Element and assay for albumin

• US 4,230,456 A
• Filed: 08/30/1978
• Issued: 10/28/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinical Diagnostic Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Wu, Tai-Wing
• Primary Examiner(s): Marantz, Sidney
• Application Number:
  US05/938,122
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 23/230 B, 23/902, 422/56, 422/57
• US Class Current: 436/518
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6839 involving dyes, e.g. Coomassie blue, bromcresol green
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/80 Fluorescent dyes, e.g. rhodamine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/81 Tube, bottle, or dipstick

Abstract

Analytical elements and methods for the detection of albumin in liquid samples feature an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier. The detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, the detectable species separates from the albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species. The presence of albumin can be detected and, if desired, quantified by determining either the reduction of detectable species in the albumin-active complex of the formation of a complex comprising albumin and detectable species.

Claims

1. An analytical element for the detection of albumin in a liquid sample,

said element comprising a reagent zone which contains an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier;

said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species;

whereby albumin can be detected by (a) the presence of detectable species bound to albumin, or (b) a reduction in the amount of detectable species in said albumin-active complex.

2. An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample,

said element comprising an initially dry reagent zone which contains an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier;

said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species;

wherein the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the amount of detectable species which separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin.

3. An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample,

said element comprising a radiation-transmissive support having thereon an isotropically porous, opaque spreading layer and a reagent layer between said support and said spreading layer, said reagent layer being in fluid contact with said spreading layer under conditions of use;

said reagent layer comprising a colored or fluorescent albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier;

said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when in fluid contact with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin;

whereby the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the reduction in color or fluorescence of said albumin-active complex.

4. The element of claim 3 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

5. The element of claim 3 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.

6. In a method for the detection of albumin in a liquid sample,

said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and any albumin present in said liquid sample, and detecting, directly or indirectly, the formation of said complex;

the improvement wherein;

said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid sample is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and

,

said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

7. In a method for measuring the amount of albumin in a liquid sample,

said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and albumin, and quantifying the amount of albumin in the sample by detecting, directly or indirectly, the amount of said complex formed;

the improvement wherein;

said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and

,

said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.

10. A method for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising:

(a) placing in fluid contact;

(i) said liquid sample, and

(ii) an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier;

said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin, the amount of detectable species which separates from said albumin-active complex being indicative of the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample;

whereby said detectable species selectively separates from said carrier and becomes bound to albumin in said liquid sample; and

(b) selectively detecting the amount of detectable species separated from said albumin-active complex.

11. A method for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising:

(a) contacting said liquid sample with an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier;

(b) separating said detectable species from the carrier of said albumin-active complex, and binding said detectable species of albumin; and

(c) determining the amount of detectable species which separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.