Abstract A method for increasing the sensitivity of immunologic diagnostic slides by increasing the contrast observable between immunologically reacted and unreacted portions thereof. The method is based on the fact that an arbitrary antibody functions as an antigen when introduced into the system of a vertebrate to whom it is a foreign protein. Specifically reactive antibodies to the antibodies so introduced are therefore produced and may be collected. Accordingly, a plurality of specific immunological reactions may be performed in chain fashion. This technique is used in accordance with one embodiment to build a plurality of successive antigen-antibody films on a substrate to provide for contrast between multilayer protein films and a monomolecular layer which is in excess of the contrast obtainable between monomolecular layers and bimolecular layers to thereby provide diagnostic apparatus of increased sensitivity.
A METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE DETECTION SENSITIVITY OF IMMUNOLOGIC DIAGNOSTIC SLIDES, SAID SLIDES COMPRISING A SUBSTRATE HAVING A LAYER OF PARTICLES OF A FIRST PROTEIN ABSORBED THEREON FOR SPECIFICALLY REACTING IMMUNOLOGICALLY WITH A SECOND PROTEIN, SAID SECOND PROTEIN BEING THE PROTEIN TO BE DETECTED, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. CONTACTING SAID SLIDE WITH A FLUID SUSPECTED OF CONTAINING SAID SECOND PROTEIN TO BOND A PLURALITY OF PARTICLES OF SAID
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE DETECTION SENSITIVITY OF IMMUNOLOGIC DIAGNOSTIC SLIDES, SAID SLIDES COMPRISING A SUBSTRATE HAVING A LAYER OF PARTICLES OF A FIRST PROTEIN ABSORBED THEREON FOR SPECIFICALLY REACTING IMMUNOLOGICALLY WITH A SECOND PROTEIN, SAID SECOND PROTEIN BEING THE PROTEIN TO BE DETECTED, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. CONTACTING SAID SLIDE WITH A FLUID SUSPECTED OF CONTAINING SAID SECOND PROTEIN TO BOND A PLURALITY OF PARTICLES OF SAID
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: preparing a solution of antibodies to the third protein immunologically reactive with the second protein to be detected; and c. contacting said slide resulting from step (b) with said solution of antibodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: preparing a series of solutions of antibodies, each solution of said series comprising antibodies to the antibodies of the next preceding solution of the series; and c. serially contacting said slide resulting from step (b) with each solution of said series.