Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A storage-stable reagent kit for immunoassay of the antigen human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in an aliquot of body fluid, comprising: (a) as a first component, a label conjugated to an antibody which is immunospecific for the hCG antigen; (b) as a second component, an antibody immobilized by solid support means, the immobilized antibody being immunospecific for the hCG antigen; (c) a further component that is a scavenger antibody characterized by both low affinity for the hCG antigen and high affinity for the cross reactant analogs luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), the scavenger antibody being present in an amount sufficient to prevent unwanted reactivity between the antibody of said first component and the antibody of said second component with said antigen cross reactant analog of the hCG antigen; (d) detection means responsive to the label for determining the presence thereof; the components being constituted such that, when subjected to liquid phase incubation with an aliquot containing the hCG antigen, the cross reactant analogs are scavenged and the first and second components become mutually bound at immunospecific binding sites with the hCG antigen in sandwich relation thereby preventing said cross reactivity and enabling separation of the bound hCG antigen in solid form free of non-specific antigen and unbound labeled antibody.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A storage-stable reagent kit for immunoassay of the antigen human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in an aliquot of body fluid, comprising: (a) as a first component, a label conjugated to an antibody which is immunospecific for the hCG antigen; (b) as a second component, an antibody immobilized by solid support means, the immobilized antibody being immunospecific for the hCG antigen; (c) a further component that is a scavenger antibody characterized by both low affinity for the hCG antigen and high affinity for the cross reactant analogs luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), the scavenger antibody being present in an amount sufficient to prevent unwanted reactivity between the antibody of said first component and the antibody of said second component with said antigen cross reactant analog of the hCG antigen; (d) detection means responsive to the label for determining the presence thereof; the components being constituted such that, when subjected to liquid phase incubation with an aliquot containing the hCG antigen, the cross reactant analogs are scavenged and the first and second components become mutually bound at immunospecific binding sites with the hCG antigen in sandwich relation thereby preventing said cross reactivity and enabling separation of the bound hCG antigen in solid form free of non-specific antigen and unbound labeled antibody.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A kit as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first component and said second components includes a monoclonal antibody.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A kit as in claim 1, wherein said scavenger antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A kit as in claim 1, wherein said scavenger antibody is a polyclonal antibody.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A kit as in claim 1, wherein said scavenger antibody is further characterized by selectivity for the beta subunit of hCG.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A kit as in claim 1, wherein said second component comprises an antibody immunospecific for the hCG antigen and immobilized upon a generally planar support in an area defining a vertical line extending at least part way thereacross; wherein said support further includes a reagent adapted to react so as to bind the tracer conjugated antibody of the first component thereto and substantially not reactive with hCG, said reagent bound to said support in an area defining a horizontal line intersecting the vertical line, whereby the immunoassay of a fluid containing hCG causes reaction of both of said lines so as to form a plus sign and immunoassay of a fluid containing substantially no hCG causes reaction only of said horizontal line so as to form a minus sign.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sensitive, rapid, and accurate immunometric assay for the antigen hCG in a sample of body fluid, hCG having two distinct amino acid chain subunits designated as alpha and beta, which assay comprises: (a) contacting the sample with a labeled antibody specific to the antigen to form a soluble labeled complex of the antibody and antigen; (b) contacting the sample with at least one unlabeled soluble scavenger antibody characterized by low affinity for hCG and high affinity for cross reactive substances LH, FSH and TSH so as to prevent the formation of a complex between the labeled antibody and the cross reactive substances which are present in said sample; (c) contacting the soluble complex with another antibody which is specific to the hCG antigen, said other antibody being bound to a solid carrier; and (d) detecting the labeled antibody.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sensitive, rapid, and accurate immunometric assay for the antigen hCG in a sample of body fluid, hCG having two distinct amino acid chain subunits designated as alpha and beta, which assay comprises: (a) contacting the sample with a labeled antibody specific to the antigen to form a soluble labeled complex of the antibody and antigen; (b) contacting the sample with at least one unlabeled soluble scavenger antibody characterized by low affinity for hCG and high affinity for cross reactive substances LH, FSH and TSH so as to prevent the formation of a complex between the labeled antibody and the cross reactive substances which are present in said sample; (c) contacting the soluble complex with another antibody which is specific to the hCG antigen, said other antibody being bound to a solid carrier; and (d) detecting the labeled antibody.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assay as in claim 7, wherein the step of contacting the sample with a scavenger antibody comprises contacting the sample with a monoclonal antibody.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assay as in claim 7, wherein the step of contacting the sample with a scavenger antibody comprises contacting the sample with an antibody having selectivity for the beta subunit of hCG.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An assay as in claim 7, wherein the step of contacting the sample with a scavenger antibody comprises contacting the sample with a polyclonal antibody.