MONITORING AN IMMUNOASSAY

• US 20160252441A1
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alere Toxicology Plc (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cozart Bioscience Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: ABBOTT, Timothy John, BROOKES, David Patrick Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,473,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/02 by measuring flow of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54306 Solid-phase reaction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54388 based on lateral flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/558 using diffusion or migration of antigen or antibody immunochromatographic test strips G01N33/54387

Abstract

A method of monitoring an immunoassay comprises determining the shape of the flow edge of fluid across an immunoassay region. This allows, for example, early detection of possible errors in the test. The above methods may also be used to provide methods to improve the run conditions of a test during its development. The method may be applied to a competitive assay.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the quality of an immunoassay, the method comprising:

monitoring, using an image processing device configured to determine shapes of flow edges of fluid across immunoassay regions, a shape of a flow edge of fluid across an immunoassay region; and

determining information about the quality of the immunoassay from a determined shape of a flow edge of fluid.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and comprising comparing the determined shape of the flow edge of fluid with a reference shape.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein monitoring the shape of the flow edge of fluid comprises monitoring the shape of the flow edge of fluid as the flow edge of fluid passes along the immunoassay region.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising applying a correction for performing of a test from the determined information about the quality of the immunoassay.

5. An immunoassay reader device configured to:

monitor a shape of a flow edge of fluid across an immunoassay region; and

determine information about the quality of the immunoassay from a determined shape of the flow edge of fluid.

6. An immunoassay reader device as claimed in claim 5 and further configured to:

compare the determined shape of the flow edge of fluid with a reference shape.

7. An immunoassay reader device as claimed in claim 6 and further configured to:

monitor the shape of the flow edge of fluid as the flow edge of fluid passes along the immunoassay region.

8. An immunoassay reader device as claimed in claim 5 and further configured to:

apply a correction for performing of a test from the determined information about the quality of the immunoassay.

9. A method of monitoring for possible error in an immunoassay, the method comprising obtaining information about possible error in an immunoassay from the shape of the flow edge of fluid across an immunoassay region.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 and comprising comparing the determined shape of the flow edge of fluid with a reference shape.