Methods for detecting and measuring aggregation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of assaying for the agglutination of visualization particles in a mixture, comprising:
- A) generating a mixture comprising visualization particles and agglutinating particles under conditions permitting agglutination of the visualization particles via interaction with the agglutinating particles, wherein the generating of the mixture uses only a single incubation step and without red cell reagent preparation;
B) obtaining at least one image of the mixture with an imaging device; and
C) analyzing said at least one image by use of a computer programmed to measure agglutination by analysis of the at least one image by identifying clusters in the image to obtain a measurement of the agglutination of the visualization particles in the mixture, wherein agglutination is evidenced by the formation of clusters comprising said visualization particles and said agglutinating particles, and wherein a cluster comprises a contiguous distribution of two or more visualization particles having center-to-center distances between said visualization particles of up to two times visualization particle diameter.
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Abstract
Methods, compositions, systems, and devices are provided for performing and analyzing agglutination assays. In one aspect, methods for image analysis of agglutination assays are provided. In another aspects, methods for performing agglutination assays are provided. In one aspect, the methods may be used for the detection of various molecules, including viruses or antibodies against a virus. In another aspect, the methods can be used to determine effective immunization of a subject.
35 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of assaying for the agglutination of visualization particles in a mixture, comprising:
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A) generating a mixture comprising visualization particles and agglutinating particles under conditions permitting agglutination of the visualization particles via interaction with the agglutinating particles, wherein the generating of the mixture uses only a single incubation step and without red cell reagent preparation; B) obtaining at least one image of the mixture with an imaging device; and C) analyzing said at least one image by use of a computer programmed to measure agglutination by analysis of the at least one image by identifying clusters in the image to obtain a measurement of the agglutination of the visualization particles in the mixture, wherein agglutination is evidenced by the formation of clusters comprising said visualization particles and said agglutinating particles, and wherein a cluster comprises a contiguous distribution of two or more visualization particles having center-to-center distances between said visualization particles of up to two times visualization particle diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36)
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10. A method of assaying for the agglutination of visualization particles in a mixture, comprising:
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A) generating a mixture comprising visualization particles and agglutinating particles under conditions permitting agglutination of the visualization particles via interaction with the agglutinating particles, wherein the generating of the mixture uses only a single incubation step and without red cell reagent preparation; B) obtaining at least one image of the mixture with an imaging device; and C) analyzing said at least one image by use of a computer programmed to measure agglutination by analysis of the at least one image by identifying clusters in the image to obtain a measurement of the agglutination of the visualization particles in the mixture, wherein agglutination is evidenced by the formation of clusters comprising said visualization particles and said agglutinating particles, and wherein a cluster comprises a contiguous distribution of two or more visualization particles having center-to-center distances between said visualization particles of up to two times visualization particle diameter; wherein the mixture further comprises an antibody which specifically binds to at least one agglutinating particle of said agglutinating particles and inhibits the interaction of the agglutinating particle with a visualization particle of said visualization particles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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35. A method of assaying for the agglutination of visualization particles in a mixture, comprising:
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A) generating a mixture comprising visualization particles and agglutinating particles under conditions permitting agglutination of the visualization particles via interaction with the agglutinating particles, wherein the generating of the mixture uses only a single incubation step and without red cell reagent preparation; B) obtaining at least one image of the mixture with an imaging device; and C) analyzing said at least one image by use of a computer programmed to measure agglutination by analysis of the at least one image by identifying clusters in the image to obtain a measurement of the agglutination of the visualization particles in the mixture, wherein agglutination is evidenced by the formation of clusters comprising said visualization particles and said agglutinating particles, and wherein a cluster comprises a contiguous distribution of two or more visualization particles having center-to-center distances between said visualization particles of up to two times visualization particle diameter; wherein the step of analyzing the image comprises comparing feature extraction information from the image of the mixture with feature extraction information from an image of a control mixture of known agglutination status, said control mixture comprising visualization particles and agglutinating particles.
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Specification