Abstract: A liquid medication dispenser apparatus which provides for user-friendly medication measurement and compliance. The apparatus measures and dispenses liquid medication doses and records the time and dose sizes for up to one year. The recorded information can then be downloaded to a personal computer for evaluation of patient compliance. A disposable, motor driven pump is used to provide a very wide range of medication dispensation volumes, while maintaining full accuracy and reducing the risks of patient errors as might occur with a manual dispense system.

Abstract: The ethyl ester of derivatives of benzoyl ecgonine are provided having a linking group at the para position of the benzoyl group. The derivatives are used to bond to immunogenic polypeptides for production of antisera and monoclonal antibodies. The antisera and antibodies find use in assays, for treatment of cocaine overdose and detoxification.

Abstract: First and second compounds are provided, where the first compound is administered to a mammalian host into blood for covalent bonding to blood components, where the components have an extended lifetime in the blood stream. The first compound comprises an active functionality and an agent of interest or a first binding entity. A second compound may be subsequently administered to the patient, which comprises a second binding entity, complementary to the first binding entity and an agent of interest. By virtue of binding to long-lived blood components, the half-life of the agent of interest is greatly extended in vivo.

Abstract: Compounds and libraries are labeled with a galactosyl epitope and then screened in accordance with an assay involving cells having a characteristic of interest. Conveniently, the screening may embody target cells, where the compounds are brought in contact with the cells. Each of the compounds carries with it the information of its identity or method of synthesis. After washing away non-specifically bound compounds, blood may be applied to the cells, whereby antibody binding to the galactosyl epitope initiates the complement cascade. Plaques are identified and the compound associated with the plaque identified. The formation of the plaque demonstrates that the compound has specific affinity for the target cell, binding of the compound to the cell does not interfere with binding of the antibody, and that the complex is capable of cytotoxic activity by means of the complement cascade.

Abstract: Compounds and libraries are labeled with a galactosyl epitope and then screened in accordance with an assay involving cells having a characteristic of interest. Conveniently, the screening may embody target cells, where the compounds are brought in contact with the cells. Each of the compounds carries with it the information of its identity or method of synthesis. After washing away non-specifically bound compounds, blood may be applied to the cells, whereby antibody binding to the galactosyl epitope initiates the complement cascade. Plaques are identified and the compound associated with the plaque identified. The formation of the plaque demonstrates that the compound has specific affinity for the target cell, binding of the compound to the cell does not interfere with binding of the antibody, and that the complex is capable of cytotoxic activity by means of the complement cascade.

Abstract: Novel bifunctional reagents useful in reducing the biological effect of an undesirable blood-borne agent are provided. The reagents comprise conjugates of a first binding member specific for a blood-borne agent having a detrimental biological activity in a mammalina host, such as a growth factor, coagulation factor, enzyme, toxin, drug of abuse, microbe, autoreactive immune cell, infected or tumorous cell, joined to an second binding member specific for an anchor, where the anchor is a long-lived blood component, including cells, such as a erythrocyte, platelet or endothelial cell and serum proteins, such as albumin, ferritin, or steroid binding proteins. These conjugates find therapeutic use by coupling the agent and the blood component and thereby reducing the biological activity or effective concentration of free agent, modulating the volume of distribution of the agent, targeting the agent to sites of enhanced immune response, or facilitating agent clearance from the bloodstream.

Abstract: The ethyl ester of derivatives of benzoyl ecgonine are provided having a linking group at the para position of the benzoyl group. The derivatives are used to bond to immunogenic polypeptides for production of antisera and monoclonal antibodies. The antisera and antibodies find use in assays, for treatment of cocaine overdose and detoxification.

Abstract: Compounds and libraries are labeled with a galactosyl epitope amd then screened in accordance with an assay involving cells having a characteristic of interest. Conveniently, the screening may embody target cells, where the compounds are brought in contact with the cells. Each of the compounds carries with it the information of its identity or method of synthesis. After washing away non-specifically bound compounds, blood may be applied to the cells, whereby antibody binding to the galactosyl epitope initiates the complement cascade. Plaques are identified and the compound associated with the plaque identified. The formation of the plaque demonstates that the compound has specific affinity for the target cell, binding of the compound to the cell does not interfere with binding of the antibody, and that the complex is capable of cytotoxic activity by means of the complement cascade.

