Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting infections caused by or associated with siderophore-secreting microorganisms and kits and components used therein for carrying out the method. In one aspect the invention relates to a method for detecting siderophores and/or detecting infections caused by or associated with siderophore-secreting microorganisms in a biological sample of a subject, the method comprising providing a solid support having either bound siderophore or a conjugate thereof, or bound anti-siderophore antibody; reacting the bound siderophore or a conjugate thereof, with an anti-siderophore antibody, and a biological sample of a subject; or reacting the bound anti-siderophore antibody with a siderophore or conjugate thereof, and a biological sample of a subject; and detecting and/or quantifying the presence of the siderophore in the biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for the quantitative determination of human acute phase serum amyloid A protein (A-SAA) comprising contacting a sample of a biological fluid with antibody specific for A-SAA, the sample being reacted with an organic solvent prior to or simultaneous with antibody contact. The organic solvent is suitably a C1 or C4 alcohol and the antibody can be used on the solid phase and as a component of the detection system of an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay. The method provides a sensitive and reliable measure of A-SAA and inflammatory status which can be used for the diagnosis and clinical management of both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Hepatic status of a subject is determined by measuring the level of pi glutathione S-transferase (&pgr;GST) in a biological fluid such as bile or plasma from the subject by an immunoassay. An increased level of &pgr;GST as compared to a normal range of &pgr;GST indicates an abnormal condition of the liver. Measuring &pgr;GST level has particular application for determining the hepatic status of a liver transplant recipient because it enables detecting liver transplant rejection at a very early stage after transplantation. The immunoassay is preferably an enzyme immunoassay, and the entire immunoassay can be completed in 2.5 hours. The biological fluid may be diluted with a diluent which contains an effective amount of a protein such as serum albumin to optimize antibody-antigen reaction. When plasma is the fluid, the plasma should be collected and stored prior to the determination in the presence of an anti-coagulant under conditions which permit substantially no haemolysis.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for the rapid assessment of organ status, including organ damage following immunological or toxicological insult, in a subject based on the detection of one or more isoenzymes of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in diverse biological fluids comprising contacting a particle-labelled anti-GST antibody specific for said isoenzyme with a sample of a biological fluid suspected of containing said isoenzyme, said antibody having a sensitivity sufficient to detect at least a picomolar amount of said isoenzyme, and capturing the particle-labelled antibody-isoenzyme complex on an immobolised capture antibody to generate a visually detectable signal.

Abstract: Stabilizing medium for urinary .alpha.GST contains a stabilizing amount of a non-enzyne protein, such as a mixture of equal amounts (w/v) of bovine serum albumin and gelatin hydrolysate, chelating agent and a buffer, such that the medium has a pH in the range 7.0-7.5, the medium being effective to prevent loss of .alpha.GST immunological activity. The stabilizing medium can be used to store urine samples at temperatures of the order of -20.degree. C. without any loss of .alpha.GST immunoreactivity of the type observed in samples which are stored without such a stabilizing medium. The stabilizing medium also improves the immunoreactivity of .alpha.GST when added to fresh urine which is stored temporarily at 2-8.degree. C. prior to assay for up to two hours.