats, but immunometric assays are particularly useful. The wash composition can be included as part of a diagnostic test kit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the determination of a partner in an immunological reaction based on an immunoassay in which one of the reaction partners is present in a solid phase, wherein a polyethylene oxidepolypropylene oxide block copolymer having the formula I ##STR1## is used as the surface-active agent in which a can have a value between 40 and 150 and b a value between 10 and 50, which is characterized in that a hydrophilic block copolymer composition having the formula I is used which in a 1 % aqueous solution (weight/volume) has a surface tension of at least 45 mN/m and in which the average molar ratio of ethylene oxide groups to propylene oxide groups (2a/b) in the composition is at least 5.8. In addition the invention comprises a reagent for carrying out the above method.