Abstract: First and second compounds are provided, where the first compound is administered to a mammalian host into blood for covalent bonding to blood components, where the components have an extended lifetime in the blood stream. The first compound comprises an active functionality and an agent of interest or a first binding entity. A second compound may be subsequently administered to the patient, which comprises a second binding entity, complementary to the first binding entity and an agent of interest. By virtue of binding to long-lived blood components, the half-life of the agent of interest is greatly extended in vivo.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the determination of cross-reactive alleles, where there is no antibody which will specifically distinguish between the two alleles. Particularly, the method employs an antibody which binds to the two alleles bound to a surface, an antibody specific for one of the alleles, a labeled conjugate which binds to a consensus sequence present in both alleles and positive and negative controls. By having an enhanced value where the interfering allele is present as compared to a value for the target allele, one can distinguish between the various alternatives involving the presence or absence of one or both alleles.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for detecting HLA polymorphs where distinguishing antibodies are not readily available. Cross-reactive antibodies are employed, where one cross-reacts with the HLA of interest and other alleles, and the other cross-reacts with one of the other alleles, but not with the HLA of interest. By appropriate protocols and controls, the polymorph of interest may be detected.

Abstract: Methods and device are provided where a device comprising an absorbing nib, an external deformable container and an internal container having a frangible barrier are provided, where the nib and internal container comprise reagents which are interactive with a sample for measuring an analyte.

Abstract: The presence of alloantigen allelic products or antibodies to alloantigen allelic products is determined by employing a support to which alloantigen allelic products are bound, and combining a specimen which contains either the alloantigen allelic products or antibodies to alloantigen allelic products with a reagent comprising antibodies to the alloantigen allelic product(s) of interest. By combining the specimen, reagent and support, and determining the amount of antibody which binds to the support as compared to a negative control, the presence of the alloantigen antigen or anti-alloantigen is related to a reduced amount of antibody binding to the support. The amount of antibody may be determined by any convenient assay.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the detection and semi-quantitative measurement of analytes. The assay results are visualized by the formation on a filter of a colored annular or circular spot, the diameter of the spot being related to the concentration of the analyte of interest. The filter on which the assay results are visualized is divided into multiple regions by strips of non-porous tape crossing the filter surface. The invention also includes a component for diluting sample to a suitable concentration for analysis, and dispensing the diluted sample onto the test filter.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods and compositions to detect the presence of anti-HLA antibodies, HLA antigen or preformed HLA-containing immune complexes in biological samples. The complement protein Clq is bound to a solid substrate, then mixed with a biological sample containing immune complexes. The immune complexes are preformed, or formed by adding HLA antigens to a biological sample containing antibodies to HLA, or alternatively, by combining a biological sample containing HLA antigens with defined antibodies to HLA. The immune complexes bind to Clq, and are then detected by the addition of a labeled reagent.

Abstract: Physiological samples are typed for HLA-B27 by contacting the sample with an antibody which binds to HLA-B7 and is not cross-reactive between HLA-B7 and B27, separating the sample from any complexes which are formed, and then testing the sample for the presence of HLA-B27 with an antibody which is cross-reactive for HLA-B7 and B27 in a STAT test. Particularly, an enzyme conjugate is used which binds to a membrane allowing for the detection of any HLA-B27 bound to the membrane.

Abstract: Soluble HLA cross-matches are determined by providing for antibodies or ligand bound to a solid substrate specific for at least one HLA allele and detecting complexes between either donor or recipient HLA antigens and recipient or donor antibodies, respectively, or reference HLA and patient antibodies, particularly IgG antibodies. Conveniently, anti-human immunoglobulin (Ig), particularly human IgG, conjugates are employed where the anti-human Ig is conjugated with a label capable of providing a detectable signal to permit detection of human anti-HLA bound to said solid substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for the production of pairs of visual signals indicative of the concentration of an analyte in a sample for analysis. The apparatus comprises pairs of analyte detection regions, each pair of detection regions comprising a region for performing sandwich-type immunoassays and a region for performing competition-type immunoassays. The intensity of the visual signal in the sandwich-type imunoassay analyte detection region increases with increasing analyte concentration, whereas the intensity of the visual signal in the competition-type immunoassay analyte detection region decreases with increasing analyte concentration.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the detection and semi-quantitative measurement of analytes. The assay results are visualized by the formation on a filter of a colored annular or circular spot, the diameter of the spot being related to the concentration of the analyte of interest. The filter on which the assay results are visualized is divided into multiple regions by strips of non-porous tape crossing the filter surface. The invention also includes a component for diluting sample to a suitable concentration for analysis, and dispensing the diluted sample onto the test filter.