Abstract: Bone marrow or blood containing tumor cells can be freed from the tumor cells by bringing it into contact with an water-insoluble antitumor monoclonal antibody which is prepared according to the enzyme insolubilizing method and thereby combining the tumor cells with the insolublized antibody and destroying the tumor cells along with human serum complement on the insolublized antibody. The thus obtain bone marrow or blood free from tumor cells is used favorably in the autologous-bone-marrow transplantation method for treatment of tumor.

Abstract: A reagent useful in the determination of an immunoreactive species comprises water-insoluble particles having tracer molecules associated therewith. Bound to the outer surface of the particles are: (i) receptor molecules which are reactive with the species, and (ii) molecules of a protein having a pI less than about 6, and which protein is not reactive with either the species or the receptor molecules. The weight ratio of the receptor molecules to the low pI protein molecules is from about 100:1 to about 1:10. This reagent is useful in agglutination and other immunological reactions. A method of preparing the reagent includes providing a suspension of the particles and contacting them with the receptor molecules and low pI protein so as to attach both to the particles. The protein is present in the suspension in an amount such that substantially all of it is attached to the particles.

Abstract: Compounds and methods are disclosed for reversibly aggregating particles suspended in a liquid medium. The method comprises combining the liquid medium containing the particles with a polyionic polymer capable of aggregating the particles under conditions suitable for such aggregation. Thereafter, the particles are contacted with a chemical reagent capable of cleaving the polyionic polymer under conditions sufficient to reverse the aggregation. Optionally, magnetic particles are added to the liquid medium in the present method under conditions for non-specific binding and the medium including the aggregates is subjected to a magnetic field gradient to separate the aggregates from the medium. The compounds of the present invention are polyions. The aggregation of the particles is reversible upon contact with chemical agents which cleave at least some of the bonds within the polyionic polymer.

Abstract: A test kit useful for the determination of Streptococcus A antigen comprises: (i) an immunoreactive reagent comprising either Streptococcus A antigen or antibodies attached to water-insoluble particles, (ii) a substrate having thereon a dried, binder-free coating of a first extraction reagent, (iii) an aqueous solution of a second extraction reagent, and (iv) a neutralizing solution. Both extraction reagents combine to provide nitrous acid. In addition, an extraction device includes a water-insoluble container having affixed therein the first extraction reagent and an applicator means for collecting and depositing a biological specimen within the container. The extraction device and test kit are useful to the determination of Streptococcus A antigen in a biological specimen.

Abstract: Basement membrane collagen degrading enzymes are provided which are useful for the detection of malignant cells with metastatic activity. Means for detecting such cells are also provided.

Abstract: A number of naturally occurring antibodies to human erythrocyte surface antigens are capable of combining with their specific antigens (for example, Rhesus factor), but are not capable of producing visible hemagglutination. Also, the sensitivity of many diagnostic methods, such as in human blood typing, depends upon cell agglutination.The present invention provides liposome-protein conjugates, especially useful for hemagglutination assays, having an enhanced agglutination capacity with respect to antibody from which the conjugates are derived.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides, polynucleotide sequences, DNA constructs and compositions are provided for the preparation and use of polypeptides associated with naturally occurring polypeptides found in brains. The small molecular weight polypeptides are growth inhibitors for neoplastic cells without inhibiting normal cells. The polypeptides comprise specific regions which are highly conserved, separated by less conserved regions. The polypeptides find use in inhibiting neoplastic growth and detecting receptors for the polypeptides. Antibodies are provided in conjunction with the polypeptides, which may be used together or separately for detecting the presence of the neoplastic cell retarding polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a reagent paper for immunological analysis, wherein a fiber fleece of a cellulose/synthetic fiber mixture, in which the weight ratio of cellulose/synthetic fiber is 1 to 90/99 to 10, is activated by treatment with periodate, the so activated fiber fleece is loaded with an acid-treated protein and non-bound protein is removed.The present invention also provides a reagent paper for immunological analysis, wherein it comprises a fiber fleece of a cellulose/synthetic fiber mixture, in which the weight ratio of cellulose/synthetic fiber is from 1 to 90/99 to 10.Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with the use of a fiber fleece of a cellulose/synthetic fiber mixture, wherein the weight ratio of cellulose/synthetic fiber is 90 to 1/10 to 99, as reagent carrier for heterogeneous immunological analysis.

