Abstract: Assay methods are provided for determining an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The method is carried out using a composition that includes a conjugate of a first sbp member with a particle. A luminescer is reversibly associated with a nonaqueous phase of the particle. Where the first sbp member is not complementary to the analyte, a second sbp member that is capable of binding to the first sbp member is employed. Unbound conjugate is separated from conjugate that is bound to the analyte or to the second sbp member. A reagent for enhancing the detectability of the luminescer is added and the light emission of the luminescer acted on by the reagent is measured.

Abstract: A method for determining the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin in the total hemoglobin of a blood sample includes binding of both glycosylated and nonglycosylated hemoglobin competitively to a nonspecific binder for hemoglobin affixed to a dipstick and reacting the glycosylated hemoglobin with a dihydroxyboryl reagent conjugated to a fluorescent dye. When the binding and reacting steps are complete, the dipstick is washed and its color is measured by absorption of incident light having a wavelength within the absorption range of hemoglobin as an indication of total hemoglobin in the sample. Incident light having a wavelength within the absorption range of the dye is then applied to the dipstick and fluorescence from the dipstick is measured as an indication of glycosylated hemoglobin. The measurements may be made with a reflectometer capable of computing the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin in the sample from the color and fluorescence measurements.

Abstract: Immunoassay which can be performed within a short period of time and a reagent composition for such immunoassay. The reagent composition contains complement and cells which contain quantitatively determinable substance therein. Antibody or antigen corresponding to antigen or antibody to be determined in a sample is bound on the outer surfaces of the cell membranes, which can be lysed by the complement upon activation thereof. In the immunoassay, a sample containing antigen or antibody to be determined is mixed with the reagent composition. The complement is activated by the resultant antigen-antibody complex. The cell membranes are lysed by the complex and the determinable substance in the cells is liberated from the cells. The amount of the liberated substance is determined.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the diagnosis of a malady in a subject by observing a degree of reaction between all blood cells: red blood cells, leukocytes and platelets; in the subject's blood with a foreign entity having a predetermined relationship with the malady being diagnosed. The test includes comparing amounts and sizes of red blood cells, leukocytes and/or platelets in a control sample and at least one test sample. The test sample includes a portion of the subject's blood and the foreign entity being tested.

Abstract: An improved assay for an ATL virus antibody in a specimen, in which an ATL virus antigen is added to the test specimen and used as a comparative specimen. This improved method selectively assays ATL virus antibodies, and, thus, is useful in preventing and treating adult T cell leukemia.

Abstract: A blood fluid composition for use in a complement-mediated cell lysis system. The composition includes a blood fluid, which may be either a serum source of complement, analyte-containing serum, or both, and lipid vesicles capable of reducing the extent of non-specific cell lysis produced when the blood fluid is added to lysable target cells in the system. The vesicles are present in an amount which increases the ratio of ligand-specific to non-specific cell lysis in the system at least 2-fold and preferably 4-fold or more over that achievable in the system in the absence of the vesicles.

Abstract: A viral lysis immunoassay system and method. The system includes hemolytic particles carrying non-viral, anti-analyte molecules, lysable target cells which are devoid of surface molecules capable of binding to endogenous viral surface molecules, and foreign binding molecules added to the target cells. The binding molecules, which may be either analyte molecules or analyte-related molecules attached to the target cell surfaces, function to bind the particles to the cells, to initiate cell lysis and the release of encapsulated reporter molecules from the cells. The analyte to be assayed may be one adapted to bridge the virus particles to analyte-related molecules carried on the cell surfaces, or one which competes with target-cell molecules for binding to the particle anti-analyte molecules.

Abstract: A process for the detection and assay of a biological substance by erythroadsorption by immobilizing a substance having a binding affinity for the biological substance to be assayed; incubating the immobilized substance with a liquid medium containing the biological substance to be assayed, forming a fixed substance; incubating the fixed substance with a coupling product comprising a specific ligand and a second ligand which binds with erythrocytes; adding erythrocytes; and determining the amount of erythrocytes bound to the coupling product. The determination of the amount of bound erythrocytes can be made visually with the naked eye or determined by lysis of the erythrocytes bound to the coupling product and quantitatively measuring the released hemoglobin. The specific ligand can be an antibody or an antigen and the second ligand capable of coupling erythrocytes can, for example, be red blood cell antibodies.

Abstract: An immunoassay of the type which utilizes the hemolysis of microcapsules such as red blood cells. Microcapsules which can be lysed by complement activity, which contain an optically determinable substance, on whose surfaces an antibody to be quantified is bound are prepared. The microcapsules, a test sample containing the antigen or the antibody to be quantified, and complement are mixed to react each other. Thereafter, an optical measurement is conducted at different wavelengths for the reaction mixture which is still suspending the intact microcapsules.

