Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for determining an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said analyte, which analyte is a member of a specific binding pair (sbp) consisting of ligand and complementary receptor, said method comprising providing in combination in a first aqueous medium (1) said sample, (2) a first reagent comprising a non-dispersed surface to which is bound an sbp member and (3) a conjugate of an enzyme and an sbp member that becomes bound to said surface in relation to the amount of analyte in said sample, the volume of said aqueous medium being sufficiently large to allow complete immersion of said first reagent therein; incubating for a time period sufficient to permit said binding to occur; adding to said first aqueous medium, without separation of said first reagent therefrom, (1) a second reagent reactive with said conjugate and capable of generating a signal in relation to the amount of analyte in said sample, and (2) a second aqueous medium of sufficient volume to increase the volume of said first aqueous medium by at least three fold, and examining said first reagent for the presence of said signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for determining an analyte in a sample suspected of containing said analyte, which analyte is a member of a specific binding pair (sbp) consisting of ligand and complementary receptor, said method comprising providing in combination in a first aqueous medium (1) said sample, (2) a first reagent comprising a non-dispersed surface to which is bound an sbp member and (3) a conjugate of an enzyme and an sbp member that becomes bound to said surface in relation to the amount of analyte in said sample, the volume of said aqueous medium being sufficiently large to allow complete immersion of said first reagent therein; incubating for a time period sufficient to permit said binding to occur; adding to said first aqueous medium, without separation of said first reagent therefrom, (1) a second reagent reactive with said conjugate and capable of generating a signal in relation to the amount of analyte in said sample, and (2) a second aqueous medium of sufficient volume to increase the volume of said first aqueous medium by at least three fold, and examining said first reagent for the presence of said signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second reagent and said second aqueous medium are added simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said volume of first aqueous medium is contained by a narrowed portion of a container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said container further comprises means for maintaining said first reagent separate from said narrowed portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said means comprises a ledge adjacent one end of said narrowed portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ledge is circumferential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said ledge is a circumferential wall extending perpendicularly from said narrowed portion to the unnarrowed portion of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said analyte is selected from the group consisting of proteins and drugs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sbp members are selected from the group consisting of antigens and antibodies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is bound to a support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is cellulosic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said support further contains a calibration surface adjacent to said surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sbp member bound to said surface is an analyte analog.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sbp member bound to said surface is antibody for analyte.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sbp member in said conjugate is an antigen or an antibody for analyte.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said enzyme is one of two enzymes employed in said signal producing system wherein the product of one enzyme is the substrate for the other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said analyte is an antibiotic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said analyte is a β-lactam antibiotic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of said first aqueous medium is from about 200 to 500 μl.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of said first aqueous medium is increased at least 10-fold by addition of said second aqueous medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said analyte is penicillin, a penicillin analog is bound to said surface, said sbp member is antibody for penicillin bound to the enzyme peroxidase, and glucose oxidase is bound to said surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second reagent comprises an enzyme substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said analyte is cephalosporin, a cephalosporin analog is bound to said surface, said sbp member is antibody for cephalosporin bound to the enzyme peroxidase, and glucose oxidase is bound to said surface.