Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material and having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, the membrane structure characterized wherein it has a coating thereon comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates, none of which has a pI greater than 5.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material and having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, the membrane structure characterized wherein it has a coating thereon comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates, none of which has a pI greater than 5.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of preparing a membrane structure comprising (a) providing a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material and having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, and (b) contacting the membrane with a solution comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates to provide a coating thereon, none of which proteins or carbohydrates has a pI greater than 5, and the protein or carbohydrate being present in the solution in an amount sufficient to provide a coating over the entire membrane without substantially diminishing the porosity of the membrane.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of preparing a membrane structure comprising (a) providing a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material and having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, and (b) contacting the membrane with a solution comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates to provide a coating thereon, none of which proteins or carbohydrates has a pI greater than 5, and the protein or carbohydrate being present in the solution in an amount sufficient to provide a coating over the entire membrane without substantially diminishing the porosity of the membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protein or carbohydrate is coated in an amount of at least 25 µg/cm² of membrane surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
An agglutination method for the determination of a multivalent immune species in an aqueous liquid comprising: (a) contacting the liquid with an agglutination reagent having associated therewith receptor molecules reactive with the species so as to form an agglutinate of the reaction product of the species and the receptor molecules, (b) simultaneously or subsequent to the contacting step (a), contacting the agglutinate with a membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material, having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers and having a coating thereon comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates, none of which has a pI greater than 5, (c) separating the agglutinate from unagglutinated materials, and (d) deterining either the amount of agglutinate or unagglutinated materials.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
An agglutination method for the determination of a multivalent immune species in an aqueous liquid comprising: (a) contacting the liquid with an agglutination reagent having associated therewith receptor molecules reactive with the species so as to form an agglutinate of the reaction product of the species and the receptor molecules, (b) simultaneously or subsequent to the contacting step (a), contacting the agglutinate with a membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from a biologically inert material, having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers and having a coating thereon comprising one or more water-soluble proteins or carbohydrates, none of which has a pI greater than 5, (c) separating the agglutinate from unagglutinated materials, and (d) deterining either the amount of agglutinate or unagglutinated materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the agglutination reagent has tracer molecules associated therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 and 5 wherein the biologically inert material of the membrane structure is a polyamide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the membrane of the membrane structure has an average pore size of from 0.2 to 5 micrometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the water-soluble protein or carbohydrate is succinylated casein, carboxymethyl cellulose, succinylated bovine serum albumin or succinylated collagen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the water-soluble protein is succinylated casein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
An agglutination method for the determination of Streptococcus A antigen in an aqueous liquid comprising: (a) contacting the liquid with an agglutination reagent having associated therewith both antibody molecules for Streptococcus A antigen and tracer molecules, so as to form an agglutinate of the reaction product of the anitgen and the antibody molecules, (b) simultaneously or subsequent to the contacting step (a), contacting the agglutinate with a membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from nylon, having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, and having a coating thereon of succinylated casein, (c) separating the agglutinate from unagglutinated materials, and (d) determining the tracer in either the agglutinate or unagglutinated materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
An agglutination method for the determination of Streptococcus A antigen in an aqueous liquid comprising: (a) contacting the liquid with an agglutination reagent having associated therewith both antibody molecules for Streptococcus A antigen and tracer molecules, so as to form an agglutinate of the reaction product of the anitgen and the antibody molecules, (b) simultaneously or subsequent to the contacting step (a), contacting the agglutinate with a membrane structure comprising a microporous membrane formed from nylon, having an average pore size of less than 10 micrometers, and having a coating thereon of succinylated casein, (c) separating the agglutinate from unagglutinated materials, and (d) determining the tracer in either the agglutinate or unagglutinated materials.