Abstract: A specific binding assay composition and method for determining a ligand in a sample are disclosed. The composition comprises (a) a binding partner for the ligand; (b) a detection system which has at least two components; (c) a selectively accessible vesicle having a surface-incorporated ligand or ligand analog and a first component of the detection system therein; (d) a substance which modifies vesicle accessibility in response to binding of surface-associated ligand or ligand analog and binding partner; and (e) at least one additional component of the detection system which is reactive with the first component to produce a detectable response which is reduced by association of the binding partner and vesicle modifying substance with the variabily accessible vesicle. A decrease in signal is measured upon reaction as compared to the signal of unreacted vesicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for isolating from a mixed population of cells disired living cells either producing and releasing a particular product or having a characteristic molecule on their surface. The isolation techniques depend upon the localized interaction between the product (or molecule) and other agents added to the system such that distinguishable conditions can be caused to occur (or not occur) only in the immediate vicinity of desired cells which produced and released the product or which contain the molecule on their surface.

Abstract: A lysing agent and a method for utilizing the lysing agent in the identification and enumeration of cells of a select subclass of leucocytes is provided. The lysing agent includes formaldehyde, an alkali or alkaline earth salt of a weak acid and a polyhydric alcohol.

Abstract: A preparation for the detection of chlamydial infections using lipopolysaccharide of Re-lipopolysaccharide mutants of gram-negative bacteria. The lipopolysaccharide preparation is used in the production of group-specific antibodies to chlamydiae for diagnostic purposes or for the demonstration of antibodies to chlamydial group antigen in specimens.

Abstract: An immunoassay by which a plurality of kinds of antigens or antibodies in one test sample may be simultaneously quantified. Each of a plurality of kinds of microcapsules is first provided for each kind of a plurality of antigens or antibodies to be quantified such that the microcapsules bind an antibody or antigen specific to one kind of the plurality of antigens or antibodies to be quantified. The microcapsules are formed of a membrane capable of being lysed by the complement activity, and each kind of microcapsules contains therein a substance that is quantifiable and does not interact with another quantifiable substance contained in other kinds of microcapsules. The plurality of kinds of microcapsules are mixed with a test sample and complement, and the quantifiable substances are released from the microcapsules upon lysis of the microcapsules by the complement activity. The quantifiable substances are then quantified.

Abstract: A method of forward blood grouping is presented wherein known antibodies are attached to a solid surface and the red blood cells presented for immunological reaction are activated with a proteolytic enzyme. A reverse blood grouping procedure utilizes synthetic or purified antigens which are attached directly to a solid surface. The surface is then contacted with an unknown blood component to permit antibodies to undergo immunological reaction with the previously attached antigens. A solution of red blood cells is used as the indicator. A method of performing a major crossmatch utilizes anti-human immunoglobulin that is attached to a solid surface which is then contacted by the two blood components to permit an antigen-antibody interaction of red blood cells and antibodies. The antibody sensitized cells will immunologically adhere to the solid phase.

Abstract: This process involves the use of benzoquinone as cross-linking agent in large excess compared with the substance to be activated. The activation reaction is realized in a homogeneous liquid medium. Said process making it possible for example to couple antibodies to enzymes for determining or detecting said antibodies. The process can be used for the determination of antitetanic antibodies in human serum.

Abstract: A composition is used as a reagent in a method for measuring Antistreptolysin O (ASO) in a blood sample. The composition contains Streptolysin O (SO) at a pH outside the range of its hemolytic activity, e.g., outside the pH range of 5-9. At that pH the SO is reversibly inactivated while maintaining its hemolytic capacity. The composition is employed to measure ASO by mixing one or more samples of non-hemolyzed blood or serum with one or more known quantities of the composition with a known hemolytic capacity, incubating each mixture to allow reaction of any ASO in the sample with the SO, restoring the hemolytic activity of the SO by adjustment of pH to permit lysis and detecting the presence or absence of lysis in each sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for blood sample treatment involves lysis, filtration and culture, the apparatus being in the form of a unitary culture chamber assembly consisting of an upper chamber for receiving a blood sample, this upper chamber receiving lysing solution squeezed from an attached bag which is subsequently detached. The upper chamber is located over and is in telescopic engagement with a lower chamber, and then vacuum is applied to the lower chamber to accomplish filtration. The lower chamber is then detached and discarded. The upper chamber is sealed and an attached bag of culture medium is squeezed to introduce the medium into the upper chamber from the bag. This second bag is detached, leaving the upper chamber as a complete blood culture system.

Abstract: The hemolytic method for the kinetic determination of antistreptolysin O antibodies (ASO) in blood samples consists of reacting a first reagent containing a single dose of oxidized SO with the specific antibodies which may be present in the blood sample under examination, allowing the necessary time to pass for the reaction between the oxidized SO and said antibodies to take place, returning the oxidized SO to its reduced state by adding a second reagent, and measuring the rate of hemolysis. The kinetic determination of the ASO titre is obtained by comparing said rate of hemolysis with the rate of hemolysis shown graphically for samples of known ASO titre.

Abstract: A method for measuring the antistreptolysin concentration in a human blood sample by adding a solution of oxidized O-streptolysin to the blood sample (diluted), incubating, reacting with a reducing solution, incubating and relating the resulting hemolysis to the antistreptolysin concentration.