Abstract: Immunological methods are disclosed for diagnosing active human neurocysticercosis, including a serum test and a cerebrospinal fluid test. The serum test involves detecting an antibody in serum which recognizes at least one of three particular antigens isolated from Taenia solium larvae. The cerebrospinal fluid test involves detecting an antigen or antigens of larval origin, preferably by an ELISA technique.

Abstract: A process for preparing test aids for detecting substances to be analyzed by means of redox reactions containing single component oxidation indicators as the indicator substance in which oxidizable aromatic amine or hydrazino compounds, which are not capable of coupling with themselves, are added as decolorants.

Abstract: A device for enabling a measurement of the time integral of concentrations of substances in a biological fluid, without the necessity to collect samples of that fluid, is disclosed for accomplishing time-integrated measurement of the freely-diffusable fraction of substances of interest by providing conditions under which the rate of accumulation of such substances by the device placed in intimate contact with the biological fluid is at all times proportional to their concentration.

Abstract: A ring-shaped registration device for receiving and holding an activated test strip having a reagent area adapted to receive a blood sample. The registration device is slidably received on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical vial on which markings to indicate a range of possible results which might be evidenced by a blood sample. The device includes a central member having a support region for slidably receiving the activated test strip and defining a window for outlining markings on the surface of the vial and on the reagent area of the activated test strip. The reagent area is held in substantially tangential relationship relative to the outer peripheral surface of the vial so as to be selectively positioned intermediate adjacent markings on the surface of the vial. This enables the user to compare an actual blood sample with the range of possible conditions and match the sample with the markings on the vial.

Abstract: Methods and kits for performing a ligand/anti-ligand assay are described. The ligand/anti-ligand assay comprises: (1) simultaneously carrying out the extraction of a ligand from a sample of cells or cells and reaction of the ligand with at least two anti-ligands therefor to form a detectable reaction product, and (2) detecting the reaction product.

Abstract: A method of assaying biologically active substances by the competitive method or by the sandwich technique, characterized in that fine particles having a diameter of 0.03 to 3 .mu.m are used in the labelling agent.

Abstract: An assay method and kit for a hapten such as theophylline employs a first, latex reagent and a second, antibody reagent. By using a monoclonal antibody of the IgA class in the second reagent, interference by patient rheumatoid factor is prevented.

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: A method for obtaining an actual linear standard curve in a sandwich type of immunoassay where a first antibody bound to an insoluble support and a second unbound labelled antibody complex with the antigen contained in a test sample to form an insoluble antibody:antigen:labelled antibody complex which is then detected. Unbound unlabelled first antibody and/or unbound unlabelled second antibody are added to the reaction mixture to divert excess antigen away from the desired end-product complex, thus rendering the antigen of interest the rate-limiting factor in the overall immunoreaction. This results in a pseudo first-order reaction which produces an actual linear standard curve.

Abstract: A process for the modification, solubilization and/or hydrolysis of a glycosidically linked carbohydrate having reducing groups using a mixture comprising water, an inorganic acid and a halide of lithium, magnesium or calcium. The process is particularly useful for converting cellulose (derived for example from waste-paper, wood or sawdust) or starch to glucose. When cellulose is the starting material the preferred halide is a lithium halide. When starch is the starting material a magnesium halide is preferred.

Abstract: Specific binding members are provided for binding to lymphocytic cell surface receptors, which receptors are involved in the activation of a cell from the G.sub.0 state into the cell division cycle to proliferate. The cell surface receptors are further characterized by binding to envelope proteins of neoplasia-causing retroviruses, and/or to intact retroviral particles.

Abstract: A bacterial lectin isolatable from Neisseria gonorrhoeae is disclosed. This lectin binds to gonococcal carbohydrates such as gangliotetraosylceramide, has a relative molecular weight of about 22,400 daltons, and an isolectric pH value in the range of about 6.1 to about 6.4. The disclosed lectin is useful as a constituent of a vaccine against gonorrhea and as a diagnostic means for gonorrhea. A method for isolating this lectin is also disclosed, as well as means for producing it.