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Methods for performing determinations of immune reactants in biological fluids

  • US 5,494,830 A
  • Filed: 08/25/1994
  • Issued: 02/27/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for performing in vitro determinations of first immune reactants in biological fluids of humans or animals, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) permanently coloring solid substrate material of a plurality of test units to render each test unit visually discernable from the other test units by its color, and further including the steps of;

    (a.1) forming each of said test units as an elongate rod having a known diameter and a test tip affixed to a distal end of the rod, said test tip being formed of said substrate material to diverge from the distal end of the rod to a maximum transverse dimension greater than said known diameter; and

    (a.2) permanently coloring different test unit rods and test tips with different colors to render the combination of the rod color and tip color for each test unit representative of the identity of at least one second immune reactant adsorbed on said each test unit;

    (b) adsorbing on the substrate of each test unit at least one of plural second immune reactants such that the second immune reactant adsorbed on each test unit is identified by the color of the substrate material of that test unit;

    (c) suspending the plural test units in a test array;

    (d) inserting the array of plural second immune reactant-coated and permanently colored test units into the biological fluid disposed in respective reaction containers to permit any first immune reactants in the biological fluid that are specific to a particular second immune reactant coating on any of the test units to become bound to the particular second immune reactant on said any test unit;

    (e) removing said test units from said biological fluid and then washing and drying the test units;

    (f) incubating the plurality of permanently colored test units, with said first immune reactants bound thereto as in step (d), in an enzyme-labeled conjugate liquid in respective reaction containers to cause the conjugate liquid to react with the first immune reactants bound to the plurality of permanently colored test units;

    (g) removing said test units from said conjugate liquid and then washing and drying said test units;

    (h) incubating the plurality of permanently colored test units in chromogenic substrate liquid in respective containers to develop specific color in the chromogenic liquid dependent upon the first immune reactants that were bound to the test units in step (d);

    (i) removing the test units from the chromogenic substrate liquid; and

    (j) determining concentrations of said first immune reactants in the biological fluid into which said test units were inserted in step (b) by analyzing the remaining chromogenic substrate liquid from respective containers for color development and intensity.

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