Method for detecting antibodies
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the presence or amount of specific antibodies to an antigen, in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) bringing together in an aqueous medium to form a mixture;
(i) said sample,(ii) an antigen that binds said antibodies to form an antigen;
antibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen added to said medium is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are none of said antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample, and(iii) a first binding agent that binds said complex and does not bind said antigen when said antigen is not part of said complex;
(b) adding to said mixture a second binding agent that selectively binds said antigen relative to binding said complex when said complex is bound to said first binding agent; and
(c) detecting said antigen bound to said second binding agent, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of said antibodies in said sample.
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Abstract
This invention pertains to methods to detect antibodies in a sample. The methods use an amount of antigen that is up to 1000, preferably 10-100 times the minimum amount antigen that can be reliably detected and that is less than the maximum expected amount of antibodies in the sample. An antigen:antibody complex is formed and becomes bound to a binding agent that does not bind free antigen. The free antigen is then detected as a measure of antibodies present in the sample.
78 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence or amount of specific antibodies to an antigen, in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) bringing together in an aqueous medium to form a mixture; (i) said sample, (ii) an antigen that binds said antibodies to form an antigen;
antibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen added to said medium is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are none of said antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample, and(iii) a first binding agent that binds said complex and does not bind said antigen when said antigen is not part of said complex; (b) adding to said mixture a second binding agent that selectively binds said antigen relative to binding said complex when said complex is bound to said first binding agent; and (c) detecting said antigen bound to said second binding agent, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of said antibodies in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining the presence or amount of antibodies against a certain antigen in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) bringing together in an aqueous medium; (i) said sample, (ii) an antigen that binds said antibodies to form an antigen;
antibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen added to said medium is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are none of said antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample, and(iii) a first binding agent that binds said complex and does not bind said antigen when said antigen is not part of said complex; (b) contacting said medium with a second binding agent bound to a solid phase, wherein said second binding agent is a receptor that binds said antigen to form solid phase-bound antigen but does not bind said antigen;
antibody complex;(c) detecting said antigen bound to said solid phase, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of the antibodies in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining the presence or amount of antibodies in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) bringing together in an aqueous medium; (i) said sample, (ii) an antigen that binds said antibodies to form an antigen;
antibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen added to said medium is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are none of said antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample, and(iii) a first binding agent that binds said complex and does not bind said antigen when said antigen is not part of said complex; (b) adding to said medium a second binding agent comprised of two receptors that bind said antigen, where at least one of said receptors is unable to bind effectively to said complex when said complex is bound to said first binding agent; and (c) detecting the complex formed when said receptors bind said antigen, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of said antibodies in said sample. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining the presence or amount of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies in a sample suspected of containing said autoantibodies, comprising the steps of:
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(a) bringing together in an aqueous medium; (i) said sample, (ii) glutamic acid decarboxylase antigen that binds said autoantibodies to form an antigen;
autoantibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen added to said medium is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are none of said antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample, and(iii) a first binding agent that binds said complex, wherein said first binding agent is a receptor for said autoantibodies and is bound to a material selected from the group consisting of a suspendable solid phase and a soluble polymer; (b) adding to said medium a second binding agent that selectively binds said antigen relative to binding said complex when said complex is not separated from said medium; and (c) detecting the binding of said second binding agent to said antigen, the binding thereof being related to the presence or amount of said autoantibodies in the sample. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. In an assay for determining the presence or amount of antibodies in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies for use in the detection or monitoring of a human disease, comprising the steps of combining in an aqueous medium said sample and an antigen that binds said antibodies to form a mixture comprised of an antigen:
- antibody complex and free antigen; and
detecting said free antigen, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of said antibodies in the sample;
wherein the improvement comprises using a molar amount of antigen that is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 10-100, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are no antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample.
- antibody complex and free antigen; and
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36. In an assay for determining the presence or amount of antibodies in a sample suspected of containing said antibodies for use in the detection or monitoring of a human disease, comprising the steps of combining in an aqueous medium said sample and an antigen that binds said antibodies to form a mixture comprised of an antigen:
- antibody complex and free antigen; and
detecting said free antigen, the presence or amount thereof being related to the presence or amount of said antibodies in the sample;
wherein the improvement comprises adding a first binding agent that binds said complex but does not bind said antigen, followed by the addition of a second binding agent that binds said free antigen but does not bind antigen when it is part of said complex and detecting said free antigen but not said antigen;
antibody complex.
- antibody complex and free antigen; and
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37. A kit for use in a method for detecting antibodies, comprising in a packaged combination:
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(a) an antigen that binds said antibodies to form an antigen;
antibody complex, wherein the molar amount of said antigen is Z, wherein Z is within the range of X to nX and Z is less than Y, where n is 5-1000, X is the minimum molar amount of said antigen that can be reliably detected when there are no antibodies present in a sample and Y is the maximum expected molar amount of said antibodies in said sample,(b) a first binding agent that binds said complex without binding said antigen when said antigen is not part of said complex, said first binding agent being bound to a suspendable solid phase or a soluble polymer, and (c) a second binding agent that selectively binds said antigen relative to binding said complex when said complex is bound to said first binding agent, said second binding agent being bound to a label or a solid phase or a soluble polymer. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification