Element and assay for albumin

Claim 2

An analytical element for the detection of albumin in a liquid sample, said element comprising a reagent zone which contains an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier; said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species; whereby albumin can be detected by (a) the presence of detectable species bound to albumin, or (b) a reduction in the amount of detectable species in said albumin-active complex.

Claim 3

An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said element comprising an initially dry reagent zone which contains an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier; said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species; wherein the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the amount of detectable species which separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin.

Claim 4

An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said element comprising an initially dry reagent zone which contains an albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier; said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when contacted with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin to form a complex comprising albumin and detectable species; wherein the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the amount of detectable species which separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin.

Claim 5

An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said element comprising a radiation-transmissive support having thereon an isotropically porous, opaque spreading layer and a reagent layer between said support and said spreading layer, said reagent layer being in fluid contact with said spreading layer under conditions of use; said reagent layer comprising a colored or fluorescent albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier; said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when in fluid contact with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin; whereby the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the reduction in color or fluorescence of said albumin-active complex.

Claim 6

An analytical element for quantifying the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said element comprising a radiation-transmissive support having thereon an isotropically porous, opaque spreading layer and a reagent layer between said support and said spreading layer, said reagent layer being in fluid contact with said spreading layer under conditions of use; said reagent layer comprising a colored or fluorescent albumin-active complex comprising a detectable species bound to a carrier; said detectable species having a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when in fluid contact with a liquid solution containing albumin, said detectable species selectively separates from said albumin-active complex and becomes bound to albumin; whereby the amount of albumin present in said liquid sample can be quantified by determining the reduction in color or fluorescence of said albumin-active complex.

Claim 7

The element of claim 3 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

Claim 8

The element of claim 3 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.

Claim 9

In a method for the detection of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and any albumin present in said liquid sample, and detecting, directly or indirectly, the formation of said complex; the improvement wherein: said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid sample is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and, said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

Claim 10

In a method for the detection of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and any albumin present in said liquid sample, and detecting, directly or indirectly, the formation of said complex; the improvement wherein: said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid sample is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and, said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

Claim 11

In a method for measuring the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and albumin, and quantifying the amount of albumin in the sample by detecting, directly or indirectly, the amount of said complex formed; the improvement wherein: said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and, said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

Claim 12

In a method for measuring the amount of albumin in a liquid sample, said method comprising contacting said liquid sample with a detectable species, forming a complex between said detectable species and albumin, and quantifying the amount of albumin in the sample by detecting, directly or indirectly, the amount of said complex formed; the improvement wherein: said detectable species which is contacted with said liquid is in the form of an albumin-active complex comprising said detectable species and a carrier; and, said detectable species has a sufficiently high affinity for albumin that, when said albumin-active complex is contacted with a liquid sample comprising albumin, said detectable species separates from said carrier and forms a complex with albumin.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

Claim 14

The method of claim 7 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 wherein said albumin-active complex is a fluorescent complex comprising a fluorescent probe and a polymer.

Claim 20

The method of claim 11 wherein said albumin-active complex comprises polyvinyl alcohol and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate.