Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample which comprises incubating a mixture of: (a) the liquid sample, (b) labelled antibodies to the antigen under assay, (c) a reagent comprising antibodies to the antigen under assay conjugated with a reagent Z, said reagent Z being a hapten or antigenic substance, and, (d) an antibody reagent raised to reagent Z which selectively interacts with reagent Z by non-covalent bonding, but which is not directly bindable to either component (a) or component (b) the said reagent (d) being bound to a solid phase support and at least said components (b) and (c) comprising monoclonal antibodies; separating the solids fraction from the liquid fraction, determining the amount of label in one of the said fractions and, therefrom the amount of antigen present in the sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample which comprises incubating a mixture of: (a) the liquid sample, (b) labelled antibodies to the antigen under assay, (c) a reagent comprising antibodies to the antigen under assay conjugated with a reagent Z, said reagent Z being a hapten or antigenic substance, and, (d) an antibody reagent raised to reagent Z which selectively interacts with reagent Z by non-covalent bonding, but which is not directly bindable to either component (a) or component (b) the said reagent (d) being bound to a solid phase support and at least said components (b) and (c) comprising monoclonal antibodies; separating the solids fraction from the liquid fraction, determining the amount of label in one of the said fractions and, therefrom the amount of antigen present in the sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein antibodies (b) and (c) are of a different antibody class or sub-class of the same animal species.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample which comprises incubating a mixture of: (a) the liquid sample, (b) labelled antibodies to the antigen under assay, in the form of Fab-type fragments, (c) a reagent comprising intact antibodies or half-molecule fragements, the latter of the same animal species as the fragments of component (b), to the antigen under assay, and (d) a reagent capable of binding to component (c) by non-covalent bonding, but which is not directly bindable to either component (a) or component (b) comprising an antibody reagent of a different animal species bindable specifically to the Fc part of reagent (c) or Protein A, the said reagent (d) being bound to a solid phase support and at least said components (b) and (c) comprising monoclonal antibodies: separating the solids fraction from the liquid fraction, determining the amount of label in one of the said fractions and; therefrom; the amount of antigen present in the sample.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample which comprises incubating a mixture of: (a) the liquid sample, (b) labelled antibodies to the antigen under assay, in the form of Fab-type fragments, (c) a reagent comprising intact antibodies or half-molecule fragements, the latter of the same animal species as the fragments of component (b), to the antigen under assay, and (d) a reagent capable of binding to component (c) by non-covalent bonding, but which is not directly bindable to either component (a) or component (b) comprising an antibody reagent of a different animal species bindable specifically to the Fc part of reagent (c) or Protein A, the said reagent (d) being bound to a solid phase support and at least said components (b) and (c) comprising monoclonal antibodies: separating the solids fraction from the liquid fraction, determining the amount of label in one of the said fractions and; therefrom; the amount of antigen present in the sample.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the antibody reagents is employed in the form of fragments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of the antibody reagents is employed in the form of fragments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein reagent Z is fluorescein isothiocyanate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A kit of reagents for carrying out a method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample comprising containers of (i) labelled monocional antibodies to the antigen under assay, (ii) a reagent comprising monocional antibodies to the antigen under assay conjugated to a reagent Z, said reagent Z being a hapten or antigenic substance, and (iii) a solid phase support having an antibody reagent raised to reagent Z bound thereto, said bound reagent capable of selectively interacting reagent Z by non-covalent bonding but unable to directly bind to said labelled monoclonal antibodies or the antigen under assay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
A kit of reagents for carrying out a method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample comprising containers of (i) labelled monocional antibodies to the antigen under assay, (ii) a reagent comprising monocional antibodies to the antigen under assay conjugated to a reagent Z, said reagent Z being a hapten or antigenic substance, and (iii) a solid phase support having an antibody reagent raised to reagent Z bound thereto, said bound reagent capable of selectively interacting reagent Z by non-covalent bonding but unable to directly bind to said labelled monoclonal antibodies or the antigen under assay.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A kit as claimed in claim 7 wherein reagent Z is fluorescein isothiocyanate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A kit of reagents for carrying out a method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample comprising containers of (i) labelled monoclonal antibodies to the antigen under assay in the form of Fab-type fragments, (ii) a reagent comprising intact monoclonal antibodies or half-molecule fragements, the latter of the same animal species as the fragments of component (i) to the antigen under assay, and (iii) a solid phase support having a reagent bound thereto, said bound reagent comprising an antibody reagent of a different animal species bindable specifically to the Fc part of reagent (ii) by non-covalent bonding but which is not directly bindable to said labelled monoclonal antibodies, or protein A.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A kit of reagents for carrying out a method of immunoassay of an antigen having multiple epitopes in a liquid sample comprising containers of (i) labelled monoclonal antibodies to the antigen under assay in the form of Fab-type fragments, (ii) a reagent comprising intact monoclonal antibodies or half-molecule fragements, the latter of the same animal species as the fragments of component (i) to the antigen under assay, and (iii) a solid phase support having a reagent bound thereto, said bound reagent comprising an antibody reagent of a different animal species bindable specifically to the Fc part of reagent (ii) by non-covalent bonding but which is not directly bindable to said labelled monoclonal antibodies, or protein A.